Literacy is the foundation of learning, yet 65% of fourth graders in the U.S. read below proficiency levels. For the most vulnerable students, including those with reading differences like dyslexia, this crisis is even more acute.

At Learning Ally, we believe that learning begins with listening. By equipping early and struggling readers with human-read textbooks, trade books, and popular fiction, we help every student access information, acquire knowledge, and independently reach their full potential.

Learning Ally, formerly Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, was founded by Anne T. MacDonald, a philanthropist who organized a group of volunteers to record educational materials for blind World War II veterans enrolling in college under the GI Bill. 

Over the years we have expanded into K-12 schools, colleges, and homes, leveraging new technologies while still relying on a corps of dedicated volunteers. 

Throughout our 75-year history, we’ve remained committed to Anne’s vision: that learning should be accessible to every student, and that the power of the human voice makes this accessibility possible.