A step toward accessible local journalism: combatting ‘the disability divide’

Camille Givens, 69, of Kansas City, has always been an avid reader. During the pandemic, she’s read biographies of presidents, murder mysteries, historical fiction and books about Missouri outlaws.

For the one year anniversary of the pandemic, our newsroom asked fellow Kansas Citians to tell their stories of survival and change. One of the struggles we heard about was a problem we could help solve.

Camille Givens, a woman who is blind, shared her story about the difficulty she faced getting information during the pandemic because websites aren’t accessible for her. An inclusive Midwest news ecosystem must eliminate the inequity people like Camille face when trying to get information about their community.

This month, we made a big step toward our accessibility goals. With the help of a new partnership, communities who have been systematically excluded from digital news will now have access to our stories.

Audio-Reader, a 50-year-old nonprofit based at the University of Kansas, is a reading and information service for blind, visually impaired, and print disabled individuals in Kansas and western Missouri. They are now recording Beacon stories and distributing them to their clients. You’ll also start noticing audio recordings of our stories embedded at the top of Beacon stories on our website.

“Technology is expensive and many people cannot afford the adaptive technology to make computers accessible,” said Lori Kesinger, Audio-Reader’s Outreach Coordinator. “Audio-Reader is available to anyone who struggles to read the printed word. This includes people with traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and physical challenges.”

The Kansas City Homeless Union wants homes, jobs, a seat at the table. Audio versions of stories like this are now available at thebeacon.media courtesy Audio-Reader.

The timing of this new partnership is important. The pandemic has multiplied difficulties for many people with disabilities — who already face barriers to basic information. Crucial health and civic news has not always been provided in formats and channels that people with disabilities can use.

The partnership with Audio-Reader speaks directly to The Beacon’s mission of accessible public information. More informed communities mean greater civic participation and The Beacon is working to build its capacity to connect audiences with disabilities to resources and information.

What could we do to make our news and information more accessible and valuable to you? We’d love to hear your ideas. Email jennifer@thebeacon.media.