VOICEcorps reading service

05/01/2026

Theia Sweeney is an 8 year old girl who is legally blind living in Illinois with a glaucoma diagnosis.

She also happens to be an artist. 🎨

Her mother noticed that from the time Theia was 4 months old she had severe sensitivity to light. From that moment forward, she and her family were on a journey to figure out exactly what her visual challenges were.

Theia does not let her low vision stop her from creating tactile art pieces and sculptures. In fact, she is in the semi-finals in a national contest called “America’s Most Artistic Kid” which is presented by the Bob Ross company! 🥳

We hope that as we head into the weekend that bringing this story to our followers offers some hope and inspiration. Anyone experiencing low-vision or with a print disability is eligible to listen to our broadcast service! 📻

Tune in here ➡ https://voicecorps.org/listen/
Check out our schedule here➡https://voicecorps.org/programming/schedule/



Alt-text: A young girl wearing a pink shirt smiles and proudly holds up a piece of art that she has created.

Theia Rose, 8, legally blind from congenital glaucoma, paints tactile images for people like her, vies for 'Most Artistic Kid' title.

04/30/2026

Just popping in to share info from Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities on some new titles available for anyone who reads Braille or knows someone who does! 😊

📚 ✨ Discover 19 new books now available in Braille through the OCALI Lending Library! These titles feature authors like Ezra Jack Keats, Juana Martinez-Neal, and Susan Marie Swanson.

Explore these books and more on OCALI's site: https://bit.ly/4coZplw

04/27/2026

“The Service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” -Muhammad Ali

Last Thursday was all about the incredible volunteers of VOICEcorps as we celebrated them at the Guild Athletic Club & Event Center ! 🥳

We had a wonderful turnout, great food and conversations. Some volunteers even met their reading partners for the first time in person as many read for us via Zoom! 💙

It’s all about community, connection, and delivering information via our audio broadcast to those who experience low vision, blindness, dyslexia, MS, Parkinson’s, and other print-disabilities. We want all of our listeners to have access to information that informs and enriches their lives and volunteers are what make that happen! 🫶

The VOICEcorps staff is filled with gratitude. Thank you.

P.S.- Feel free to tag yourselves in the pictures and share with friends and family!



Alt-text: A collection of photos from the 2026 Volunteer Banquet hosted by VOICEcorps reading service. Photos include staff and volunteers seated at round tables enjoying a meal or walking around the facility.

04/25/2026

Music fans may have heard the news that No Doubt’s guitarist Tom Dumont recently announced that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease “years ago.” Dumont is currently 58 years old. 💙

That may seem quite young to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s and that’s because it is. The majority of folks who are eventually given a diagnoses are told in their early to mid 60’s.

Dumont says that as of now he is still able to play the guitar, thankfully. The disease can cause stiffness in limbs, slow movement, and tremors. This means that Parkinson’s qualifies as a print disability and if you or someone you know is living with Parkinson’s, they are eligible for our reading service at VOICEcorps. 🫂

We are a FREE broadcast service bringing volunteer-read news, books, and original programming such as Critic’s Corner and our Saturday Sports Show! 🆓

Contact us here➡ https://voicecorps.org/contact-us/
Support us here➡https://voicecorps.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/



Alt-text: Photo of Tom Dumont with a black and white checkered background.

Tom Dumont said it's been "a struggle every day" with Parkinson's, but he "can still play guitar" as No Doubt prepares to perform at The Sphere.

04/21/2026

Meet VOICEcorps volunteer Wayne West! ⭐️

Wayne first reached out to VOICEcorps to volunteer after seeing an ad in the Dispatch and looking into us on our website. He is a life-long reader, preferring to learn via reading, and wanted to read “to those who had difficulty doing it for themselves.” 🫂

In particular, Wayne loves to read mysteries, anything historical (including historical fiction), as well as general literary fiction. He shared with us that his favorite novel is “All The King’s Men” written by Robert Penn Warren.

