Baltimore, MD (June 2, 2026): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has been informed that NFB-NEWSLINE^® service in South Dakota will be discontinued effective June 30, 2026. NFB-NEWSLINE^® is the audio and Braille news service for people who are blind, low vision, deafblind, and/or otherwise print-disabled. The change in NFB-NEWSLINE^® service in South Dakota is due to a budget decision by the South Dakota State Library. 

"Losing NFB-NEWSLINE in South Dakota would be devastating, especially in rural communities where access to information is already limited," President of the National Federation of the Blind of South Dakota Ismael Collazo says. "Services like this help blind people stay informed, employed, connected, and active in our communities. When access to information disappears, independence suffers with it."

Collazo continues: "I have heard directly from members across the state who rely on NEWSLINE every single day. This is not a luxury. It is a critical accessibility service that gives blind South Dakotans equal access to the information many people take for granted."

Free to subscribers, NFB-NEWSLINE^® provides access to 600+ publications like newspapers and magazines, along with features like job listings and weather alerts. The service delivers free, on-demand access to news, magazines, and information—anytime, anywhere—for blind and print-disabled readers. NFB-NEWSLINE is a service provided by the National Federation of the Blind with support from state sponsors across the country.

"Access to information is the bedrock of independence for blind Americans, and NFB-NEWSLINE has been a vital lifeline for decades. It is deeply disheartening to hear that the South Dakota State Library is discontinuing the service that allows blind people to stay informed of news and current events and to fully participate in society," said Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind.

"We urge the South Dakota State Library to recognize that NFB-NEWSLINE is not a discretionary budget item; it is a fundamental necessity for equality, and we stand firmly with our members in South Dakota in calling for this decision to be reversed."

The National Federation of the Blind urgently calls on South Dakota State Library to reconsider this decision. 

Published Resources

South Dakota Publications available on NFB-NEWSLINE:

• Aberdeen American News
• Argus Leader
• Rapid City Journal
• National and International Resources available on NFB-NEWSLINE
• Learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE