[Blindmath] Nemeth code algebra, ttrig and calculus books for loan?

Tue Jul 20 15:04:24 UTC 2010

A couple of things about getting textbooks.  

First, your college has the responsibility under the ADA and Section 504
to provide you with access to your texts.  While mathematics texts may
be much more difficult to obtain and render in Nemeth or in accessible
electronic forms, the responsibility is the college's to get them into
the correct format.  However, if you want to have a chance of getting
texts by the start of the semester, you need to start now - or last
month if you are looking for a specific math title.

VR can and certainly should be able to pay for Nemeth math texts.
Though the regulations for the ADA say that such things are "comparable
benefits" in terms of VR, and therefore things they feel they don't have
to pay for, the regulations under Section 504 also makes it quite clear
that your college can request VR's assistance in such cases.  Or they
can arrange some kind of cost-sharing.  Work on both of them.

BTW, RFBD is a good source for textbooks generally, as is Bookshare.org.
Colleges are increasingly turning to a publisher-sponsored entity known
as the Access Text Network (ATN) to get electronic textbook files from
publishers, some of them are readable, and they come in more or less
readable PDF, unreadable PDF, and even MS Word.  Typically, indiiduals
are not able to make the requests, only colleges, though I learned at he
convention that the Maryland Library of the Blind has made requ3ests on
behalf of patrons who are in higher ed.  But it's a quick way to get
files from which to begin creating accessible texts.

RFBD files are either DAISY or WMA.  That is, you can play the DAISY
files with hardware or software players, but a User Authorization Key
(UAK) is absolutely required.  I recommend that you get VR to purchase
you a player and a RFBD membershipa and the UAK.  RFBD's WMA versions
are playable only with Windows Media Player on a Windows machine.  They
are not, as mentioned in a previous e-mail, playable on iPods or Kindles
or anything portable but a WMA player, and they are not otherqise
transferrable from one computer to another.  Plus, they just don't have
the same navigation advantages that DAISY files have.

Bookshare.org has a fair number of various titles, lotsof computer
books, not much in Maths I suspect.  But it's a resource no college
student can ignore.  Again, get VR to to pay for your membership.

You are asking great questions of this list.  Ultimately, it will be you
who must know what to ask of VR and your college, so keep asking!

Dan Burke
Assistant Director/Assistive Technology Coordinator

Disability Services for Studentst
The University of Montana
Emma B. Lommasson Center 154
Missoula, MT 59812

406.243.4424
406.243.5330 FAX

www.umt.edu/disability

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Lisa Bongiorno
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 5:13 AM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Nemeth code algebra,ttrig and calculus books
for loan?

There are several websites where you can access audio books for free.
You do need to search.  Try also your library.  I'm from NJ and I was
directed to the website: www.listennj.com  Excellent website.  All you
need is a library card.  You go to the website, pull down the menu and
click on to your library and enter your library number.  From there you
have full access to audio books and can download them to your IPod, MP3
or burn them onto discs for free! Also try RFB&D. They have a grant that
allows for first time members, free first year membership. You can
either order CDs or download textbooks on an Ipod, Kindle, whatever
piece of equipment you are using.  Good luck.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Peter Wolfe
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 3:46 PM
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] Nemeth code algebra,ttrig and calculus books
for loan?

Thanks Steve for the help cause it really feels sincere. I really
appreciate the effort and time you put into sending the replied
e-mail. I'm working on this stuff as I speak. I will read through my
e-mail and hopefuloly I don't go to sleep to call people or e-mail.

Thanks,
Peter, AS

On 7/18/10, Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com> wrote:
> 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
>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>Blindmath mailing list
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obson%40visi.com
>>>
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>
>
>>--
>>Peter Q. Wolfe, AS
>>sunspot005 at gmail.com
>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Blindmath mailing list
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son%40visi.com
>
>
>
>
>
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>

-- 
Peter Q. Wolfe, AS
sunspot005 at gmail.com

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