[Fabs] I just need to vent.

Paul Martinez paul09ms at gmail.com
Mon Apr 7 22:28:26 UTC 2014 

Greetings Darien,

Thanks for being a lurker on our list serve lol. On the other hand,
Kathy and I are already working with Shawn and the attorneys of the
NFB on this matter. As president of FABS I take my role series and do
not want any student to feel or go through this. Thanks for your
concerns

Paul m. martinez, President of FABS

Board member of National Federation of the Blind of Florida


On 4/7/14, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
> That's definitely a frustrating thing for sure.
>  My understanding is that a powerpoint can be done by a blind person with
> the right skills.   in this case, it would be  an understanding of JAWS or
> whatever  program you are using.  unfortunately I don't know how to as much
> as I should.
>
>  It's something I've had to learn over time that instructors aren't always
> thinking about    accommodating blind students. There are some good one's
> for sure, but no matter what, the  most success I have is when I get out in
> front of the situation. If I've been in conversation on a project and the
> instructor doesn't want to work with me on figuring out an alternative
> project, I'll  try to propose an idea based upon what they are asking for.
> Most times  instructors  just want to see that you get it and while a
> powerpoint be a visual way of doing it (sighted folks like visual things)
>
>  I'm glad ou are sticking with it.
>  .
>
>
> On Apr 7, 2014, at 2:38 PM, Kathy Roskos <kroskos at cox.net> wrote:
>
>> The initial assignment was a powerpoint presentation. I am totally blind
>> and completing my program online, so this is not a realistic assignment.
>> The teacher knew about this inaccessible assignment for the entire five
>> weeks of the class, but kept saying she didn't know what else I could do
>> because any other assignment would not be fair to the other students in
>> the class because they had to do so much more than I would. The last day
>> of class, she finally agreed upon an alternative assignment. Then of
>> course, it would be necessary for me to take an incomplete in order to
>> finish the new assignment. In the meantime, there was an assignment in a
>> visual chart which I could not access. Disabled student services converted
>> it to accessible format, and I completed it, but she said she would not
>> award the points for it, because it was late. This is where the first
>> violation happened. Then she sent me the incomplete  form to sign and
>> agree to, but it was also inaccessible to me. After the violation with the
>> lost points, I decided I would rather seek legal advice than agree to an
>> incomplete with a teacher who violated the ADA. Without my signature or
>> agreement, she submitted the incomplete form and told me it was too late
>> to change it.
>>
>>    This is the situation in a nutshell. It is definitely complicated. I
>> just can't agree to work with this instructor to finish the course, when
>> there is no action taken  to address the illegal elements.
>>
>> Kathy
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darian Smith" <dsmithnfb at gmail.com>
>> To: <fabs at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 4:37 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Fabs] I just need to vent.
>>
>>
>> Hi Kathy,
>> I'm sorry that it had to come to this.
>> What was the initial assignment, and what did you end up  doing?
>> was the alternative assignment  mutually agreed upon?
>> what papers did she submit without your signature?
>>  Darian
>> On Apr 7, 2014, at 1:22 PM, Kathy Roskos <kroskos at cox.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>>   Thanks for the response. You certainly aren't too late to enter this
>>> one. It is still continuing as we speak. It has escalated from a dispute
>>> between student and teacher to a full-blown legal issue. This instructor
>>> violated the law by refusing to accept an assignment after it was made
>>> accessible and refused to award me points even though it was completed.
>>> Then she submitted paperwork on my behalf without my signature or
>>> approval. This will definitely be continuing for the forseeable future.
>>>
>>>   The school faculty wants me to continue to work with this instructor
>>> and after grades are awarded, then file a grievance if I am not satisfied
>>> with the grade. In what profession is it customary to continue to work
>>> with someone who has repeatedly violated federal law?  Do you continue to
>>> work with a doctor, a lawyer or an instructor who has taken illegal
>>> action? Well, I can say that I don't, and if the school allows their
>>> instructors to continue working with a student whose rights have been
>>> denied, then they deserve to answer for it.
>>>
>>> Kathy
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darian Smith" <dsmithnfb at gmail.com>
>>> To: <fabs at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 3:43 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Fabs] I just need to vent.
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Kathy,
>>>
>>> I'm sorry for entering the fray as late as I have.
>>> I am a lurker on list so I typically don't get to have the dialog that
