Become a Virginia Voice Listener

Virginia Voice is a radio reading and information service that is available to qualified listeners. We broadcast over a subcarrier of WCVE-FM and are on the air 24 hours a day seven days a week. Each week we read from over 100 publications, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Our broadcast is available either through a pre-tuned radio which we loan at no charge, or on the internet using an internet-enabled device such as a smart speaker, computer, tablet or smartphone.

Who Qualifies for our Service

Anyone who has difficulty reading due to a vision impairment, or is physically unable to hold printed material qualifies for our service. Here are some examples of conditions that qualify an individual for our service:

  • Blind or Low Vision

  • Macular Degeneration

  • Diabetic Retinopathy

  • Retinitis Pigmentosa

  • Glaucoma

  • Cataracts

  • Cerebral Palsy

  • Muscular Dystrophy

  • Multiple Sclerosis

  • Parkinson’s Disease

  • Arthritis

  • Stroke

  • Dementia

  • Dyslexia or other reading disability

This is by no means an exhaustive list.

How to Apply for our Service

Qualified individuals can listen to our broadcast using a pretuned radio which we provide as a loan at no charge. The radios are operable only in the Greater Richmond area, generally a 35-40 mile radius of the WCVE-FM transmitting towers south of Richmond. For more information, check the page that lists the counties, towns and Independent Cities within our broadcast area. A qualified individual who has internet access and Wi-Fi can listen to our broadcast using a smart speaker, which we provide as a loan at no charge, or another internet-enabled device such as a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Qualified individuals within the Greater Richmond area that do not have internet service should apply to listen using a pre-tuned radio which is supplied by Virginia Voice.

Qualified individuals that have internet service but are unable to use an internet-enabled device should apply to listen using a smart speaker, which is supplied by Virginia Voice. Smart speakers are operable outside of the Greater Richmond area.

Qualified individuals that have internet service and are able to use an internet-enabled device such as a computer, tablet or smartphone should apply to listen online.

To apply, click on the Open Application button (below) to open the application. When filling out the application, please be as complete as possible. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required. When finished, click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the form to send it to Virginia Voice. Someone will contact you to follow up.

Open Application