A program that helps blind and visually impaired South Dakotans keep abreast of the news will no longer be available come the end of the month.

The Telephone Reader program enables people who can't see to call a telephone number and have news stories read to them via computer voice.

South Dakota Association for the Blind Co-President Dawn Brush says the state has been spending $6,000 a year to fund the program. But the state isn't funding it in fiscal 2010 in a budget-cutting move.

Gaye Mattke with the state Department of Social Services says only 378 people are registered to use the Telephone Reader program, and only about 20 are regular users.

Brush says the program might not be widely used, but it's invaluable to the people who do use it.

© 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.