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.
With a mission of broadcasting information to inspire, motivate and empower the print impaired community, TIC operates with the help of more than 600 volunteers statewide and approximately 200 volunteers in their Marshfield studio alone. With limited government funding, the organization relies on the generosity of donors as well as volunteers who give their time to read the newspaper, periodicals, novels and children’s stories, and assist at events.
TIC’s 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, access programming by using special radio receivers tuned to the sub-carrier of local FM radio stations. They can also listen via live audio stream on the TIC website www.ticnetwork.org. TIC is the hub of the Massachusetts Reading Network made up of five affiliates across the state including: Audible Local Ledger (ALL), Mashpee, MA; Audio Journal Inc., Worcester, MA; Berkshire Talking Chronicle (BTC), Pittsfield, MA; Lowell Association For The Blind (LAB), Lowell, MA; and Valley Radio Reading Service, Springfield, MA.
In addition to programs for the print and visually impaired, TIC sees an enormous need to expand programming and distribution to the fast growing senior and veteran populations.
“Supporting TIC, whether it’s through donation or as a volunteer, supports thousands of listeners who are striving for their independence along with a thirst for knowledge and connection to current events that otherwise would not be available,” explained James Bunnell, TIC’s newly appointed Executive Director.
He continued, “Approximately 10,000 people turn 65 every day in the U.S. and in Massachusetts, 34 percent of people with disabilities are 65 and older. We anticipate the need for our broadcasting to significantly increase over time. We ask businesses and individuals to help make a difference for many people in the community by considering donating to, or volunteering at TIC.”
To learn more, visit www.ticnetwork.org.
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 by specially tuned radio receivers or via live audio stream on the TIC website, www.ticnetwork.org.
In 1977, Ed Perry, the founder of radio station WATD-FM in Marshfield, MA, donated his Subsidiary Carrier Authorization signal for use as the first radio reading service in New England. Now reaching 25,000 listeners, TIC broadcasts newspapers, magazines, books, and special consumer information on subjects including medical and stock market updates, jobs, sports, supermarket specials, voting guides, community newspapers, and television programs. TIC also broadcasts cultural programming including old-time radio drama, theater, and poetry.
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, (P.O. Box 519), in Marshfield, MA 02050. For more information visit www.ticnetwork.org or call 800-696-9505.
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