In October, Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic) announced that it would increase the annual fee for its individual memberships, going from $99 to $119. However, the organization has partnered with ACB's leadership to offer a special reduced rate of $79 through March 31, 2013 for members of ACB as well as several other organizations.
Learning Ally, a national non-profit since 1948, supports the educational and learning needs of the blind and visually impaired community. It offers members unlimited access to the world's largest audio textbook library, with over 75,000 titles in all.
Andrew Friedman, president and CEO of Learning Ally, said, "While certain factors have obliged us to raise the fee for our general membership base, we recognize the financial impact that is felt by many in our community, particularly individuals who are blind and visually impaired.
"Raising the fee for individual memberships is not a decision we have made lightly. Although we recently experienced a major loss of federal funding, we renewed our commitment to making increased investments in progressive technology that will help our members enjoy more efficient access to their content on mainstream devices.
"Most ACB members are aware that we've introduced an extremely popular iOS app, Learning Ally Audio, making our audio textbooks accessible on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. On the near horizon, new major developments include an Android app (slated for release in late fall); text-based content that will support refreshable braille; and for members with learning disabilities, human speech synchronized-to-text (also coming this fall; we are on plan to produce over 2,000 books in that format this year).
"Additionally, even though the membership price is going up, fees have been eliminated for all of the software needed to play Learning Ally content. The Learning Ally Audio iOS app and our ReadHear software for Mac and PC are now provided free to members, to improve their user experience and make access to their materials easier."
Friedman affirmed that Learning Ally values its long-standing relationship with ACB and remains fully committed to supporting the blind and visually impaired community. In addition to the discount being extended to ACB members, Learning Ally provides its services for free to all schools for the blind across the country, and will continue to extend hardship waivers to those who demonstrate that they can't afford membership fees at all.
To learn more about Learning Ally, and to take advantage of our limited offer, call 1-800-635-1403 or sign up online at www.LearningAlly.org. Use the promotional code ACBREG01 to receive $40 off Learning Ally's regular annual membership fee. Offer expires on March 31, 2013.