Miki Gudermuth hopes her new television program. "Independently Speaking," will reach out to both disabled people and the able-bodied public.

Gudermuth directs the Semo Alliance for Disability Independence, an organization that assists handicapped persons to live as independently as possible.

Gudermuth believes her TV program can help. "We are trying to take the information into the homes of people with disabilities," she said.

The program, which she hosts, features guests discussing various disability services and various equipment that can assist disabled people.

It began as a pilot program through the efforts of Southeast Missouri State University's mass communication department in 1997, Gudermuth said. Students filmed the show. But after about a year, the program ended due to lack of funding.

SADI resumed the show last fall, bolstered by funding from fees the organization receives for monitoring state vocational rehabilitation programs.

"We are putting our fee money back into the community for outreach," said Gudermuth, who resumed hosting the monthly show last fall.

The program is broadcast at 7 p.m. on the second and last Tuesday each month on cable access channel 5.

Bigger audience

Beginning Sunday, the show also will be aired on WDKA, Channel 49. The station plans to broadcast the show at 5:30 a.m. on the second Sunday of each month.

Gudermuth welcomes the chance to reach more people. The station has agreed to air the show for a year.

"It can't do anything but good," she said.

The show is videotaped in a studio in the Grauel Building on the Southeast campus. The show is produced by students with the assistance of Dr. Jim Dufek, who heads up the television operations for the university's mass communication department.

Dufek said Sinclair Broadcasting owns both WDKA, a Warner Brothers network station, and KBSI, a Fox affiliate. Both stations are based in Cape Girardeau.

Dufek hopes "Independently Speaking" eventually will be shown on both commercial TV stations.

"I really think it serves the public to be informed on all those issues," he said.

Gudermuth said her organization pays a flat $500 fee to the university to produce each show.

SADI can't afford to close caption the show for the deaf. Rather, the show has a sign-language interpreter who is featured on screen.

WANT TO WATCH?

'Independently Speaking" airs on cable access channel 5. Beginning Sunday it will be seen monthly on WDKA, channel 49.