Imagine a woman sits quietly in her Detroit home, flipping through the local newspaper. She squints, trying to make out the letters that have become nothing more than blurs. For her, the words that tell the story of her community are just out of reach. But she still craves the connection, the lifeline that local news provides to the events shaping the world around her. Though newspapers aren’t made for her and the many others in southeast Michigan living with visual impairments, there’s a hidden gem in the heart of Detroit that ensures they aren’t left in the dark.
The Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS) has been filling that gap since 1978. Tucked away within WDET 101.9 FM, Detroit’s NPR station housed at Wayne State University, DRIS is a beacon of hope for the visually impaired and print-disabled across southeast Michigan. It’s more than just a radio program — it’s a lifeline of information for people who often struggle to access traditional print media. For nearly five decades, this hidden gem has connected people with disabilities to the world around them, ensuring that the voices of our community resonate with every individual, no matter their abilities.
Diane Sanders, the manager of strategic initiatives at WDET, leads the charge at DRIS, making sure the program remains as impactful today as it was in 1978. “Our primary role is to provide services to the print-impaired and blind members of society,” Sanders said. “It’s about more than just reading the news; it’s about making sure that everyone has access to the information they need to feel connected and informed.”
DRIS airs five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to noon, and it’s all run by volunteers — volunteers who dedicate at least two hours a day to reading from a variety of local newspapers and periodicals. From the Michigan Chronicle to the Detroit Free Press, DRIS brings the latest headlines to those who can’t pick up a paper for themselves.
“We also do special readings,” Sanders noted. “On Wednesdays, we have a segment called ‘What’s Cooking,’ where two ladies come in to read grocery store listings and then share recipes that relate to those listings. It’s just a little something extra we do to add flavor to DRIS. And on the last Friday of every month, we dedicate a half-hour to poetry readings.”
DRIS isn’t just about providing the daily news — it’s also about enriching the lives of its listeners. Last September, DRIS introduced a book club reading that airs every day from 11 a.m. to noon. The volunteers read a different novel each month, offering listeners a chance to immerse themselves in stories they might not otherwise have access to. The poetry readings, introduced to alleviate social isolation, provide listeners with a sense of community through shared artistic expression.
“I wanted to expand DRIS to reach people who may be socially isolated,” Sanders explained. “There are so many people who are homebound for various reasons — whether it’s due to illness, physical disabilities, or other challenges. The book club and poetry readings were introduced as a way to add something different, to break up the monotony and give our listeners a sense of connection.”
When the volunteers aren’t on the air, DRIS switches to a national broadcast, ensuring that the service is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Whether listeners tune in during regular hours or in the middle of the night, DRIS ensures there’s always something to engage with, keeping people connected to the world outside their homes.
One of the most impactful partnerships DRIS has fostered is with the Michigan Chronicle. “Partnering with the Michigan Chronicle allows us to give listeners something local, something they can relate to,” Sanders said. “It helps us reach a different group of people in the metro Detroit area, people who deserve to be part of the conversation, even if they can’t physically read the news.”
The Michigan Chronicle is a staple of Detroit’s Black press, and its partnership with DRIS ensures that Black Detroiters, particularly those with disabilities, remain informed and engaged with the issues affecting their community. It’s a partnership that speaks to the heart of what DRIS is about — connecting people with the information they need to make informed decisions and stay engaged with the world around them.
This service is particularly significant given that DRIS is the only program of its kind in the area. “Since 1978, there was a need in the community,” Sanders said. “We started working with the Michigan Disability Institute, and we are actually the only station providing this service in the area. There’s another station much farther away in Michigan that does something similar, but we’re the only ones here offering this kind of resource.”
In recent years, DRIS has expanded even further, adding the ability to stream its broadcasts online. This development has opened new doors for listeners, allowing people who might not have access to a traditional radio to still engage with the content.
And DRIS isn’t stopping there. Sanders and her team are looking to expand the service even further by incorporating more diverse voices into their programming. “We’re looking to add the Arab American News, El Central for the Hispanic population, and the Jewish News,” Sanders said. “Our goal is to have people from each of these communities come in and read in their native languages. This way, we can reach even more people who are isolated because they can’t understand the language of the news being read.”
This expansion speaks to Sanders’ larger vision for DRIS — a vision rooted in literacy and connection. “I’m a big advocate for literacy,” Sanders emphasized. “I want DRIS to go beyond just five days a week. I want to see us offering services seven days a week. How can we help younger children? Do we start reading to children? Do we support grandparents who are raising grandchildren? How do we help them promote literacy in their homes?”
For Sanders, it all comes back to one core belief: that everyone deserves access to information. “A society has to be educated about what’s going on,” she said. “DRIS plays a major role in educating people who may not be able to read, who may have literacy challenges, or who simply can’t engage with traditional media.”
To many, DRIS remains a hidden gem — but for the people who rely on it, it’s a lifeline. “When I found out about DRIS, I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is something nobody knows about,’” Sanders said. “That’s why we’re always looking to add something extra — like the book club, for example. If we can keep people entertained, we can keep them engaged. And if we can keep them engaged, we can keep them informed about what’s happening in their world.”
As Sanders and her team look to the future, the goal remains clear: to keep expanding, to keep connecting, and to keep educating. DRIS is more than just a service — it’s a community, a family, and a vital part of Detroit’s rich tapestry of information and connection. And for those who rely on it, it’s a gem that shines brighter every day.
