[Blindmath] [Blind math] Nemeth code algebra, trig and calculus books for loan?

Sun Jul 18 17:53:37 UTC 2010

Just out of interest, Peter, what degree course will you be starting 
in the Autumn and what math modules will you be studying?
Paul

At 18:38 18/07/2010, you wrote:
>Hi Peter,
>  I think that Jose as well as several others here have very nicely 
> hinted at a very important aspect for success. As someone working 
> on their second doctoral degree, I can tell you from personal 
> experience that one of the most essential ingredients for being 
> successful as a blind student in higher education is to be creative 
> and innovative. I spend much of my time working with spectrograms 
> which means that I need to spend a fair amount of time 
> interpreting, manipulating, and measuring waves which is obviously 
> a very visual bit of work. because a spectrogram requires a lot of 
> visual attention, I have had to become very creative in finding 
> ways to be successful, and utilize my resources. I have learned to 
> use my own abilities, as you are trying to find ways to do to the 
> greatest extent possible. When that fails, as a first course of 
> action, I turn to the disabilities office. The more you can develop 
> a strong, positive, working relationship with  them; the more they 
> will often be willing to be of help and the more timely of a manner 
> they will do what is needed. When all else fails, I talk with my 
> advisor or other faculty if they are more appropriate (e.g., the 
> professor of a class I am taking) to resolve the problem.
>
>  I have found that  as I become more innovative, not always taking 
> the road most traveled, even by other blind individuals, there is 
> often a pleasantly surprising level of success and rewarding 
> outcomes. For example, I have come to find that I can do a large 
> portion of the fully visual spectrogram work that my fully sighted 
> peers can do without  any vision. Further, I have found that this 
> ability to use innovation as my first line of defense has made many 
> of my professors, peers, and out-of-my-university colleagues 
> develop a real respect for my capability and take a sincere notice 
> in my work/scientific outcomes. It has also helped me begin to 
> stand out among my peers which is important in nearly any field.
>
>  I know you can be very successful it just often takes extra time 
> and effort, and as I noted a fair amount of creativity on your part.
>
>
>--------------------------------------------------
>From: "Jose Tamayo" <jtblas at hotmail.com>
>Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 1:03 PM
>To: "'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'" 
><blindmath at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Nemeth code algebra,ttrig and calculus 
>books for loan?
>
>>Hello folks,
>>
>>I am one of those who is going through a Computer Science program  using
>>Nemeth code and many other tools.  I have found that most of the services
>>that provide transcription are very expensive.  One quote I got recently was
>>for $14 per page to produce Nemeth code.  Right now, I have partnered with a
>>professor in the University who has taken interest in my wanting to complete
>>this degree.  she has been creating diagrams and translating the book
>>content to MathType so that I can get it to Nemeth code.  You may not find
>>all the tools you require and need but it will be very important to let
>>yourself be known.  Let people know that you are interested in doing
>>something different and that you are willing to put the time and effort to
>>get it done.  The professor I am working with was someone that I approached
>>a couple of years ago.  she understood my goals and offered to help. Right
>>now, I receive much content from her and the disability resource center
>>often reimburses her for preparing the content I require.
>>
>>I guess I am providing one example of my particular situation but that is
>>how I am able to obtain content for classwork.  The content has not always
>>come on time but I have been able to work through my coursework.
>>
>>If I may be of further assistance, please let me know.
>>
>>Regards,
>>Jose Tamayo
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Steve Jacobson
>>Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 10:20 AM
>>To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
>>Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Nemeth code algebra, ttrig and calculus books for
>>loan?
>>
>>Peter,
>>
>>I won't say anything more on this after this note.  I truly do feel for your
>>financial problems, but the fact is that most blind
>>people going to college, even without major debt, could not affort to pay to
>>get braille or even audio books on their own.
>>Some states tend to be tighter than others, and I can't say how tight your
>>state is.  However, part of the federal laws are
