Blinded Marine Goes the Distance5/14/2012 posted in Blind/Visually Impaired, Veterans Great news from a great friend: Since he was blinded by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2004, retired U.S. Marine Corps serviceman Michael Jernigan has gone the distance - returning to college, advocating for wounded warriors, getting married, and building a vibrant, active life of service to others. We couldn't be more excited to post some good news that Mike and his wife, Leslie, have just sent along.
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Breaking the Cycle5/10/2012 posted in Assistive Technology, Audiobook Library Every one of the 809 students at the Preuss School in San Diego comes from low income-qualifying (“free lunch”) families with no college experience. Now that Preuss is partnering with Learning Ally, students with disabilities will have more independence and access to their rigorous studies to “…become empowered independent learners who will have a seamless transition into their successful futures!”
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The Student Becomes the Teacher5/1/2012 posted in Learning Disabilities Getting an explanation for her reading difficulties came better late than never for Learning Ally member Kelly Fritz, who wasn’t officially diagnosed with dyslexia until after completing her undergraduate degree. Through perseverance and hard work, Kelly has thrived and will receive her Master’s degree in Special Education this December.
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Volunteers Changing the World, One Reader at a Time4/13/2012 posted in Volunteerism From coast to coast, Learning Ally’s volunteers are making a dramatic impact on the lives of people with visual and learning disabilities. With 6,000 volunteers working in our 19 audiobook recording and production studios from the heart of Los Angeles to mid-town Manhattan, we proudly honor them by celebrating National Volunteer Week, April 15 - 21.
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National Roundtable: “The Impact of Access”4/3/2012 posted in Activities, Blind/Visually Impaired, Learning Disabilities, Parenting, Public Policy/Advocacy In February, six Learning Ally members took center stage in the inspiring setting of the U.S. Capitol. The "Impact of Access" Roundtable brought parents, volunteers, and community members face to face with our National Achievement Award winners -- serving up living proof that students with reading disabilities can flourish in school and become role models in society. A chorus of parents of kids with visual and learning disabilities added their voices as well.
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Filling "Holes" on the Printed Page3/22/2012 posted in Activities, Assistive Technology, Authors for Access, Learning Disabilities Mitchel Janssen was in for a treat when he accepted an invitation to help at our annual Record-A-Thon in Austin, Texas. The enterprising teen, who is dyslexic, spent a day showing guests how the Learning Ally Audio App helps him complete his reading assignments. Toward the the end of the afternoon, he found himself face to face with his idol, Louis Sachar -- the very author who ignited his interest in reading.
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Recording an Audiobook on a Good Hair Day3/16/2012 posted in Activities, Audiobook Library, Authors for Access, Volunteerism Author for Access Deanna Roy is becoming a regular visitor to the Learning Ally Austin studio. Now that her book, Baby Dust, is garnering national attention, she has promised to record the entire book so it can be made accessible for readers with visual and learning disabilities. What follows is Deanna’s witty and touching blog account about her experience.
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"I Am an Independent Learner"3/12/2012 posted in Assistive Technology, Learning Disabilities As an undergraduate student at Sarah Lawrence College pursuing the creative arts and disability studies, Dwight Richardson Kelly works tirelessly to be an active voice for the dyslexic and alternative learning communities in the New York City area. He's also a persuasive spokesperson for Learning Ally, as this personal testimonial shows.
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"Covert Affairs" Star Steps Up for Learning Ally2/15/2012 posted in Activities, Blind/Visually Impaired, Volunteerism On February 8, Christopher Gorham, who stars as "Auggie", a blind CIA operative on USA Network’s hit drama Covert Affairs, kicked off the national Record-A-Thon campaign at Learning Ally’s Los Angeles studio. The busy actor, who spends seven months of the year shooting the series in Canada and around the globe, took time out of his schedule to help record accessible audiobooks for readers who have vision impairments and learning disabilities like dyslexia.
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Tapping Volunteer Energy in the College Crowd2/10/2012 posted in Activities, Volunteerism A new student initiative is energizing Learning Ally’s effort to attract new volunteers and increase awareness of our services. At the forefront is Chloe Burke, a college sophomore who has dyslexia, who recently founded Project Learning Ally Gainesville at the University of Florida.
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