[nabs-l] Tips for DSS offices

[T. Joseph Carter]

Mike,

They serve a valid purpose for people who need them.  The problem is that 
most of them are dysfunctional and don't serve any purpose well.  That has 
been true at many institutions I have attended, but at present, the DSO at 
Western Oregon University is a fine office and far better than any other I 
have worked with at providing the appropriate accommodations in a timely 
manner.

They're still within their first year of a totally new staff, who began in 
January, and they've accomplished much in that time just related to 
blindness.  For one, you might recall that I asked last year in November 
or December about how DSOs that get it right work regarding textbooks--the 
winning answer was provided by Dezman Jackson, and Western Oregon is 
working to implement that solution, as quickly as they may.  They're still 
working on some of the infrastructure pieces.

To steal an actually useful idea offered by Obama for a change (and thus I 
state my political bias), what we need isn't more or less DSOs.  We need 
better DSOs that actually provide _reasonable_ accommodations based upon 
the actual disability of the person seeking accommodations.  We need them 
to be as creative in solving problems as the rest of the world is at 
creating them.  We need them to come up with the most appropriate way to 
diminish the effects of a disability--no more and no less.  And we need 
them to do it in a timely and efficient manner that doesn't create extra 
work or burden for students or faculty.

When real people come into the picture, cookie cutter forms and stereotype 
accommodations don't cut it.  That's my take.

Joseph

On Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 12:41:37PM -0700, Mike Freeman wrote:
>Methinks DSS offices should petition colleges and universities to abolish themselves (the ofices, that is). <grin>
>
>Mike
>
>#- Original Message #-
>From: Dezman Jackson <jackson.dezman at gmail.com>
>To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>Date: 2008/10/31 15:53:50
>Subject: [nabs-l] Tips for DSS offices
>
>>
>>
>> Hello, nabsters,
>> The Alabama Association of Blind Students is in the process of compiling a list of guidelines or tips regarding serving blind students. Specifically, we would like information on what accommodations may or may not be appropriate and what tasks the student should be expected to handle on their own. I know that a lot of us have much experience with this type of thing so if you would be so kind please post your thoughts. Our plan is to start compiling these tips at the end of November.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Dezman
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