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PUC-funded NFB Newsline Hawaii showcases access tools, demos and outreach plans for print-disabled residents
Summary
At a Public Utilities Commission–hosted session, NFB Newsline Hawaii staff demonstrated phone, mobile and braille/e-reader access; PUC funding and DHS sponsorship were explained, users described daily benefits, and NFB said it is expanding phone capacity and tracking requests for additional publications and language support.
The Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 13 hosted a presentation and demonstration of NFB Newsline Hawaii, the National Federation of the Blind’s transcription and reading service funded by the PUC and the Hawaii Department of Human Services. The session explained who is eligible, how to access the service by phone, mobile app, braille e‑reader and Amazon Alexa, and outlined outreach plans for 2026.
The program exists under state law and a PUC appropriation. “Act 247 session laws Hawaii 2023 mandated that the commission appropriate $150,000 for each of the next 2 fiscal years to provide free telecommunications access to certain information for persons with print disability,” Andrew, a PUC utility analyst and contract manager for the print disability assistance program, said. He said the commission contracted with the National Federation of the Blind for $119,900 and reserved roughly $30,000 for contract management and…
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