Insight for the Blind was founded in 1975 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From a single recording booth in a rented facility, we now have our own 5,000 sq. ft. building that features 13 reviewing studios and 6 separate sound-proof recording studios. All are equipped with high-speed desktop computers that can record the new digital formats. Both our physical plant and our production methods have become national models for other studios recording this type of material.
Our master CDs are sent directly to the Library of Congress and to the Florida Division of Blind Services. There they are reproduced into the current Talking Books format; these units are then distributed to public libraries around the country. Postage to receive and return the material is FREE, as is the playback equipment for listening to the books.
New playback machines that will utilize flash drives instead of cassettes are expected to be placed into service in the near future.
Since it was established, Insight’s volunteers have recorded more that 2,200 books including children’s books, and over 2,000 magazines, which have been made available to countless thousands of blind and physically handicapped individuals. In 2009 alone, 200 active volunteers contributed over 17,000 hours to our recording schedule, which produces 10 books and 12 magazines each month.
In 2010, Insight for the Blind will celebrate its 35th anniversary year of serving the blind.
