[nabs] RFB/Learning Ally is no longer free

[bookwormahb at earthlink.net]

But when I searched bookshare as a student, they did not have textbooks; 
they had leisure books. but maybe that is changing.
Also, book share is not human speech; its electronic speech.
While I am surprised at the jump in price with little notice, I'll still 
renew.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Dornetta
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 12:13 PM
To: tyler at tysdomain.com ; Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of 
Blind Students.
Subject: Re: [nabs] RFB/Learning Ally is no longer free

Hello guys:
Like Ashley, I am shocked with the huge jump in membership price but I also
feel the same way as Tyler. As of now, I use Learning Ally for my son, so
that I can "read" to him and have him "read" back to me. I know that their
children's books are much enjoyable to read and listen to. The readers are
much less to make mistakes, cough, turn pages, and take that drink SMH. If
they would only get the readers of the children's books to read our text
then I would probably use them more.
Not to put Learning Ally down but these are just my thoughts. I would rather
use bookshare or other resources. And BTW Ashley, I pay $23 (approx) for my
audible membership and that gets me 2 credits a month.
Netta
"Just because you are blind, does not mean you lack vision"-Stevie Wonder
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Littlefield, Tyler" <tyler at tysdomain.com>
To: "Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students."
<nabs at acb.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 7:21 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs] RFB/Learning Ally is no longer free


> If they will start cleaning up their recordings, yes. But I'm rather
> tired of getting recordings to hear discussions across the partition,
> them taking drinks and turning pages, etc etc. Without they start making
> their recordings somewhat better, I don't plan on using them. I always
> just got the book and either scanned it, or got it from bookshare or
> somewhere else. It was easier and I was able to flip through pages and
> find material that I needed.
> On 8/9/2011 3:44 PM, bookwormahb at earthlink.net wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> With budget cuts to many nonprofits, Learning Ally lost their federal
>> funding.
>> They are now charging individuals a large fee annually for membership;
>> when I joined years ago, I paid $35, but
>> its much more than $35 now!
>> I received word today via my email from Learning Ally that effective
>> September 1
>> individual memberships are $99.
>> It said the following:
>>
>>     * *On September 1, 2011 Individual Memberships will be $99 per
>>       year * -a little more than eight dollars a month.
>>     * For a limited time only, *we are offering a special opportunity
>>       to renew your current membership for $79* (a savings of $20).
>>       Take advantage of this special membership offer, *renew
>>       on/before August 31, 2011.*
>>
>> *So what do you think? Will you pay this fee? *
>> *I know many of you may be tight on money; I hope your family can chip
>> in or some group can sponsor you. Budgets are very tight. Personally,
>> I enjoyed the free books. But I do understand the rationale to begin
>> charging once again. They are a nonprofit after all. Other college
>> students pay a lot for their texts.  I think a membership to
>> audible.com is more expensive than this. *
>> **
>> *As for me, I plan to take more classes at community college even
>> though I graduated in 2009 with a BA degree.  I need to keep my
>> writing and study skills active. I think I will renew my Learning Ally
>> membership. They recorded several books for me during school; the
>> staff at the studio is very friendly.  Good thing I have a paying
>> internship to help cover the cost. *
>> **
>> *I knew this was coming when I heard Learning Ally was losing funding.
>> I knew it months ago prior to their announcement today. *
>> **
>> *Learning Ally has their flaws, but overall their books are helpful. I
>> cannot study with a human reader at midnight, but I can pull out my
>> Learning Ally book anytime and hear a human voice read to me. *
>> **
>> *Ashley *
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> nabs at acb.org
>> http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs
>
>
> -- 
>
> Take care,
> Ty
> my website:
> http://tds-solutions.net
> my blog:
> http://tds-solutions.net/blog
> skype: st8amnd127
> My programs don't have bugs; they're randomly added features!
>
>


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