[nabs-l] Learning ally and their decision to cut cds

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hi all,

I would like to express my views about Learning Ally’s recent decision.
I was informed of this today in their email newsletter.

The announcement is that Learning ally will phase out cds.
They will produce and honor requests for only two more months.

They say that most people use mobile devices
and the internet to access material and they say that new technology offers them the ability to add text to the narration.
Learning ally is no ally to blind people. blind people cannot read the text anyway!
Not all blind people have the skills and resources to access downloads.

They make this announcement without stakeholder input. They don’t care about some users who need or want cds.

What is your thoughts?

I have to say I am very disappointed.

I am a skilled pc user and can access books via high speed internet.
So why is it a problem and huge concern?

Well, here is why.



1. I have used the cds and they are rather user friendly; since they came out in 2007, I have enjoyed the high audio quality and easy navigation with my victor wave and now victor stratus.
I can pop in cds easily and not have to be concerned with other technology.

2. I have experienced numerous accessibility issues with their download book manager. Jaws is not reading all the pop up screens. It is so challenging to figure out that I had to call them and have someone spend a long time with me to set it up.
I use the book manager but have relied on cds as my preference.

3. Using the book manager is frustrating as you have to select all the check boxes to sinc your books to the thumb drive.

4. I am concerned this leaves out less tech savvy people and not to mention those who do not have a mobile device.
If I have trouble with their website and using my account, I’m sure others do too.
And, I’ve heard the learning ally I-device ap isn’t all that friendly.

5. Learning Ally is only catoring to those high functioning people who can use technology and afford it.
Learning ally is no ally.

They justify this decision by the cost factor. Also they say a majority of the service is  now accessed online and by mobile devices.

What of those who cannot download books at home? I  know schools have teachers of the vision impaired get cds and give them to students. What will they do now?
Download books for students, I guess, and give them USB drives.

I may sound old fashioned, but another reason I love using cds is because they have one book on them with a braille label.
When I use digital books on a storage device, I cannot remember which storage device has which  books on it! And I love the simplicity of one book on that cd rather than navigating , say, 20 books on the usb drive, and I have to find the right book shelf too when using my victor reader machine.

I urge anyone opposed to this draconion measure to write letters of protest to Learning ally who is no ally to blind people and now no ally to those who cannot operate technology with an internet connection.

thanks for reading.

Ashley