KETTERING -- For more than 25 years, WORDS Radio Reading Service,with C.K Elstun as program director, has helped the visuallyimpaired and physically handicapped keep up with their local andregional newspapers.
Elstun, a former TV announcer, has headed WORDS since itsinception. He has seen it grow to cover more Miami Valley areas. Andthe number of volunteer readers has increased to serve the growth.
'But,' he added. 'We can always use more readers.'
According to coordinator Jane McBride, WORDS serves eight to ninecounties as far north as Shelby. It is affiliated with Goodwill-Easter Seals Miami Valley and offers free radios to those who apply.Its headquarters is located at 1511 Kuntz Road in Dayton.
'Our service uses special side bands of three radio stations andoperates daily with volunteer readers covering the news found intheir own neighborhood newspapers. The side bands eliminate WORDSfrom the radio stations' regular programming.'
The reader volunteers come from all walks of life, all ages andbackgrounds, who have the talent and skill to speak clearly withexpression in their voices.
Anne Cowan of Kettering has been reading the Dayton Daily Newssports pages and the obituaries from 8 to 9 a.m. each Friday for thepast three years.
'I try to be impartial of the teams I talk about, leaving thelisteners to learn about their favorites,' said Cowan, who admitsshe had a little trouble with impartiality when her own son wasplaying high school football.
The obituaries are kept to a minimum with mainly the name, city,date of death and funeral arrangements.
Jeff Fluty of Kettering rises early each Wednesday to read theheadlines in the Dayton Daily News.
'I'm reading at 7 a.m. For the past year now I've found it getsmy day off to a good start by helping people who can't read on theirown. ... It's really a lot of fun.'
Reading the Sunday edition of the Dayton Daily News takes threehours and more than three volunteer readers to cover it, includingthe comic pages.
Sonja Dragich of Kettering, a speech therapist at BethanyLutheran Village, volunteers every other Sunday reading the DaytonDaily News.
'I didn't realize that reading for an hour or so can be quitetiring, but I love doing it,' she said.
Since many listeners are interested in health topics, trainedmedical people such as doctors, nurses and specialists likepsychiatrists, read for their fields of expertise.
To learn more about obtaining a special radio or to inquire aboutreading as a volunteer, call WORDS Radio Reading Service at (937)461-4800. McBride's extension is 513.
Contact this reporter at (937) 433-1552 oradeleauk4737@sbcglobal. net.
