About PAL
PAL was founded in 1975 with an $18,000 federal
grant. The Periodical Audio Library (now PAL) was the idea of Jim
Hamilton, a blind student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in
Education. At that time, no other agency offered an audio recording
service for print-handicapped students who needed academic journal
articles recorded quickly enough to meet weekly study deadlines.
Since 1975, PAL has provided this much-needed reading service to
print-handicapped people not only for post-secondary studies but
also for work and personal use. Since 1975 we have served over 1,000
print-handicapped individuals; most of our clients use our services
for several years.
In 1976 PAL incorporated and became a registered charity. David
Crombie and Marshall McLuhan gave their support to our first board.
Since 1978 we have received a small, annual grant from the City
of Toronto.
In 1983, the Ontario government began purchasing our service on
behalf of college and university students.
What We Do
People who have trouble reading, whether it be because of blindness,
low vision, learning disabilities or motor handicaps, come to PAL
with texts needed for work, school or personal use and we record
them onto tape, CD and MP3-CD free of charge. PAL records about 2,300 hours of
material a year, or about 41,400 pages.
All reading is done by volunteers in eight recording booths located
in PAL's office. Two full-time staff receive and schedule requests
and run the office. We also have a part-time Bookkeeper and hire several Production Assistants on an as needed basis. Our nine member Board of Directors sets
policy, fundraises and has overall responsibility for the service.
They are elected by our membership, which is comprised of readers
and clients.
Charitable Registration No. 11907 6057-RR0001
Our registered charity information return can be viewed on the Canada Revenue Agency web site.
Home. Client
Centre. Our Services.
Volunteer Activities. Funding Sources.
Contact
Us.
|
