Assistive Media
Encyclopedia
Assistive Media is a nonprofit internet-based audio reading service to serve people with visual/reading impairments worldwide.
In 1996, Assistive Media was founded by David Erdody in Ann Arbor, Michigan as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and with volunteer readers began producing and distributing spoken-word recordings of otherwise inaccessible materials on audiocassette to participating libraries of The Library of Congress-National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
. Soon after, with the advent of online digital audio formats such as RealAudio and mp3 files, direct distribution of recordings shifted to an Assistive Media web site. In 1999, Assistive Media was awarded The Streamers Progressive Award, sponsored by RealNetworks
, Inc., as the best nonprofit web site of the year.
As of 2011, Assistive Media has produced over 1000 audio recordings of in-depth titles of mostly serious non-fiction from mainstream periodicals, including The New Yorker
, The Atlantic, Harper's, and The New York Review of Books
and is considered one of the longest continuously running internet-based nonprofit services.
In 1996, Assistive Media was founded by David Erdody in Ann Arbor, Michigan as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and with volunteer readers began producing and distributing spoken-word recordings of otherwise inaccessible materials on audiocassette to participating libraries of The Library of Congress-National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail. The program is a service sponsored by the Library of Congress. People may be eligible for the...
. Soon after, with the advent of online digital audio formats such as RealAudio and mp3 files, direct distribution of recordings shifted to an Assistive Media web site. In 1999, Assistive Media was awarded The Streamers Progressive Award, sponsored by RealNetworks
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
, Inc., as the best nonprofit web site of the year.
As of 2011, Assistive Media has produced over 1000 audio recordings of in-depth titles of mostly serious non-fiction from mainstream periodicals, including The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, The Atlantic, Harper's, and The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
and is considered one of the longest continuously running internet-based nonprofit services.