Honoring 78 Years of Listening to Learners
In 1948, a visionary woman answered a call to action. Anne T. MacDonald was an American philanthropist whose leadership and foresight would change the course of education for students with disabilities.
Anne Thompson MacDonald
Her simple but powerful idea—that learning begins with listening—sparked a movement.
From Inspiration to Action
After World War II, while volunteering with the Women’s Auxiliary at the New York Public Library, MacDonald became aware of a growing crisis: blinded veterans returning home were enrolling in college through the GI Bill—but had no access to educational materials.
Believing that “education is a right, not a privilege,” Macdonald organized volunteers and, in 1948, founded the National Committee for Recording for the Blind in New York City.
What began with a few voices in a library booth soon grew into a nationwide volunteer movement—one that rallied thousands of people to record, duplicate, catalog, and mail vinyl records of textbooks to blind and visually impaired students.
A Movement Powered by Volunteers
Originally known as Recording for the Blind (RFB), the organization expanded its impact as technology evolved. From records to cassette tapes, CDs to digital downloads, the mission stayed the same: make learning accessible to those who need it most.
Under Anne’s leadership, RFB became a pioneer in using recorded media for education. Her work earned prestigious recognition, including the Migel Medal from the American Foundation for the Blind (1973) and an honorary doctorate from Yale University (1988). In 1983, the organization’s Princeton headquarters was named the Anne T. MacDonald Center in her honor.
Listening, Then and Now
Over the years, RFB became Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) and is now Learning Ally—a nonprofit serving students with reading-based learning differences like dyslexia, as well as visual and physical disabilities.
We’ve never stopped evolving—but we’ve always stayed true to Anne’s original vision: that learning should be accessible to every student—and that the power of the human voice can help make that possible.
💡 The Learning Ally Audiobook SolutionⓇ pairs human-read audiobooks with evidence-based strategies to help students overcome reading barriers and build confidence.
Start the School Year by Listening
As a new school year begins, we invite educators and administrators to do what our founder did: listen from the start.
- Listen to the student who avoids reading aloud
- Listen to the teacher who knows something isn’t clicking
- Listen to the families asking for support
- Listen to the administrators working to find proven solutions for their districts
Because when we listen early, we don’t just accommodate—we intervene, support and empower. Detecting the signs of struggling readers early (see Dyslexia: What to Look For and How to Help) can change their academic trajectory—and often their entire future.
“Prior to having access to Learning Ally, not only did we have students who were struggling, but we had frustrated teachers as well.”
“Learning Ally simply helps level the playing field so that all students can have access to grade level material.”
Kristen Trinder, Reading Intervention Teacher, Colorado
Support for Students and Educators
Learning Ally helps schools support struggling readers in two powerful ways:
- Direct Student Support: Our Audiobook Solution aligns with curriculum and provides access to thousands of human-narrated books, including literature and textbooks
- Educator Support: We provide professional learning to help educators recognize reading barriers early and use evidence-based strategies in the classroom
🎧 Sample a Learning Ally Audiobook
Join Us in Listening and Learning
This back-to-school season, we’re inviting you to be part of the next chapter.
📥 Get Our Back-to-School Guide – Download our complimentary guide for literacy leaders to help every student start strong. Discover practical strategies to identify and support struggling readers early—giving teachers the tools to turn small challenges into big growth.
👥 Join Our Educator Community & Share Your Story – This growing community of educators is dedicated to literacy leadership. Our mission is simple: to smash the literacy gap by applying the Science of Reading to all grades and stages of a student’s reading journey to drive successful outcomes for ALL students.