How Did WRBH Begin?

WRBH 88.3 FM began as the dream of a local mathematician, Dr. Robert McClean. Dr. McClean was blind, but he had a vision: a reading radio station that would operate on the FM dial (rather than on sideband frequencies which require special radios to pick up the signal), with strong programming content that would change and improve the lives of blind and visually impaired persons who wanted to lead productive, fulfilling lives in their communities. He leased airtime from WWNO, then bought the 88.3 FM signal and rented space from the Lighthouse for the Blind facilities in New Orleans.

In 1982 WRBH became a 24 hour station, and then moved on to purchase a house in Uptown and convert it into the studios we operate from today. Dr. McClean's dream was fully realized in the year 2000 when WRBH added its broadcast to the internet via streaming audio. Now we impact the lives of the visually impaired not only in our region, but all over the world.

What Does WRBH Do?

At WRBH 88.3 FM, our mission is to turn the printed word into the spoken word so that the blind and print handicapped receive the same ease of access to current information as their sighted peers.  We are dedicated to helping the blind and print handicapped through our volunteer reading.  Our 200+ volunteers make 24 hours of programming, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, possible.  WRBH is the only full time reading service on the FM dial in the country and one of only three in the world. 

WRBH offers a wide variety of programming including: The Wall Street Journal, The Times-Picayune, weekly and monthly magazines, listings of local events, grocery store ads, and both fiction and non-fiction books.  Additionally, we host several shows in the studio including Writers Forum, which provides an opportunity for local authors to discuss their work, and The Chef Show, moderated by Mary Sonnier, former co-owner of Gabrielle Restaurant.  More recently, the station has partnered with the French, Vietnamese, and the growing Spanish-speaking communities of New Orleans in order to provide these populations with quality programming. 

Who listens to WRBH?

Our target listening audience includes: the elderly who are beginning to experience loss of vision, the illiterate, those with dyslexia, individuals who are unable to read for a period of time due to illness, those who cannot afford to purchase print media and may not have transportation to a local library, and the blind.  In addition, a large number of our listeners are those who listen to WRBH as a way of obtaining local news, hearing about local events, and receiving cultural and educational enrichment.

WRBH traditionally serves the following Louisiana parishes via our transmitter in Chalmette: Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Charles, St. John, Terrebonne, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines.  Before Hurricane Katrina our signal also reached parts of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and we expect to regain this signal reach by the end of the summer 2008.  WRBH serves a racially and socio-economically diverse population.  Any individual who needs our service and has access to an FM radio may tune in.  WRBH can also be heard free of charge anywhere in the world through streaming radio on our website.

WRBH and the New Orleans Community

Seven years ago WRBH, with the help and guidance of Board Member Gail Williams, began partnering with local schools in an effort to promote literacy and language skills with the "Reader's Club."  Additionally, the station often works with Lighthouse for the Blind, an organization which works to assist blind individuals in their day to day life.  We also work closely with the Blinded Veterans Association, participating in their educational forums.

WRBH is unique in the area as a key focus of the station is empowerment through information.  WRBH has received many awards including: the 1998 Mayor’s Medal of Honor, being named the 257th Point of Light by President George Bush Sr., and the 1999 Governor’s Media Award. 

WRBH also addresses some explicit disaster related needs, specifically problems with the dissemination of information in the post Hurricane Katrina environment.  Much of the current information is only available in print, and as such, is not accessible to those who cannot read.  As New Orleans and the surrounding area continues to recuperate and rebuild, it is critical that all citizens have full access to pertinent information.  Our volunteers read the Times-Picayune daily.  In addition, WRBH has an arrangement with the National Guard, Red Cross, and FEMA to provide public service announcements on a regular basis.  By providing information and encouraging mental and emotional independence for visually impaired and print handicapped citizens, WRBH fills a major need in the community.



Help WRBH continue its service to the community!