Category: Geeks r Us
I haven't tried logging in because I haven't needed to, but my sister is having a hell of a time with it. No matter which screenreader-browser combination she uses, she gets a "cannot find page" error every time she logs in. She called the help line, and they were able to log in just fine. They were also sighted and none the wiser about accessibility, which I think is absolutely unacceptable. So I tried logging into her account on my PC, and I got the same error several times. Her login information is not incorrect—that's been ruled out already. Anyway, the reason I ask this is because the staff at Learning Ally are absolutely convinced there's nothing wrong, so my sister and I are trying to see if any of the user base is having the same problem. If you are, please call and harass them about this. That site is no good if we can't access it!
If you say what Alley is I'll give it a try.
Your post doesn't say how to get their. Maybe some people understand, but I'm lost.
Oh haha, Learning Ally is the new name for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. A lot of students get audio textbooks via said medium.
Here is an update: The techs finally contacted my sister and said that pressing ALT+SHIFT+M before logging into Learning Ally will help somehow. Not sure what it does by way of interacting with the webpage and screenreader, but it worked for her. Thought I'd update anyone else who might be having trouble.
Maxumizes the page.
Silly, but okay.
Thanks for telling me what that stands for.
I just learned the command I mentioned is specific to Window-Eyes. What I suggest for other screenreader users is to call Learning Ally's tech support so that they can contact Freedom Scientific or whomever and figure out the corresponding command. I wish this were universal or not required at all. One thing I know is that it is a toggle that says, "suspend all, suspend flash, suspend off." So if you know how to do that with JAWS or NVDA, you will know how to get by this. I am not proficient in those programs compared to Window-Eyes, but hopefully this gets people somewhere.
Thank you Melissa, this really helped me. I'm having a lot of trouble with the site too, and I'm glad to hear it's not just my comp being crazy.
Hmm. This isn't working. I'll try calling tech support again. strange
What in the fuck is wrong with learning ally?
I just had to download their new "read here" software to access the bookshelf.
Would you believe this? The software uses its own built in screen reader with sapi voices. It puts jaws into sleep mode, and the buttons can't be pressed with nvda.
The only way to access it is with the primitive, shitty sapi screen reader that they install with it.
Anything that puts my screen reader to sleep without telling me, or in any way screws with my screen reader settings I consider a virus.
These sorry mother fuckers!
Also, the website is awful. Its coded in flash or java or some such, and doesn't behave normally with screen readers.
It's not made for blind people, but rather for sighted people who are getting books for blind people. It doesn't encourage independence in the blind community, and even worse, is patronizing and condescending.
Burn in hell, learning ally. Thanks for setting us all back 10 years again with your shitty web design.
I feel like I"m using jaws 3 with windows 98 again when I go to your site.
FUCK YOU!!!
Well, maybe you should post that on the complaints boards on the site?
Oops, forgot, you can't access it.
Seriously, I always thought that site was for blind persons to get books?
It's a symptom of the larger problem of blind people and society, but alas, I digress. The site isn't designed for blind people, because the people who normally use it are sighted school officials and state government types. Those folks like exciting graphics and animated web content.
Thank God I have some computer skill and can navigate the site. The problem is that this is an educational website that's supposed to empower blind people. Imagine going through school and not having very much familiarity with screen reading software. Then you're told to use this site that isn't hardly accessible. How empowered does that make you feel? Cause if it were me, I'd be pissed.
I'm calling their tech support tomorrow to talk to them about this. You should all do the same.
Hell, I don't even know how people with dyslexia might read that site. I want a refund! Lmfao