>>> you guys are having on this list because well, I just don't. lol
>>>
>>> It sounds  like it's too late  to refine the assignment, is   that
>>> right?
>>> somehow it would have been my plan to do an alternative assignment that
>>> was so good, that it out-classed the visual assignment hahaha.
>>>
>>> I wonder if your instructor doesn't see discrimination as the universal
>>> thing it is.
>>> most of us experience  it in some way or another.
>>> Certainly  you are not  alone and when you head  clears, I hope you think
>>> about how to make sure you aren't taking this lying down. next time it
>>> happens.
>>>
>>> you have friends here and you clearly are  bright, so if it happens
>>> again, you have the support to make sure  that you    don't get caught up
>>> in the situation.
>>>
>>> Thank you for sharing, I understand it wasn't easy
>>>
>>> Darian
>>> On Apr 3, 2014, at 5:40 AM, Kathy Roskos <kroskos at cox.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Paul,
>>>>
>>>>  Thanks for responding to my rant. Sometimes it is better to get mad
>>>> than to just break down in tears. I love your solution. Thanks for
>>>> making me laugh!
>>>>
>>>>  I will do everything I can to make sure this teacher feels as much
>>>> backlash as possible for her discrimination. You wouldn't think a
>>>> psychology professor who teaches about the problem of prejudice and
>>>> discrimination, would indulge in it herself. Makes me wonder how people
>>>> like that get as far as they do in life.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again.
>>>>
>>>> Kathy
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Martinez" <paul09ms at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "Florida Association of Blind Students" <fabs at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2014 1:53 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Fabs] I just need to vent.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Good evening,
>>>>> I deathly want to let you know you're not on this alone. Recently as
>>>>> you may know I will send the hospital, in a professor refuse to give me
>>>>> my makeup tests. However the disability services at my school is not
>>>>> backing out and neither and pie. One thing that we have to keep in mind
>>>>> is that we will face people like this all the time, and it is up to us
>>>>> to change their foolish behavior. Remember, you are a member of the
>>>>> national Federation of the blind any student apart of the Florida
>>>>> Association of blind students. The word but it's not a part of our
>>>>> dictionary. One thing I would recommend this to ask your professor to
>>>>> give your site back so you are able to do the test. When she does that
>>>>> you will be able to do the assignment. Till then she as a professor
>>>>> needs to make adjustments for you and any other student. Slap her with
>>>>> that solution, I will see the results. Best wishes
>>>>>
>>>>> Paul Martinez, Pres.
>>>>> Florida Association of blind students 813 390 5720
>>>>> Paul09ms at gmail.com
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Apr 2, 2014, at 10:27 PM, "Kathy Roskos" <kroskos at cox.net> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello list members,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  I have just had one of the worst days of my school expeerience. I
>>>>>> have a teacher who insists that I need to do an assignment that is
>>>>>> completely visual. Disabled student services has explained to her that
>>>>>> I am unable to do this, and she has been taking it out on me ever
>>>>>> since. She sent me a raving e-mail about how she cannot think of an
>>>>>> alternative assignment that would be equal to the one the other
>>>>>> students are doing, and how it is not fair that I don't have to do the
>>>>>> same work as they do. She then asked me to come up with an assignment
>>>>>> that is comparable. Who is the teacher here anyway? When I said I
>>>>>> wasn't qualified to create my own assignment, she told disabled
>>>>>> student services that I refused to do an alternative assignment. we
>>>>>> are on the last day of the class and she still hasn't given me a last
>>>>>> assignment to do. She won't respond to my e-mails or phone calls. I
>>>>>> think she is planning to try to fail me. As a student who has never
>>>>>> received less than an A for two years, I feel devestated. I want to
>>>>>> drop out and forget the whole thing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  Can anyone tell me about experiences they have had with teachers from
>>>>>> hell?  It might make me feel better to know I'm not alone.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for bearing with me during this rant.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Kathy
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>>>>>
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>>>>
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>
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-- 
Paul M. Martinez
President,  Florida Association of Blind Students

NFBFL Board Member

Treasurer, Florida State Wide Chapter
Paul09ms at gmail.com
Ph: 813-390-5720

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