[Blindmath] how did your TVIs assist you?

Tue Dec 1 17:27:43 UTC 2015

Anna,

That list really does sound overwhelming, sorry about that. And it
sounds very typical of the demands placed on blind STEM students.

The thing I find surprising is that so many of the items on that list
have nothing to do with technology or science. And, as an Asperger's
person, they're too peopley for me. Because I'm blind, people seem to
have this expectation that I should be better than average at
interpersonal communication and educating everyone around me about
blindness. Now, I'm not using autism as an excuse for anything here.
I've had to get better over the years, but it is exhausting talking to
all these people all the time and not really being sure of what
they're thinking. Being blind from birth doesn't help either. I've
never been a sighted person; trying to put myself in one's shoes is
like trying to imagine I have magical powers.

I guess I'm saying, don't expect that blindness = better communication
or more willingness (or ability) to educate. I don't know where this
assumption comes from, but it overwhelms me and I need a break. I
decided to become a computer programmer because I enjoy programming
computers. If I'd wanted all this relating stuff, I would have chosen
something in the humanities.

Amanda

On 11/30/15, Anna via Blindmath <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Maureen,
> I applaud your dedication to preparing your students.  If only everyone did
> this...
> Thank you for asking.
> I don't know how much help I will be because I did not have a TVI or
> anything like that in high school as I had significant vision then and used
> it just fine.  but I am in college now and no longer have that.  I am
> majoring in neuroscience.  And I feel completely overwhelmed.  It is not the
> fault of anyone at my high school, obviously, but how great it would have
> been if i had been able to have someone help prepare me for everything I
> would have to deal with as a blind college student and more specifically, a
> blind STEM student.
> If you know or can find out very specifically what is required of blind
> college students then I think you could teach those skills to your students.
>  In college nothing should be expected.  Perhaps accomodationsare provided,
> but even if they are, they are usually not very helpful and you have to
> accommodate yourself.
> These are things I have to do in college, and if I have to do them in
> college, students should already know how to do these things when they
> arrive.  The complexity of trying to learn how to do them in addition to
> learning all the material you have to learn in college anyway, is, I would
> say, one of the most difficult things I have done in my life.
> Things I do in college:
> Find books that work for me,
>  Read and write math,
> Deal with graphics,
> Communicate effectively with professors who have great misunderstandings
> about blindness and accomodations, read and create presentations such as
> powerpoints,
> Write papers containing graphs, tables, spreadsheets, mathematical work,
> work with a reader (which is not as easy as it may seem, and actually
> requires skill and experience),
> Manage time effectively,
> Work in groups with students that try to work around me,
> Know what accomodationswork best for me,
> Communicate how to make things accessible to the Disabilty office staff
> (although they should know, they dont actually tend to),
> Or learn how to work around them,
> Work with complex scientific and graphing calculators,
> Navigate and enter complex material online,
> Mostly what I am having to do is learn to be creative, and unfortunately I
> am having to educate and train the people hired to accommodate me.  This is
> extremely difficult when I am new to this and really have little idea of how
> things work.  So I guess I would say give your students as much training as
> you can so that they know how to accommodate themselves.  You may do it for
> them, but they should be familiar enough with the process to be able to
> explain to you how to do it.
> Of course, I am not entirely certain how things work for blind kids in k-12,
> and I'm not sure this is really what you were asking for.  But hopefully you
> can get something from this message.
>
> Thanks,
> Anna
>
>
>> On Nov 30, 2015, at 8:07 AM, Lewicki, Maureen via Blindmath
>> <blindmath at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Good morning!  I am a TVI of some great and capable students. Would you do
>> me a favor? Could you reflect back on your high school years and let me
>> know:
>>
>> Did you have a TVI supporting you?
>> What did he/she do to prepare you for college and career?
>> What do you regret the TVI did not do to prepare you?
>>
>> Thanks for your input! My career is not long enough to make all my own
>> mistakes! I would rather learn from others' mistakes and strengths!!
>>
>> Maureen Murphy Lewicki
>> Teacher of the Visually Impaired
>> Bethlehem Central School District
>> Bethlehem High School
>> 700 Delaware Ave
>> Delmar, NY 12054
>> http://www.bethlehemschools.org<http://www.bethlehemschools.org/>
>> Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience
>> of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired,
>> and success achieved.<http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/30186.html>
>> Helen Keller
>>
>>
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>
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