Learning Ally? Is it worth it ?

[Anonymous]

Is Learning Ally worth it (when we have to pay)? Our 8th grader had a neuropsych evaluation in the spring and was dx with dysgraphia. The\ provider recommended learning ally, and has provided a discount code. It is not on offer from our school. The school usually posts audio-books (access for everyone, usually a high-quality YouTube video) of all assigned ELA works. Is there something special about Learning Ally that we should consider.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We used Learning Ally for textbooks, etc. that you couldn't get on Audible or YouTube.

[Anonymous]

Does your child also have a reading disability? That is mostly what it is used for - also for people with visual impairment. I’m not sure how it would help with dysgraphia. Regardless, we found that my kid with dyslexia simply didn’t use it much. He disliked the reading voices and wouldn’t listen to them for fun, and he found that even though his reading pace was always slower than other people’s he still did better on tests if he read the textbook with his eyes. I don’t know why - maybe he was spacing out while listening. So we never got much use out of it. I know others have really valued it, though! It’s a great resource.

[Anonymous]

My DS with dyslexia never uses it either. He doesn’t like the voices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS with dyslexia never uses it either. He doesn’t like the voices.

Same with my kid. She likes Bard much better -- free, with better quality audio. The only downside is that it doesn't have text for following along. https://nlsbard.loc.gov/nlsbardprod/login/NLS

[Anonymous]

Our kid really likes it and the ability to follow along in text is big. Huge.

[Anonymous]

My kid has dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia and has used Learning Ally for years. Prefers it over what MCPS wants to give her, which is Bookshare. Bookshare uses computer-generated voices and Learning Ally uses actual human voices, which makes a difference when you have difficulty reading and find it a chore. I’ve never paid for it though; she had it through private school but I would pay for it in a heartbeat.