How to Volunteer to Record for Learning Ally

Formerly known as Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, Learning Ally is a non-profit organization that provides voice recordings of educational materials to people who are vision impaired or who have difficulty reading due to dyslexia and other learning impairments. As of 2011, Learning Ally provides educational materials to 300,000 students, veterans and learners across the country. Learning Ally's collection of 65,000 titles span programs of study that range from kindergarten to graduate studies. Learning Ally provides training and support for the 6,000 volunteers nationwide who help record materials for those who would otherwise have difficulty accessing written information and the accompanying images.

Instructions

1

Volunteer in person. Learning Ally has recording studios in cities across the United States. You can volunteer as a Reader, Editor or Director. Readers provide the actual voice recordings used for the audiobooks. Directors read along with the Readers and make sure there are no errors in the voice recordings. Everyone who volunteers with Learning Ally is trained to be a Reader and Director. Editors check all work completed by Readers and Directors to be sure recordings are accurate. You can also volunteer as a Specialty Reader if you have sufficient experience to read aloud college and graduate level textbooks in programs of study such as law, mathematics and medicine.

2

Volunteer online. The Volunteer Text Editor tool allows volunteers to type descriptions of images accompanying text so valuable information is not missing when audiobook users access material. You can access the tool anywhere you are online and volunteer whenever and wherever you like.

3

Be flexible. When you volunteer for Learning Ally, you are assisting students and adults who are unable to learn in conventional ways either because of sight restrictions or learning challenges. The process of getting a book through the recording process is extensive. Being flexible by learning all parts of the process helps Learning Ally get books completed sooner. Also be flexible in your availability. If all recording booths are booked when you'd like to volunteer, offer to volunteer in another time slot.

4

Attend training sessions. The actual recording of books, in which volunteers sit in a recording booth and read portions of books, is the main part of training. Volunteers learn to use the digital equipment, to slow down their eyes and mouths, to see and speak each word on the page and to interpret bookmarking notes specific to book recording. Attend each training session and be on time. Learning Ally is run by a small core staff, but the majority of the book preparation and actual recording is done by people like you, unpaid volunteers.

5

Contact Leontyne Anglin, Director of Volunteer Services at 609-243-5860 or complete the online volunteer registration form if you would like to volunteer.