Clovernook Center helps New York Times reach Braille readers

When editors at the New York Times wanted a Braille version of a special section, they looked for a printing house that could produce quality results on a tight deadline.

They found it at Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired in North College Hill.

WHEN EDITORS AT "THE NEW YORKTIMES" WANTED TO CONVERT ASPECIAL SECTION TO BRAILLE,THEY TURNED TO THE TRI-STATEFORHELP.SPECIFICALLY, THEY WENTTO THE "CLOVERNOOK CENTER FORTHE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED"IN NORTH COLLEGEHILL.THAT MAKES SENSE --CLOVERNOOK CENTER IS ONE OFTHE LARGEST PRODUCERS OFBRAILLE IN THE WORLD.WCPO NINENEWS REPORTER LUCY MAY TAKESUS INSIDE THE PRINTING HOUSETO SEE HOW THAT ISSUE WAS MADE.THE PRINTING HOUSE ATCLOVERNOOK CENTER FOR THEBLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED ISA BUSY --AND NOISY - PLACE.IT RELIES ONEMPLOYEES LIKE TERRYSTRADER."We wouldn't be where we aretoday without the visuallyimpaired people that do workhere."STRADER IS BLIND.

HE IS AMACHINE OPERATOR AT CLOVERNOOKCENTER AND WORKED AS APROOFREADER FOR THE BRAILLEVERSION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES'SPECIAL SECTION COMMEMORATINGTHE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEAMERICANS WITH DISABILITIESACT."Through us doing the ADApublication here atClovernook, it's opened up alot of doors for me toactually see how othervisually impaired people, howthey do what they do.

"Iwould like to think that whatI do can open up a lot ofdoors for people aswell.""Over 50% of our staff areblind or lowvision."SAMUEL FOULKES IS THE PRINTINGHOUSE MANAGER.HE SAYSEMPLOYEES LIKE STRADER ARE ABIG PART OF CLOVERNOOKCENTER'SSUCCESS."We believe that disabilitycan be an asset, and for us itvery much is an asset.

Itbrings new perspectives.

Itbrings new skillsets.""We knew that members oftheir staff who are blind, whoread Braille, who would beable to proofread this sectionand make sure it's done reallywell."AMY PADNANI - AN EDITOR AT THENEW YORK TIMES - SAYSCLOVERNOOK WAS THE OBVIOUSCHOICE FOR THEPROJECT."They're fast, and we reallyneededthat."CLOVERNOOK TRANSCRIPTIONSPECIALIST TINA SEGER SAYSWORKING ON THE SPECIAL SECTIONGAVE HER NEWINSIGHTS."It's a great project.

Ithink the ADA has come a longway.

I can see though that westill have more work todo.""We hope that projects likethis will start to normalizeBraille as part of thepublishing process when itcomes to providing writtenmaterial.""It's about equity, and it'sabout access.

And we're notthere yet, and there's a longway togo."LUCY MAY, WCPO N