>>intended to allow state agencies to help with book costs, and the college
>>you attend also has some responsibilities.  I
>>was not saying you need a private transcriber, but rather, I was referring
>>to the fact that there are organizations that do
>>transcribing to assist with textbooks.  There is such an agency in
>>Minnesota, for example, but they charge for out-of-
>>state borrowing, and they give priority to persons in-state for transcribing
>>new books.  You didn't say if you have
>>contacted your college yet, but you will have to make some contacts to find
>>out what is available already transcribed
>>and also if you have any options to get something transcribed.  Your VR
>>counselor may not be of much help, but
>>sometimes you have to "play the game" to get whatever help is available, but
>>that option won't work until you know
>>what the college is able to do.  I know RFBD has produced some books
>>primarily with audio but with braille
>>supplements, and that might be worth investigating.  Some publishers will
>>provide electronic copies of their books, but it
>>can be problematic with math.  I believe it is the American Printing House
>>for the Blind that maintains the database of all
>>books that have been transcribed by organizations around the country.  NLS
>>does very little of this kind of work.  I just
>>don't know what else to say, but I fear if you don't look at some of these
>>other issues very soon, you won't have any
>>texts in nemeth and the practice will be of little value.  I truly hope
>>things work out for you, and maybe there are people
>>on this list who live nearer to you who can make more specific suggestions
>>than I am able to make.
>>
>>Best regards,
>>
>>Steve Jacobson
>>
>>On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:51:37 -0500, Peter Wolfe wrote:
>>
>>>Steve,
>>
>>
>>
>>>    I'm trying to see how the nemeth code will look like for
>>>orientation purposes and for the pracctice in my rusty abilities in
>>>math. I haven't done serious math in almost three years. I have a VR
>>>counsuler and they are mainly only good in most cases with financial
>>>support. With the down turn in the economy and my personal financial
>>>restraints the other option would also be thrown out too. Looking at
>>>someone transcribing for me is probably way way too expensive for the
>>>normal blind college student. I also have a house with other debt
>>>credit card issues and an apartment with utilities including a
>>>dependent  brother as well. So, needless to say financial restraints
>>>are a huge problem.
>>
>>>On 7/17/10, Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com> wrote:
>>>>Peter,
>>>>
>>>>What kind of books are you requesting?  Are you looking for books to
>>learn
>>>>the Nemeth Code or to see how it is used?
>>>>Have you made contact with the college you will be attending to see if
>>they
>>>>can help you find out what books you will
>>>>be needing?  There are databases around that can be searched to see if a
>>>>given book has been brailled by anyone.
>>>>Do you have a Vocational Rehabilitation case open with your state agency?
>>>>Part of what they might be able to do is to
>>>>help with purchasing braille copies of the books you will need if they
>>are
>>>>available.  They probably would not buy books
>>>>for practice, though.  There are some places that will transcribe books
>>for
>>>>you, but they need lead time and I don't know
>>>>who serves your state.
>>>>
>>>>Best regards,
>>>>
>>>>Steve Jacobson
>>>>
>>>>On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:56:10 -0600, Peter Wolfe wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Blind Math list,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>    It's me Peter with about a month to go, I am trying to find a
>>>>>place to have nemeth code braille math books for loan from? I tried
>>>>>NLS and they have utterly blasted me out of the water via the
>>>>>telephone. I don't have the kind of money to purchase that sort of
>>>>>mammoth priced math information either. Most blind people don't have
>>>>>it either. I'd appreciate any help in this regard. By the way, when
>>>>>you guys finished your first calculus book, did you keep your notes
>>>>>and books for the next calculus? Thanks for any hints and tips like
>>>>>always.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>God bless,
>>>>>Peter, AS
>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>Peter Q. Wolfe, AS
>>>>>sunspot005 at gmail.com
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>
>>
>>>-- Peter Q. Wolfe, AS
>>>sunspot005 at gmail.com
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>Christine M. Szostak
>Graduate Student
>Language Perception Lab
>Department of Psychology, Cognitive Area
>The Ohio State University
>Columbus, Ohio
>szostak.1 at osu.edu
>
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