Learning Ally - Colorado Gives 365

Background Statement

Learning Ally's work has always been based upon the belief that "education is a right, not a privilege." The organization's history can be traced to the top floor of the New York Public Library in 1948, when it was founded as Recording for the Blind to fulfill the need for recorded textbooks for soldiers blinded in WWII who were seeking a college education through the GI Bill of Rights. Since then, Learning Ally has expanded to serve a broader audience that includes people with other types of print-related disabilities. On an annual basis, Learning Ally has more than 320,000 individuals who rely on its educational tools, digital applications, and user-centric services. Through institutional memberships, the organization serves 9,800 schools nationwide.

Today, there are Learning Ally recording studios across the country, many of which are located adjacent to the nation's top-ranking colleges and universities like Stanford, Princeton, and Georgetown. Learning Ally provides an online library of over 75,000 accessible audio textbooks and literature titles. The library features an extensive collection in science, mathematics, language arts, social studies, foreign languages, fiction, test preparation, and more. In fact, Learning Ally's collection of audio textbooks is the largest of its kind in the world. The organization's 5,000 volunteers, who include educators, professionals and specialists with distinct subject expertise, record an average of 6,000 books annually.

The differences between Learning Ally and the various profit and nonprofit entities offering similar products are significant. Superior features and navigation allow Learning Ally members to engage with their books in much the same manner as with printed versions, jumping throughout the sections, chapters and sentences of the book, adjusting tone and speed, and placing bookmarks. Although Learning Ally is exploring and implementing methods to expedite production times and reduce costs by utilizing some of the most advanced synthetic voice technologies available, these voice conversion options fall short in the equation- or formula-heavy subjects, such as science, technology, engineering and math. While the software currently used to convert text to audio is cost-efficient and expedient, it is largely unable to convert graphs, equations, or figures into audio content. Learning Ally is currently one of the only audio content providers that accounts for this critical educational need. The organization's diverse volunteer base includes scientists, professors, doctors, and specialists in every subject who can clearly explain pictures, diagrams and charts inserted into the text. This distinction improves learners' ability to grasp the entirety of what is presented on each printed page.

In addition to audiobooks with built-in navigation functionality, Learning Ally provides a wide array of industry-leading educational solutions that promote personal achievement when access and reading are barriers to learning. These products and services, several of which are described in detail below, are designed to meet the needs not only of students who struggle to read due to a physical disability or learning style difference, but those of their parents and educators as well.

In recent years, Learning Ally has undergone significant organizational change. Many of these changes resulted from crucial insights gleaned from independent research studies commissioned by the organization, and through in-depth focus groups conducted with hundreds of students, parents, educators, volunteers, and funders. These insights have provided an enriched understanding of the enduring importance of Learning Ally's core mission. Equally important, they prompted an organizational change that takes a more holistic approach to serving members. In the past, the focus was almost exclusively on the production of audiobooks. Now, in addition to audiobooks, the focus is on providing tools, resources, training and support services to the members, their families, and educators as it relates to enhancing their ability to teach students with learning differences. The decision to change the name of the organization reflects this new, user-centric orientation. Both the research studies and the focus groups indicated that members do not wish to be labeled or typecast by their disability, whether it is blindness, visual impairment, dyslexia, etc. More than anything, they simply want access to the same educational resources and opportunities that their peers enjoy. The name Learning Ally reflects the organization's commitment to being a comprehensive resource, advocate, and friend for those who learn differently as a result of a print-related disability.

Our organization stands poised to draw upon our rich legacy of innovative service to individuals who learn differently. Learning Ally is actively engaged with educators, publishers, Departments of Education, users, parents and advocacy groups. As a result, it is able to aptly respond to the needs of those it serves, elevating the organization to a turn-key solution serving approximately 320,000 people with print-related disabilities in over 9,800 institutions nationwide. In fiscal year 2012, we served 1,612 people in Colorado through direct individual membership with our organization. In addition, we served 114 schools throughout Colorado communities. Due to confidentiality protections, schools do not disclose information pertaining to the students they serve directly to our organization. However, based on our organization's service history, we estimate an additional 4,066 students are served within these schools. Therefore, the total number of students served in the area is an approximate 5,678.