Eligibility - Who Qualifies

Eligibility for Services

The use of our audiobooks is restricted to those who have a demonstrated reading based learning difference, visual impairment, or physical disability that makes it difficult to read using traditional print.

Federal law allows reproduction of books specifically for those with disabilities to be exempt from the normal requirement to pay publisher fees and obtain copyright permissions for use (via a special provision known as the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act). We can produce our books and maintain our library at an affordable rate only by documenting that our members have disabilities.

We have four options for providing proof of eligibility

Learning Ally’s mission is to help those who learn differently. Let’s verify your documentation. Which of these best represents you?

Option #1:

I have an IEP / 504 plan

We do not require that you send the full evaluation/assessment with detailed personal information. We will only need you to provide the following information:

Evaluator’s contact information
Diagnosing evaluator’s signature; and
A page that summarizes/defines the disability type.

This can be either e-mailed (CustomerCare@Learningally.org), faxed (609.751.5263), mailed (Learning Ally, 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540) or submitted online when you sign up for membership.

Start Your Membership Now >

Option #2:

I do not have an IEP or 504 Plan, but a clinician has diagnosed me with a print disability

There are two steps in this process:

Download and take the form below to your qualified clinician to sign and verify you or your child has a visual, perceptual, or other physical disability.

Download and Take To Your Qualified Clinician >

Once signed, This can be either e-mailed (CustomerCare@Learningally.org), faxed (609.751.5263), mailed (Learning Ally, 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540) or submitted online when you sign up for membership.

Option #3:

I don’t have any documentation. I need help in obtaining an evaluation.

A: Formal Evaluation

If you would like to have a formal evaluation and diagnosis, the resource directory linked below will provide information to you regarding specialists in your area.

Access Our Find A Specialist Locator >

Eligibility can be determined by a professional who has experience identifying whether a student exhibits a specific skill deficit, disability or condition. Qualified Educators can determine eligibility through assessments, observations and review of student work.

Table detailing which professionals can help you obtain an evaluation:

Examples of Qualified Educators In Schools

Reading Specialists
Special Education Teachers
Learning Disability, Dyslexia or Resource Specialists
School Psychologists
Educational Diagnosticians
Child Study Teams
Teachers of the Visually Impaired
Speech Language Pathologists
Physical and Occupational Therapists

Examples of Qualified Evaluators Outside of Schools

Reading Specialists
Doctors of Medicine
Doctors of Osteopathy
Neurologists
Clinical Psychologists
Ophthalmologists
Optometrists
Osteopathy Psychiatrists
Registered Nurses
Speech Language Pathologists
Physical and Occupational Therapists
Professional Staff of Hospitals, Institutions,
Public or Social Welfare Agencies

*Please note this is not an exhaustive list

B: Physician Verification

If you have a family physician that can verify you or your child has either a visual, perceptual, or other physical disability, please download this form for signature or forward to them by e-mail. Once completed, please return to Learning Ally either via fax at 609-751-5263 or e-mail to CustomerCare@LearningAlly.org.

Option #4:

I am a Bookshare or NLS member

If you have already provided your verification of eligibility to Bookshare or your state’s NLS Library, we can ask that organization to verify membership for you. You can provide us with your membership information during the online registration process, and we’ll do the rest!

Start Your Membership Now >

Learning Ally is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, ID: 13-1659345. We are proud to be recognized at the highest levels by various charity compliance authorities Charity Navigator, Guidestar (Candid), and BBB. Get Involved!