Government-sponsored radio station targeting blind and visually impaired listeners

La Radio Incluyente is a radio station in Colombia with programmes targeted towards the blind and visually impaired. The government-financed station has 30,000 Spanish speaking listeners in almost 100 countries.

In 2015 the Instituto Nacional para Ciegos (INCI), part of the Ministry of Education of Colombia, launched a radio station to produce audio content targeted towards the needs of people who are blind or visually impaired. It includes programmes and podcasts on a range of topics, such as arts and culture, stories, law, etc. In 2021, six years after its launch, the radio station has over 34 programmes and 30,000 listeners not only in Colombia but in almost 100 countries.

Problems Targeted

Radio stations rarely produce content, news, and information catered to and relevant for people with disabilities.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

INCI radio started as a tool to strengthen the communication skills of people with visual impairments in Colombia. In 2021, the station produced approximately 32 programmes a week that address such disability-specific topics as inclusive education, labour inclusion, paralympic sport, stories, digital literacy, culture, and legal guidance. One example is a programme called "Letras a ciegas," which motivates listeners to read and updates them with new books. Another is "La voz jurídica," in which law students and other experts provide guidance and legal advice to blind and visually impaired people of Colombia. Anyone can listen to the radio station for free by downloading the INCI radio mobile application, available on Google Play and Apple’s AppStore. In addition, RCN Radio, one of the main radio networks in Colombia, has created an alliance with INCI to disseminate its content. In 2021, 28 people with visual impairments were involved in the daily radio productions.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

INCI Radio is a subsidiary of the National Institute for the Blind (INCI), which is an entity of the Ministry of National Education. The annual budget is approximately 40,000 US Dollars which includes hosting the streaming platform and payment for a team of 5 members who are in charge of recording, production, and participation in programmes. It has a non-profit model designed to inform and create a network. External collaborators who participate in the station do soon on a volunteer basis. Over the next few years the radio station wants to increase its outreach and include more programmes for its target audience.

Pictures

Now we are talking - the radio hosts produce 32 programmes a week

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