From dsmithnfb at gmail.com Sun Oct 6 08:40:01 2013 From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com (Darian Smith) Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 01:40:01 -0700 Subject: [Mabs] From the Presenters to you: Back to school call notes. Message-ID: <7250A136-1904-44B4-98B7-FF9A5EFBFA83@gmail.com> Hello Nabs-ters, Recall that we had a back to school call a few weeks ago with a couple of all-star speakers. If for some reason you missed it or need to get their wisdom again, I am pleased to tell you that they have been so kind as to give you a written account of their secrets to unending and invaluable academic and social success. First from Cody: Back to School Conference Call Notes Academia Requesting Accommodations It is important to request accommodations with Disability Support Services ahead of time. They will usually give out accommodation letters to give to professors that list the granted accommodations. Give letter to professor before start of class via email or in person D. Ask if he or she has additional questions comments or concerns so these issues can be handled ahead of time. Obtaining Text Books A. Learning Ally is a great resource Membership costs $100 but may be able to have DVR pay the cost or be put on school membership B. Book share also carries a wide variety of books Excellent because it is free to students In the text book cannot be obtained through an outside resource your DSO should be able to convert it or obtain an accessible copy from the publisher. Inaccessible projects Often times (depending on major) some students will be challenged with projects or assignments that are inaccessible as a result of computer programs Options Available: Ask professor for alternative assignment that achieves the same purpose. Hire reader to help assist in describing visual aspects of the project. Work with a classmate if allowed on the project but make sure that you are contributing to the project and gaining an understanding of the material even of your partner may have to perform certain tasks due to their inaccessibility. *There is a time and place for all of the above said methods. 4. Hiring Readers If material is technical make sure to hire someone who understands it if it Often times the head of the department can recommend exceptional students to you as readers. And from Liliya: NABS Comference Call Write up that took place on: Sept 22nd, 2013. At: 7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Speaker Presented on Behalf of Involvement on Campus and Campus Orientation: Liliya Asadullina College orientation usually takes place 3 to 4 days during the summer. The college offers several times that you can choose to attend. Orientation includes a tour of campus and dorms, activities for Freshmenn, Freshmenn class meeting which is called Freshmenn convocation. This is a time to meet others and ask any questions that you may have. Some activities will be present so that you could get to know people. Activities may include movie night, ice cream social, and small group activities. You will have a small group leader who will be like a tour guide for you during your orientation session. You will have free meals in the cafeteria to get you oriented and you will listen to a few speakers. The speakers will inform you of vital information. You will have a random room mate for the time of the orientation. Don?t hesitate to put yourself out there and meet new people. It will be uncomfortable at first, but it will be beneficial if you do so. Welcome week: This week includes activities from all of the campus organizations and clubs. The orgs / clubs will have intro sessions that will inform you about their goals and what they are all about. Essentially it is a week to explore what is on Campus. There will be also social events such as bbq?s and movie nights in order for the Freshmenn to get to know each other. The housing department will hoast events as well. You will have a floor dorm meeting with your residential adviser, (RA.) Your RA might have an activity planned for you. An RA is like a mother/father figure of the Freshmenn floor. He/she is an upper classman who is in charge of the dorm floor. They make sure everyone is getting along and if not they will write people up. They are there to help if anyone needs it. They inform everyone who lives on that floor about up coming events. Every floor in a dorm setting has an RA. Tips: Getting involved on campus can help you establish long-term friendships, relationships, and provide you with good connections. Get out of your comfort zone by putting yourself into big crowded events, and introducing yourself to random people. Go join clubs that no one you know is in it. Prioritizing: Make yourself a daily calendar. Fill in your times and activities/class schedule. Getting Oriented to Campus: Walk through the class schedule a few times before school begins. Have a parent or friend walk through the schedule with you. Even a college disabilities office staff can help you with that. Don?t be afraid to ask people questions if you are lost. This is also another way to make friends. You also have an option to get your OVR Rehab center to pay for you to get an O and M instructor, but don?t utilize them too much. If you have any further questions about college life, feel free to email me at: aliliya at msudenver.edu Thank you all and best wishes to your college experiences! Again, many thanks to the presenters of this topic, as they gave us very valuable information. Remember, we are always looking for topics for membership calls and presenters for those calls. Should you have any questions/need some help developing your idea, or have any other questions regarding nabs, please feel free to contact me via the below information. Thank you, Darian please feel free to contact me via the information below. Darian Smith 2nd Vice President, National Association of Blind Students (415) 215-9809 dsmithnfb at gmail.com www.nabslink.org Follow the National Association of Blind Students on twitter: @nabslink > > Vehicle Donations Take the Blind Further > Donate your car to the National Federation of the Blind today! > For more information, please visit: www.carshelpingtheblind.org or call 1-855-659-9314 From dsmithnfb at gmail.com Fri Oct 18 20:17:51 2013 From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com (Darian Smith) Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 13:17:51 -0700 Subject: [Mabs] The National Association of Blind Students is Looking for you! Message-ID: <10083882-EC3D-4699-B1FE-DB268D9571FA@gmail.com> Greetings Fellow Students, The National Association of Blind Students is looking for energetic and passionate people like you to serve on it's membership committee. have a great idea that you would like to work on in order to benefit fellow students? Want to help spread the word of the Federation to students across the country? looking for an opportunity to gain leadership experience and become more involved in nabs. Well the membership committee would love to have you. if interested, please be in contact with Darian Smith at dsmithnfb at gmail.com. Thanks so much and I look forward to talking with you! Also, if membership building is not something you are interested in, don't fear the following committees are here: 1. Fundraising. 2. Student Slate 3. communications If you have an idea for something that does not fall within any of those areas, please feel free to be in touch with us; we love to hear from you! yours in the movement, . Darian Smith 2nd Vice President, National Association of Blind Students dsmithnfb at gmail.com www.nabslink.org Follow the National Association of Blind Students on twitter: @nabslink > > Vehicle Donations Take the Blind Further > Donate your car to the National Federation of the Blind today! > For more information, please visit: www.carshelpingtheblind.org or call 1-855-659-9314