When he isn’t donating his time to VOICEcorps reading the “Military Times” and “American Legion” to our print-disabled listeners, he enjoys gardening, music, golf, and traveling.

We thank Wayne and all of our wonderful volunteers for giving their time and talents in order to help others access valuable information. 💙

If you would like to volunteer click after the arrow for information! ➡https://voicecorps.org/get-involved/volunteer/



Alt-text: A photo of Wayne West wearing glasses, a blazer, and a bow tie, overlaid on a background of green foliage.

04/17/2026

When Matthew Shifrin, a blind man from Massachusetts, was 13 years old a babysitter gifted him with a Lego set. It wasn’t just any ordinary Lego set, it had instructions written in braille! 😮

Now at 28 years old, Shifrin owns the non-profit Bricks for the Blind which provides instructions for completing Lego sets for free to anyone who is blind for visually impaired. This is no small task or operation…as of the writing of the ABC article we are sharing, he has instructions for 540 sets! 🙌

Matthew’s story is inspirational because he didn’t allow his disability to deter him for making a difference for others who are blind, he simply passed along the goodwill extended to him.

Be sure to extend some goodwill yourself and tell anyone you may know with a print-disability about VOICEcorps. We are sure it will make a positive impact on their lives. ☺️
Listen here ➡️ https://voicecorps.org/listen/
or tell your Amazon Alexa to “Play VOICEcorps skill!” 👨‍🦯‍



Alt-text: A man wearing dark glasses sits at a desk. A completed Statue of Liberty Lego set sits next to him as he picks up Lego pieces while creating a new set.

Matthew Shifrin loved building Lego sets as a child

04/17/2026

If you live near Reynoldsburg or are traveling around our great state this weekend, consider a visit to a Winking Lizard restaurant as they have been recognized by Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities for their inclusive accessibility accommodations! 🏆

They offer braille displays and materials, accessible parking, seating, and restrooms, along with allergy information listed on their website. 💻

No matter where you go this weekend, have a wonderful one and we thank our listeners, volunteers, donors, and community members for supporting us! 💙
Visit us @ https://www.voicecorps.org/ to learn more about what we do and how you can get connected to us!

Winking Lizard Tavern is an Inclusive Place for guests and employees.

Winking Lizard locations in our Online Resource Guide:

- Avon
- Beachwood
- Bedford Heights
- Brunswick
- Canton
- Copley
- Downtown Cleveland
- Independence
- Lakewood
- Macedonia
- Mayfield Heights
- Mentor
- Peninsula
- Reynoldsburg
- Washington Square

Learn more about these Winking Lizard in our Online Resource Guide at
https://www.cuyahogadd.org/resources/individual-family-resources/online-resource-guide/inclusive-places/food-shopping-services.

Image description: Online Resource Guide, Inclusive Places, Winking Lizard Tavern with restaurant signage on a building front.

04/14/2026

Spring has sprung! 🌼

It’s time to clean up those flower beds, plant those seeds, and get inspired with our volunteer-read program “In the Garden”!

Whether you are plant pro with the greenest of thumbs, or a novice who can’t keep a houseplant alive, we’ve got you covered! Green thumbs are welcome but not required! 👍

“In the Garden” airs every Saturday at 6PM with a replay Sundays at 5AM. Listen here➡ https://voicecorps.org/listen/ or tell your Alexa smart speaker to “Play VOICEcorps skill!”



Alt-text: A person waters plants with a metal can in a garden. The top of the photo has a light brown banner with "Get gardening tips & get inspired!" written. The bottom of the photo has a pale green banner with "Tune in to “In the Garden” Saturdays @ 6PM (No green thumb required)" written. The VOICEcorps logo is centered at the bottom.

04/11/2026

Dyslexia has been in the spotlight as of late, but what exactly is dyslexia and what makes it one of the most diagnosed(though still under-diagnosed) print-disabilities? 🤔

According to this article from Forbes written by Mill Etienne, dyslexia is a “neurobiological difference in how the brain processes written language. It leads to difficulty with reading and spelling despite average or above-average intelligence.”

