Happy Fall!  Let's hope the cool weather finally catches up with the calendar and we'll be pulling out  jackets and jumpers soon!

It is always the perfect season to say THANK YOU  to each of our hard working, creative and dependable volunteers!  Every day and each season- we appreciate your abundant generosity and creative spirit! 

Read on for more highlights at A-R!   

Volunteer Portrait: Jane Tedder

VCB September Topic: Picture Description

Garden Gathering- Celebrate with us- September 15

Meet the Interns!

Jane Tedder celebrates 25 years of service with Audio-Reader this year.  In response to a few questions, she shares her perspective on volunteering at Audio-Reader.   

Jane plans to share her time and talents with Audio-Reader for as long as she possibly can. “Audio-Reader is a super place to volunteer.” 

Have you ever stared at a picture trying to think how in the world to describe it, succinctly and creatively?   Let's talk about best practices and also discuss Alt Text-- the standards for Alt Text can help inform our picture descriptions.  Here is a fun example- below!   Join us!

Join us: Wednesday, September 16 at 2pm

Elevating Our Craft with Picture Description

Stop by via zoom and discuss best practices, Alt Text Standards and try out a few picture descriptions.  

Virtual Coffee Bar ZOOM LINK 
https://kansas.zoom.us/j/91499262397

Meeting ID: 914 9926 2397
Passcode: 4600

A Scree shot from the dynamic group discussing Content Choices and Reading Tips at the August VCB! 

Whether it is a Telephone Reader Assignment, or LIVE, or Broadcast-- the value of preparation comes through as listeners tune-in across Kansas and western Missouri. 

When you take time to prepare, you enhance the quality of your read. 

A few fun tricks to prepare your voice: open your mouth in a wide yawn and stretch your neck; hum your favorite tune (Dolly Parton songs are a favorite for humming).  Carl Graves, longtime volunteer broadcaster, always reads his opening a few times just to get the words flowing. 

Prepare content by scanning the material for tough to pronounce names and places.  Take a few minutes to scan for the odd phrasing of a long sentence or typos (which are more frequent than we’d like).

Look for the local content and consider your timeframes and the transitions needed for assisting with understanding.  Jot down your picture descriptions to bring greater engagement to the read and outline any other visual cues that might be needed.  Interested in more tips for picture description?  Join us in September for the Virtual Coffee Bar!

Your effort to prepare produces quality recordings and listening experiences- thank you for the care and skill you bring to each read!

Join us on Tuesday, September 15 for the Fall Garden Gathering from 9:30 - 11:30 am.

Come enjoy the garden, refreshments, conversations, and prepare the garden for the change in season. 

Meet new garden volunteers, and maybe the construction will be done, and we can sit quietly in the wonder of the garden!

Our regular shared garden work times are Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30. 

You make our year with your generous sharing of

your voices,

your talents,

and your thoughtful

care for

our community! 

May this next year

be the best yet!

Happy Birthday!

Don't see your birthday? Contact Trish at tdk@ku.edu 

Join the Lied Center's Accessibility Open House on October 1st starting at 4pm!

Learn more about Audio Description while enjoying a creative demo by A-R Volunteer Pam Slawson  from Simple Mischief Studio.

Visitors will be able to test out the Hearing Loop, explore the Lied Center and visit with local vendors!

Volunteers needed, especially on for Friday for the loading in of all the items and on Sunday for helping with clean up.  Email Meredith for details. 

We are needing a few more subs.

Check out the TeamUp page for assignments that need filling.

Here is a video on TeamUp if you need a refresher.  THANKS for helping out!! We plan to have another New Volunteer Orientation and Auditions in September.  

We are excited to introduce our new student interns. If you see them around Audio-Reader, please say hello. Interns connect Audio-Reader to our KU student community, building valuable, long-lasting relationships, while providing substantial learning opportunities and support to staff. 

Hi everyone! My name is Cameron Castaldi, and I am a Student Programming Assistant at Audio-Reader. I am a senior from Olathe, Kansas, studying Art History with a minor in Music. Since joining Audio-Reader in April, I have learned so much about audio production and broadcasting. 

I have especially loved getting to know our volunteers while editing their recordings or catching up with them at the front desk. After college, I hope to pursue a career in media, preferably at a nonprofit, where I can continue using my skills to help others. 

Hi! My name is Olivia Goodwin, and I am the Communications and Outreach Intern here at Audio-Reader. I'm currently a sophomore majoring in journalism with a minor in communications! I hope to become a communications liaison or work in public relations.

As a second-year intern, I have developed professional experience in communications and marketing while learning more about non-profit work.

My favorite part of working at Audio-Reader is the Christmas party and volunteer appreciation banquet! 

Hello! My name is Jacob Morton. I am from Shawnee, Kansas, and I am majoring in Psychology and minoring in Journalism. I plan on attending grad school after I complete my undergraduate degree to continue to study psychology. I hope to one day be either a therapist or a licensed psychologist.

I like hanging out with friends during my free time and going out. One of my favorite experiences of working at Audio-Reader last year was during the volunteer appreciation banquet; it was so nice meeting all of the volunteers and getting to know a few of them! I can’t wait for another great year at Audio-Reader!

Hi, my name is Disha Chakraborty, and I’m originally from Kolkata, India. I’m currently a senior at the University of Kansas studying Astronomy through the Honors Program. I applied to Audio-Reader because I wanted to gain experience in how to meaningfully communicate a cause while contributing to an organization that makes a difference in the community.

I’ve been loving spending time at Audio-Reader and the sensory garden, and my favorite activity so far has been convincing the garden volunteers to pose for candid pictures whenever I see them! 

Hey! My name is Evan Lugo and I'm one of the interns at Audio-Reader. I'm a senior English major at KU, also getting a certificate in Music Business from Stuart, Florida, hoping to go into the music industry after graduation! 

One of the greatest things I've learned from Audio-Reader was this summer during the Audio-Reader equipment drives; that was the importance of outreach! It was so much fun getting to meet so many people at those events, and I'm so grateful to have done it. 

My name is Neilaksh Sharma. I am a junior studying aerospace engineering. I’m originally from India. I aspire to pursue a career in aerospace design and manufacturing as I have always been fascinated by how things are built and how engineering innovations shape the world around us.

Outside of academics, I enjoy playing golf and soccer. I was drawn to Audio- Reader because it offers a meaningful way to be part of a community that helps others through communication and connection.