Almost Blind — and Reading/Writing All the Time

Born with Retinoblastoma, Nicole Green has been seriously visually impaired since birth — but she’s harbored a deep love of reading and stories since childhood. Now Nicole is a 4th-year PhD candidate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she enthusiastically teaches English rhetoric and composition to undergraduates. This outstanding role model was one of several young scholars honored by Learning Ally with a National Achievement Award in Washington, DC on April 27, 2013.

“After school, I was so mentally exhausted… We knew it was dyslexia.”

Nathan Bouldin, a freshman at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, shares his story of being diagnosed with dyslexia at an early age, and his subsequent determination to succeed in education no matter what. He also describes the impact of accessible audiobook accommodations from Learning Ally that have helped him thrive in college. Nathan is one of six Learning Ally National Achievement Award winners who were honored by the organization at The Newseum in Washington, DC on April 27, 2013.

When do Beer and Dyslexia go together? When you’re dyslexic and studying to become a Master Brewer, of course! Meet Brian Murphy (@BrianBrewsBeer), who tweeted out to us last week: “I am dyslexic & a brewer & I would just like to give a shout out to @Learning_Ally for recording the first brewing education book for me.” 

At age 28, Brian is pursuing a Certificate in Brewing Science with the American Brewers Guild. Learning Ally volunteers and studio staff have been producing the audio textbooks he needs to accomplish his goal. We visited Brian at the popular Mad Fox Brewing Company in Falls Church, Virginia, where he began as a bartender and has been perfecting his craft ever since. As you might expect, the beer there is piped from tank to tap, and is mighty good!

“Many people who end up in the criminal justice system have learning disabilities. Having worked in the criminal justice field over a lifetime, I met so many people who, if they had just got a shot at the things that Learning Ally is reaching out to do now, they would not have got in as much trouble as they did.

“If students aren’t able to read, they’re not able to communicate essential messages of life. They’re not able to be employable, especially in this day and age. So that if we want people to be productive and fulfilled in their lives, this is a skill and a knowledge they have to have.

“When I’ve met users of Learning Ally’s services they’re so appreciative and I’m overwhelmed by the fact at how far that people can go in their education by using the services.”

- Don Cochran, former Probation Commissioner for the State of Massachusetts, and a studio volunteer for Learning Ally in Cambridge

Students with print disabilities who have access to audiobooks significantly outperform their peers in math tests, according to a recent study conducted by the national nonprofit Learning Ally.

billysoco:

Tonight’s reading made me sound smart to my friends… @Learning_Ally #volunteer

dyslexic-kids:

This is why a support group for children and teens with dyslexia is so important….

Speaking of accessible audiobooks, a message came in today from Kelly Fritz, who has dyslexia:

“Can I just tell you I have blown through 8 novels in 10 weeks. I love the new system and I listen to them while I do chores around the house and in the car.  Crazy….. to have gone from not being able to read at all to this has opened up my world. Thank you so much for all that you guys do.”

Reading was sheer torment for Leslie, a child with dyslexia — until the family’s speech language pathologist introduced her to Learning Ally’s accessible audiobooks.