Volunteer rises to read The Evangelist

That's because Mr. Doyle volunteers for RISE, WMHT's 24-hour radio information service for blind and print-disabled people. He reads stories, columns and editorials from each week's issue.

A lector at St. Madeleine Sophie Church in Guilderland, he is happy to use his eyes and voice to bring The Evangelist home to people who rely on their ears.

"I enjoy reading aloud, so I thought it would be both beneficial and enjoyable," he said. "It's satisfying when you step back and think about what you're doing. When you're recording your voice, you hope there's a listener on the other end."

Voice of paper

All RISE programs are read and produced by volunteers, and Mr. Doyle e-mailed WMHT to join them. He filled out an application, was interviewed and was given a vocabulary list to test his reading ability. He soon started reading for RISE.

Mr. Doyle receives The Evangelist on Thursdays and reads it between then and Monday morning to determine which stories he will recite during his 45-minute taping.

"I try to identify those articles that seem to be of broad general interest," he said. He reads between eight and 10 stories on the air, such as the front page stories and editorial. He also looks for features that would interest senior citizens or those with visual impairments.

Special content

Unlike other major daily newspapers, she said, The Evangelist contains stories that listeners wouldn't necessarily get somewhere else, which makes it an interesting addition to RISE's schedule.

"It's specialized information that's important to listeners," Mrs. Hunt said. "We feel that this is the only place people [with visual problems] are going to find access to their community newspapers."

Taking care

"I know there have been times when I've found myself really tongue-tied on a particular word," he said.

For someone who enjoys reading The Evangelist on his own, being able to read for those who can't is rewarding to Mr. Doyle. "Hopefully, folks who otherwise would not have the opportunity, because they're visually impaired or have difficulty holding the paper, will have that opportunity now," he said.

(RISE receivers are loaned free to eligible applicants, including individuals currently registered with the New York State Commission for the Visually Handicapped or the Library of Congress Talking Books Program. Applicants not registered with either must have a visual or physical condition impeding access to printed material, a condition certified by a professional. For more information about RISE, call 357-1700.)

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