Dyslexia has no bearing on one’s intelligence, and is often overlooked in classrooms with young students. Students may be perceived as having a lack of effort when in reality, they are struggling. 💔

If you struggle to read on your own, we at VOICEcorps reading service encourage you to sign up with us to receive our FREE broadcast of news, articles, information, books, and entertaining programming for our print-disabled audience.

Contact us➡ https://voicecorps.org/contact-us/
Volunteer with us➡https://voicecorps.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Support us➡https://voicecorps.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/



Alt-text: A student and a teacher sit at a desk. The teacher is helping the student follow along with reading the book in front of them at the table.

Dyslexia is common and not tied to intelligence. Early recognition and targeted intervention are key to unlocking potential and preventing long-term academic gaps.

04/09/2026

We wanted to share this post from Blind on the Move on the topic of expiration dates. ‼️

The ability to read expiration dates is so vital to many of us, yet is something that those of us with sight may take for granted. We hope that these tips are helpful to you and we encourage VOICEcorps listeners and volunteers to share their own ideas or "hacks" you use in the comments down below! 🙂



Alt-text: Photo of an organic half&half carton with expiration dates printed at the top.

Visit us @ www.voicecorps.org for more on our reading service.

Managing Expiration Dates When You’re Blind or Have Low Vision

Expiration dates can be frustrating; they’re often tiny, low-contrast, or stamped in hard-to-find places. But with a few practical strategies, staying safe and organized is absolutely possible.

Here are some real-life tips many blind and low-vision people use every day:

1. Use your phone’s camera
Apps like Seeing AI or Envision AI can read printed text aloud. For tricky labels, Be My Eyes lets you ask a volunteer or AI assistant to help locate and read the date.

2. Label items right away
When you buy food or medicine, add a braille label, tactile marker, or a simple voice note with the expiration date. Doing this once saves stress later.

3. Organize by “use first”
Keep older items at the front of the fridge or pantry and newer ones in the back. This simple system works even without reading labels.

4. Use voice reminders
Set a reminder on your phone or smart speaker for important expiration dates, especially medications or refrigerated items.

5. Trust multiple strategies
Many people combine tools, for example, scanning with an app and double-checking with Be My Eyes when something feels uncertain.

Expiration dates shouldn’t take away independence or confidence. With the right tools and habits, you can manage them safely and on your own terms.

04/07/2026

April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month and we at VOICEcorps want to recognize the significance of Parkinson’s disease within the print-disabled community. 🧠

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder affecting one’s nervous system. This impacts the affected individual’s ability to hold printed materials, and they often also experience cognitive and sensory impairments. It is estimated that globally, 10 million people are living with the disease. 🌐

We encourage anyone who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s to tune in to VOICEcorps so that they may have no interruptions to access to the world via our broadcast service. If you know someone who could use our service, please make sure to forward them our information. 💙

Visit us online at https://voicecorps.org/



Alt-text: The image features a light blue background with a prominent silver ribbon in the center, symbolizing Parkinson’s Disease Awareness. To the left is a simple line drawing of a brain outlined in dark blue, surrounded by yellow squiggly lines, indicating movement or shaking. On the right, there is an outline of a human head in profile, also drawn in dark blue, containing a brain with similar yellow lines suggesting action or energy.

04/05/2026

We at VOICEcorps reading service hope that our listeners, volunteers, community members, and their families all have a wonderful Easter Sunday! 🌸

If you are out and about visiting family, on your way to church, or are just hanging out around the house we hope that you enjoy your day and keep in mind that VOICEcorps is on the air 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including all holidays.

Wondering how to listen? Just turn on your VOICEcorps provided SCA radio, your Alexa smart speaker, or visit our website to hear our broadcast. 🤗

Listen here 👂➡https://voicecorps.org/listen/
What’s on? 🤔➡https://voicecorps.org/programming/schedule/



Alt-text: A white wicker basket filled with pastel eggs, flowers, and a sprinkle-topped cake, with Easter greetings above and below.