Mission:
Sun Sounds of Arizona provides audio access to information to people in the Southwest who cannot read print because they have a disability.

Description:
Who We Are:
Sun Sounds of Arizona is a radio reading and audio information access service for people who find it difficult or impossible to read print because of a disability or medical condition. It is a community outreach service with more than 500 volunteers, which is part of Rio Salado College with affiliate stations located in Flagstaff, Tempe, Tucson and Yuma.

Volunteers throughout the state of Arizona read from approximately 200 publications like The Arizona Republic, Arizona Daily Star, Arizona Daily Sun and Baja El Sol. We also read from dozens of national publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Time, The New Yorker and TV Guide. Listeners can also enjoy best selling books, exercise programs, children’s programming, disability news, Spanish Language programs, DVS movies and even bilingual grocery ads.

Listen three ways:
Most listeners tune in with a special radio, which we provide on loan free of charge. Some tune in on the internet at sunsounds.org. We also have a telephone service called Sun Dial, which provides access to live programs, archived programs, specialty documents, such as voter guides, and the ability to surf the internet without a computer. Some cable operators, hospitals, long-term care facilities and senior apartment complexes transmit our signal through their cable systems. Thanks to the support of Time Warner Cable and KTTI FM, Yuma residents can tune into our programming on Time Warner Channel 70 and with one of our radios. Programming is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sun Sounds listeners, people you know:
Nearly everyone knows someone who can benefit from Sun Sounds now or in the future.

Sun Sounds listeners include people living with macular degeneration, which is on the rise as our population grows in age. Some are blind, living with dyslexia or have difficulty handling printed materials because of cerebral palsy, ALS or arthritis. And then, there are listeners who are recovering from a temporary illness or surgery.

What listeners think:
From the travel column in the newspaper to the profiles of electoral candidates, Sun Sounds’ audio programs offer information, entertainment, and a means of staying independent and engaged.

“I truly appreciate Sun Sounds radio! I never knew this type of service existed until I became blind…. It is like having a coffee table with every publication you can think of, right in front of you! My only problem is there are only 24 hours in a day, and I wish there were more to enjoy all of Sun Sounds radio!”

“Dear Readers… I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for your giving of yourselves. Your gift is deeply appreciated both for your voices and your radio. It is delightful to hear expression in reading the written word. It is also a pleasure to hear "unspoken humor" and I picture your smiling faces. You bring me company in my "alone-ness," up to date news into my world and much pleasure in listening. Thank you so much for the joy you carry over the airwaves. Just by touching a switch, you bring magic to my days.”

Get Tuned in:
• Log onto sunsounds.org and click the listen now link or tune into Time Warner Channel 70
• Call to request a radio or Sun Dial service or submit your application online at sunsounds.org

Get Involved:
• Start spreading the news: Everyone knows someone who can benefit from Sun Sounds. We read to 49,000 Arizonans every day. While that’s great, it’s only one quarter of the eligible listeners. You can help change that by telling someone you know about Sun Sounds.
• Make a donation: especially through your company if it’s participating in a Matching Gifts program or Dollars for Doers program.
• Volunteer your time: We’re always looking for new readers, board members, outreach representatives to deliver and demonstrate radios, marketing and technical support staff and yes, envelope stuffers. We’re especially in need of Yuma volunteers! Sun Sounds of Arizona is seeking a volunteer who has experience with small, grassroots organizations to help us establish a local office and studio facility in Yuma. We need help recruiting Yuma area volunteers who will in turn, assist us in our outreach, marketing, clerical, fundraising and customer service work. This volunteer position is an on-going opportunity for the right individual, who believes in social service work, has community connections and who is available to give the necessary time. For more details, go to the Opportunities section of this site or call us for more details. We hope you will consider joining the 500 volunteers throughout the state of Arizona who help with the day-to-day operations and special events that keep Sun Sounds available free of charge to the people who need it most.

History:
Sun Sounds Leads the Way:
Sun Sounds has been a leader in radio reading and information services since 1979. In recognition of its contributions, George Bush Senior singled out Sun Sounds as the nation’s 665th point of light.

Sun Sounds of Arizona has won more awards than any other service of its kind in the world, including a record-breaking six programming awards at the 2007 International Association of Audio Information Services conference.

Contact people:

Bill Pasco, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Andrea Pasquale, Volunteer Manager, (phone), (email) Heidi Capriotti, Marketing Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (480) 774-8310

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Address:

340 West 32nd St. PMB 323 Yuma, AZ 85364 This location is handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: http://sunsounds.org

Directions:

Mailing address only. We’re working hard to raise funds for our new office in Yuma.