[blindlaw] Retinitis Pigmentosa New Law Student Needs Guidance

[Laura Wolk]

Hi Kathy,

I am so sorry that you are going through this, and I'm glad that you
reached out. I second Lauren's suggestion. It will be much easier for
you to explain a leave of absence to a potential employer than to try
to get your resume and transcript past screeners if your grades are
negatively impacted by your current situation. law school is stressful
enough, and even if you can get your school to get you services
faster, school will be made even more stressful by needing to teach
yourself new technology and skills on top of learning all of the new
legal information. i think you should seriously consider this
alternative.

Laura

On 8/18/18, Loren Wakefield via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> It would seem to me, that since you cannot receive assistance from the
> disability office until next semester, you may want to take this time off
> to
> go and receive some training from blind inc or the center in Colorado or
> Louisiana.  There, you can learn skills to help with the problems you are
> facing.  In the longrun, the training you can get from these places will be
> worth it.  You don't really want to get so far behind that you are forced
> out.  That doesn't sound that exciting to me anyway.  So, it might be worth
> what you paid for this suggestion;  however, I strongly believe you will be
> better off in the future.  I wish you well.  Take care
>
>
> Loren
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Kathy Gustafson
> via BlindLaw
> Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2018 12:24 AM
> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Kathy Gustafson <kathryngustafson at charter.net>
> Subject: [blindlaw] Retinitis Pigmentosa New Law Student Needs Guidance
>
> Hello,
>
> I am a  new subscriber to this listserve and also am a new law student. I
> am
> so glad I found this resource and happy to be here!
>
> I have been diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa for the last 30 years. I
> was
> just accepted to law school and I already am seeing, after this first week,
> that my vision loss is affecting me more than I thought it might. It is
> also
> progressing even faster now than ever before.
>
>
>
> I just met with the Department of Rehabilitative Services last month, but
> it
> won't be until next semester that I will start receiving services. I do not
> have any formal training at all on any technology or mobility aids. My
> central vision is still healthy, but everything else is either gone or is
> dying, so essentially my vision is closing in quite fast.
>
> While I wait for services to teach me cane, braille, and provide me with
> assistive technology, does anyone have any advice on how I can navigate?  I
> have been using my tablet to either take video, photos, or to blow-up
> presentations which I can't see (such as the board or overhead monitors.)
> It
> still is frustrating because I know as things become more intense I may get
> further behind through the compounding of these issues.
>
> I am quite slow because my law school is old and the lighting is not that
> great. I am slower getting where I need to go, which is really making my
> disability a hindrance for others in my class, I feel. Of course I am 51
> and
> the oldest in my class, but I don't think that is the issue at hand here!
>
> Any help or advice that you found helped you through law school or your
> practice will be much appreciated.
>
>
>
> Kathy in Rockton, Illinois (1L at Northern Illinois University School of
> Law
> - DeKalb, IL)
>
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