[blindlaw] Retinitis Pigmentosa New Law Student Needs Guidance

[davant1958 at gmail.com]

Cathy,
As has been mentioned before, you might want to seriously consider
withdrawing from law school until all of your services, both from the
school, and any services you might receive from your state are in place. You
might also want to make sure you are comfortable and confident using
nonvisual  techniques and assistive technology before re-entering.
 When you say the Department of Rehabilitation Services, are you simply
talking about the state or are you including the school as well. Your school
might be willing to provide you with services such as scanning your books so
that you can read your assignment on an iPad  using Voice Over Zoom or a
Windows machine using narrator or NVDA, even if state services have not
kicked in. Sometimes the DSS office can request that a publisher such as
Thompson West send a book in an electronic format for a blind student as
long as proof of blindness is provided, and you will not use the book for
any improper purpose.
 Whatever the case, you should push back and request help immediately if you
wish to remain in school now. The Disability Student Services office might
only need a statement from a doctor certifying proof of blindness.

But at age 51, if you don't want to withdraw, you might want to consider
doing what has already been suggested in the way of assistive technology as
well as  the following:
1. Getting a classmate to share notes with you.  It is always a good idea to
take ones own notes, but if you are having trouble writing things down, you
might want to use this option. If the school recognizes you are blind and
will provide services through the Disability Student Services office, then
perhaps they will provide you with a person to take notes. 
2. Getting volunteers or hiring someone to help do some of your reading. You
can consider having things recorded so you can listen back to the readings.
Even if you receive every possible assistive technology you need, you should
still learn when, where and how to use a reader, given that you have RP.
3. Speak with your professors to make sure you know what all of your reading
assignments will be, and make sure you have them in an electronic format.
Make sure you have some arrangements to take your exams, e.g., using a
reader or being able to use a computer to make things larger or read out to
you.  Make sure you have a way to write any possible school exams.





Good luck.


 Denise R. Avant, President
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
(773)-991-8050
Live the life you want.
For more information about NFBI,
go to www.nfbofillinois.org.

-----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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