[nabs-l] FW: [il-talk] FW: Learning Ally (formerly RFB and D)

Tue Jul 12 00:47:15 UTC 2011

FYI.

Liz Bottner
Guiding Eyes Graduate Council
GEB Voicemail:  800-942-0149 Ext. 2531
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liziswhatis at hotmail.com 
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-----Original Message-----
From: il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of David Meyer
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 7:53 PM
To: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List'
Cc: 'Illinois Association of Blind Students List'
Subject: [il-talk] FW: Learning Ally (formerly RFB and D)

  _____  

From: Ruda, Sharon [mailto:SRuda at ILSOS.NET] 
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 3:32 PM
To: Bogdan, William; camille at horizons-blind.org; David Meyer; Deliah
Jackson; info at comp-unique.com; jimandterriforever at att.net; Patrick Olson;
Rita Howells; Ruda, Sharon; sweetnightingale at sbcglobal.net;
yankee43 at consolidated.net
Cc: KKellyP at GMail.com
Subject: Learning Ally (formerly RFB and D)

If you or any of your peers use Learning Ally, you might want to read and
share this information. As of Sept. 1, all personal accounts will be $99.
Please read below. Sharon

Congressional Budget Cuts Affect Major Nonprofits Including Learning Ally

7/7/2011
This has been a year of significant change for Learning Ally. In
addition to the introduction of our new name, we've made available new
player software for both PC and Mac platforms and introduced our App for
iPods, iPhones and iPads. We have also been working hard to greatly improve
our overall user experience and will be rolling out exciting new
enhancements in the coming weeks.

In addition, over the past two years, Learning Ally has been able to
provide At-Home membership to individuals at no charge thanks to a grant
from the US Department of Education. However, like so many other nonprofit
organizations, Learning Ally recently learned that its current appropriation
has been discontinued as part of the most recent round of Congressional
budget cuts.

Despite this loss in funding, Learning Ally is determined to continue
developing innovative products and services and find ways to reach an
increasing number of individuals who struggle with reading and learning
differences.

First, Learning Ally will increase our efforts to raise more money
through philanthropy. Many individual donors, corporations and private
funders have recognized the value in Learning Ally services and appreciate
the positive ways their contributions help Learning Ally remove barriers to
learning for thousands of individuals each year.

Additionally, Learning Ally will now charge a fee for At-Home
memberships so individuals can continue to benefit from the nation's largest
library of accessible core education and required literature content.

Effective August 31, all current individual memberships will expire.
Effective September 1, a Learning Ally Individual membership will be $99 per
year. However, prior to August 31, we are offering the opportunity to
register or renew a one year Individual membership for $79. We hope you will
take advantage of this limited time $79 membership offer.

Learning Ally remains committed to providing the best possible
products and solutions for its members. We are currently improving the
overall member experience, including the way individuals access content via
the Learning Ally website. By mid-August, Learning Ally members will enjoy a
streamlined user experience in registration, browsing, ordering and playback
of Learning Ally books on their favorite devices. We are also testing a
variety of community tools to better support the needs of parents and
learners. In the near future, Learning Ally will begin development of
teacher-based tools -- all of which support Learning Ally's careful and
deliberate transitioning to a truly MEMBER-CENTRIC organization. Learning
Ally promises to continue to work closely with you, the member community, to
learn how it can best develop new and innovative products and services.

To provide financial support to those who need Learning Ally services
and to continue funding important efforts to reach more learners please
visit our donation page.

Sharon Ruda
Associate Director 
Talking Book and Braille Service 
Illinois State Library 
Gwendolyn Brooks Building 
300 South Second Street 
Springfield, Illinois 62701-1796 
217-782-9435 
1-800-665-5576 extension 5
Fax 217-558-4723 
suda at ilsos.net
http://www.ilbph.org

Office of the Secretary of State Jesse White

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