Thousands of visually impaired listeners were able to tune in and get up-close and personal with Team With A Vision runners and their sighted guides at the 2016 Boston Marathon via the Talking Information Center (TIC) non-profit reading service’s live radio broadcast of the event.
TIC producer John Shea took listeners from the Hopkinton starting line to the finish line of the 120th running of the Boston Marathon in a narrative of the race that included interviews with Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and a number of Team With A Vision runners.
Team With A Vision is comprised of runners with visual impairment and their sighted guides who take part in events all around the country to raise funds and awareness for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI). This year marked Team With A Vision’s 24th year running the Boston Marathon. According to Team With A Vision’s Boston Marathon page, the group has raised more than $137K, and all funds raised support MABVI’s statewide network of vision rehabilitation services.
Shea discussed some of the challenges of the race with Team With A Vision member John Chan, a visually impaired runner from Staten Island, NY who has run in more than 40 marathons and was running for the second time with Team With A Vision.
“The biggest thing would be just the obstacles along the course, which are potholes, curves and turns, and there’s train track in some parts of it too… If it wasn’t for the guide, I wouldn’t be able to run it efficiently,” explained Chan.
To hear the personal stories of Team With A Vision runners and learn more about the challenges, their goals and how they communicate with their sighted guides during the race, tune in to TIC’s Mission Possible archived segment from April 18th: http://ticnetwork.com/audio/wire/mission.htm.
About MABVI
The Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) is the oldest social service agency in the country providing services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Their mission is to work with individuals with vision loss to eliminate barriers and create opportunities. For more information about MABVI and Team With A Vision, visit www.mabcommunity.org/mabvi/home.
About TIC
The Talking Information Center (TIC), a non-profit reading service located in Marshfield, MA, broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to visually-impaired and print-handicapped listeners including those suffering from AIDS, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, paralysis or other physical illness that makes holding a publication or turning pages impossible.
TIC programming may be accessed several ways: via live audio stream at http://www.ticnetwork.org; by utilizing a specially tuned radio receiver; through AudioNow by calling 712-832-7025 from a home or cell phone; or by smartphone app. Listeners with smartphones may download the free TIC app by typing “Talking Information Center” in Apple or in the Google Play store for Android devices.
TIC’s mission is to provide human voice(d) broadcasts to visually and mobility impaired listeners throughout Massachusetts to promote independence and enrich quality of life. TIC broadcasts newspapers, magazines, books, special consumer information, medical and stock market updates, jobs, sports, supermarket specials, voting guides, community newspapers, and television programs. Cultural programming such as old-time radio drama, theater, and poetry is also provided. Two of TIC’s newest shows include Veterans Voice Radio and Veterans Voice Story Hour, which are specifically geared toward military veterans and their families.
TIC is a proud member of the International Association of Audible Information Services (IAAIS), and is also the hub of the Massachusetts Reading Network, broadcasting to all of Massachusetts as well as southern New Hampshire and Connecticut. Operating similarly to other broadcast networks, TIC has affiliates throughout the state of Massachusetts that provide inserts of local news and information that is of interest to listeners in their area. TIC is located at 130 Enterprise Drive, Marshfield, MA 02050. For more information visit www.ticnetwork.org or call (781) 834-4400.
Talking Information Center Focuses on Team With A Vision at 2016 Boston MarathonRead More
The award-winning Talking Information Center (TIC), a nonprofit reading service located in Marshfield, MA which broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to thousands of print and visually impaired listeners, has engaged the services of Executive Service Corps (ESC) of New England to assist in the development of a strategic plan.
The award-winning Talking Information Center (TIC), a non-profit reading service located in Marshfield, MA which broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to thousands of print and visually impaired listeners, has launched their annual appeal for donations and volunteers.
Jim Bunnell, The Talking Information Center’s (TIC) newly appointed Executive Director, with George Earle, president of the Board of Directors of Marshfield Community Christmas. Bunnell and TIC producer John Shea delivered two large boxes of toys and clothing donated by TIC staff and volunteers to Marshfield Community Christmas.
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