RISE | WMHT's 24-hour radio information service for the blind and print disabled

RISE is WMHT's 24-hour radio information service for the blind and print disabled in New York's Capital Region and the Hudson Valley. Each week, our dedicated team of volunteers reads articles from local and national newspapers, popular periodicals and books to audiences who would otherwise be unable to access such information.

Receivers are loaned free-of-charge to applicants who are currently registered with the New York State Commission for the Visual Handicapped or the Library of Congress Talking Books Program. Applicants who are not registered with one of the above must have a visual or physical condition which impedes access to printed material, as certified by a medical professional, social worker, librarian or rehabilitation counselor.

If you can receive WMHT-FM on your regular radio at home, you are likely within range to receive RISE. If you are unsure as to whether you are in this range, please see our broadcast coverage map. To receive RISE, you will need to request a special receiver. To further serve our community, RISE is now available to our subscribers as online streaming audio. Contact us for more information on how to access this service.

If you would like to help RISE, please mail your donation to: WMHT-RISE, 4 Global View, Troy, NY 12180. Or call (518) 880-3400 for more information.

RISE depends on the generosity of concerned organizations and individuals, so please consider making a donation to assist us in providing this free public service.

To Request a Free RISE Receiver: Applicants must be registered with the New York State Commission for the Visually Handicapped or the Library of Congress Talking Books Program OR have a visual or physical condition which impedes access to printed material, as certified by a medical professional, social worker, librarian or rehabilitation counselor. Applicants must complete and submit this application form. (Note: You will need Adobe Reader to open this document.)

To Return a Receiver: Put the receiver back in the box it was mailed in. This box contains a "Free Matter for the Blind and Handicapped" sticker on the upper right hand corner. If you do not have the original box, use another box with ample padding. If you would like, you can request a "Free Matter for the Blind and Handicapped" sticker by calling RISE at (518) 880-3436. With this sticker, there is no shipping charge.

RISE would not be possible without the dedication of our volunteers from all age groups and walks of life. Though our volunteers have a diversity of backgrounds and interests, they all share a common desire: to help provide quality programming for the print disabled.

While most RISE volunteers are newspaper readers, we also produce pre-taped programs from the abundance of magazines and best-selling books available. Assignments are determined primarily by audience needs and preferences, but each volunteer's abilities and interests also play a role.

Click here to read what our RISE volunteers and listeners have to say about the service.

All recording for RISE programs is conducted at WMHT's studios in Troy, N.Y.

Interested in joining the team? See our volunteer description. If, after reading it, you're ready to make a difference in the lives of the print disabled, print out this volunteer application form and sent it to us at: WMHT-RISE, 4 Global View, Troy, NY 12180. You can also call (518) 880-3400 or e-mail us for more information. Or, if you'd like to support RISE but cannot commit to a volunteer position, become a member.

RISE is a really great volunteer experience, very rewarding, great people and, on top of that - it is so much fun!-Tina

I look forward to reading for RISE! It is great to know you are doing something that is actually helpful, is a lot of fun, and you get to meet the nicest and interesting people. -Marian D.

Volunteering with RISE is a pleasure. It feels like you are meeting with a good friend and sharing the day's news. And in fact you are and you receive that same warm feeling of sharing with a friend. -John H.

I feel that, in retirement, volunteering is a great way to make new friends, learn about new areas of interest and "do a good turn" in our area ".RISE is all of this and it's fun...as long as you like reading aloud.....books or magazines or newspapers or come up with a new theme or topic for RISE Manager Joyce Stah. -Colin C.

Of my few volunteer activities RISE is the most meaningful to me. Even though the exchange with the listeners is electronic only I feel a connection is being in made and via that remote connection I believe there is mutual uplift. -Colwyn A.

Reading on RISE is the most fun I have ever had as a volunteer. It is also quite gratifying to know that we are keeping our listeners connected and up to date in a way that no other media can do for the blind and print disabled. -Ed B.

I am so glad I volunteer for RISE. It is rewarding to know that we are bringing the news of the day - in detail - to those who would otherwise only have access to a short news recap on TV. And because both the Times Union and the Gazette are read 7 days a week listeners are able to follow stories of interest as they develop. RISE has been a gift to me on a personal level as well. It has been an outlet for me during difficult times, and I value the compassion of my reading partners and especially the friendships I have made over the past two years. I look forward to spending many more years at the microphone! Thanks!-Sharon S.

I enjoy reading for RISE because it is gratifying to know that listeners are receiving an immediate benefit. I also have enjoyed all the people I have partnered with on RISE - they read because they care.-Georgiana P.

Recording books for RISE is fun and easy! I can make my own schedule and record books that I enjoy, at my own convenience. I used to enjoy reading aloud to my daughter. Now, I enjoy reading aloud to my granddaughters and to RISE listeners!-Michi Vonnegut

I have so much fun and satisfaction volunteering for RISE, I feel I should be paying for the privilege. I get so much more than I give.-Dorothy Boroson

Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of the RISE family and to share my voice with your listeners. I look forward to every chance that I have to be there and I know how much the listeners value what we do.-Jerry

RISE is my lifeline. Thank you.-Anonymous

Enclosed is a donation given in memory of my mother. After she lost her vision and moved into a nursing home, she spent many hours listening to RISE radio. It was her life-line, keeping her informed and entertained. Please keep up the good work.

Thank you for the RISE equipment. It’s marvelous!

My sincere appreciation for the wonderful RISE service providing me “Sight through Sound” I look forward to listening every day and your readers should be commended.

My Uncle was legally blind and got so much pleasure from listening to RISE.

Enclosed is my fathers’ broken radio and a donation for your service. Thanks a million for replacing the radio for him. He is enjoying your great programs again which he missed very much when his radio stopped playing.

Thank you for providing such a wonderful and needed service.

The RISE radio you provided to my father has made such a difference in his day as he enjoys all of the programs. Thank you for your service and best of luck to you and your volunteers as you continue your wonderful work.

Listening to RISE is such an important part of my life. Thank you for helping to keep me current with the news, it has given me a big lift.

Enclosed is my donation, in appreciation for WMHT-RISE. It is difficult for me to be mobile and I derive comfort and joy from listening to RISE.

From the moment I awake in the morning I find myself listening to RISE. I listen all day long and it is a constant companion filling my world with news and interesting information. Thank you for this service.

I have lost my sight due to macular degeneration and it became too difficult and time consuming for me to try to read. I finally gave up and cancelled my newspaper and magazine subscription. I can’t tell you what a lifesaver it is to have learned about RISE. Now I just listen to my favorite magazines as the wonderful volunteers read them to me. Thank you very much and I thank the volunteers for all they do for me.

I mostly listen to the newspaper and Bargain Bin on RISE. I like to hear what is on sale at the grocery store before I go shopping. It gives me ideas on what to shop for and also which store has sales on the items I need. Each volunteer reader has their own style and I like them all very much.

I want to share some nice comments from Elizabeth an 86 year old rise listener who tells me she turns rise on 1st thing in the morning each day. She is an avid listener and is a big fan of rise. She went on to tell me that she has learned so much from listening and that we bring her the important news and information that she can’t access in any other form. When she had sight she enjoyed reading and she depends on the rise service daily. Elizabeth says she feels we are her friends and has gotten to know our on air team and considers you all her friends. - Joyce | RISE Manager