[nabs-l] accomodations in public school

Sun Nov 9 13:21:27 UTC 2008

I went to Catholic school from fifth through eighth grade and somehow
got braille.  But I am totally blind.  We somehow worked it out so
that my vision teacher set foot on the private school campus and we
had the same church and state crap going on as with Franandiah's case.
 But the difference is that I have no usefuvision.  With Franandiah's
case, the following should happen:
1. An eye exam and E chart screening.  That should prove what we're
expecting that she doesn't have enough useful vision to read print.
2. Enlargement of materials or use of Braille in a private school.
In the worst case scenario, the next step should occur and it is
3. Switch to a publich school.  I think Christian schools should be a
lot more Christ-like in providing education of people with
disabilities, but with the materials they need.  Besides, in this
case, this isn't someone doing their Christian duty.  My parents were
actually more interested in getting accommodations, and it's a good
thing this happened.  But think of it this way: if this school isn't
doing their Christian duty to help Franandiah read what she must, they
don't deserve her parents' money or her business.  Public high schools
are beter but may have some cons as well.  But at least she can get
more accommodations.  Good luck.
Beth

On 11/8/08, Sydney Walker Freedman <freedmas at stolaf.edu> wrote:
> It sounds like the sight that you do have is unstable and/or not
> enough to be useful.  Eye exams can prove that, and so can your
> experiences of strain and difficulty (which should not be dismissed as
> invalid or symptoms of being dramatic).  Yes, being positive is great
> (I'm known even for being too optimistic at times), but your situation
> is sort of like someone with an illness not receiving proper
> treatment.  A person in such a case could be positive, but he would
> still have to deal with and react to unnecessary pain, trouble, etc.
> Anyway...  As far as getting Braille books through something other
> than public school, you could try state services (though they can be
> difficult to work with, and sometimes things take awhile).  In the
> meantime, what do people think about the idea of you using readers?
>
> Pax Christi,
> Sydney
>
> On 11/8/08, Franandah Damstra <fantasyfanatic01 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Yeah, I've tried talking to people and all they say is "As long as you
>> have sight, you need to use it." So, I can't get any braille. The
>> thing is, our family just doesn't have the money to pay for it
>> ourselves! Is there a way to get books in braille outside of public
>> school services? Is there a way that I can prove that I "need
>> braille"? I'm just so beyond frustrated with both my school and my
>> parents. All my parents are thinking of is having a 'good Christian
>> education and informant." But, they never though of  what it would be
>> like for a child with a disability. I'm not understanding material, I
>> have no friends, I get mocked, and I get up every morning crying
>> because I don't' want to go back to school. My parents just say "Oh,
>> your being so over dramatic! It's really not all that bad! Maybe if
>> you were positive about school it would to better for you!" It doesn't
>> work that way though. I'm struggling so much and my parents just don't
>> think I am working hard enough. How can you work harder than your
>> best? How do you react? What do you do? I mean, Ive threatened to just
>> drop out and leave I'm no unhappy, they don't care. I've already told
>> them I'm not going to collage. How could I? My high school experience
>> is so bad that I know I just can't go on. What do I do?
>>
>> On 11/8/08, Rachel Becker <Rachel at beckerconsultants.com> wrote:
>>> I know someone who went to private school in Philadelphia and went to
>>> private school and he got Braille services. He's totally blind.
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
>>> Behalf Of Sydney Walker Freedman
>>> Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2008 12:42 AM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] accomodations in public school
>>>
>>>
>>> oh that's terrible!  The issue here is that private schools don't have
>>> their own vision staff, braille transcribers, equipment, etc. and
>>> don't have access to the staff, equipment, etc. from public schools
>>> (at least this was true for Arizona).  However, thre should be some
>>> way to still get services.  For example, a good friend of mine went to
>>> a private school but received Braille services and time with a vision
>>> teacher through the public school where I went.  Another thought is to
>>> talk to the people at your school and tell them what you are going
>>> through and that you *need* braille.  If they aren't willing to do
>>> something or to find a way to get something done, then, well, they
>>> aren't doing their Christian duty, as it were.  I can understand a
>>> school not having money or resources, but in that case, effort and
>>> research can do a lot.  Good luck!  Feel free to e-mail me off list.
>>>
>>> Pax Christi,
>>> Sydney
>>>
>>> On 11/5/08, Franandiah Damstra <fantasyfanatic01 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Hello everyone. I'm new here and I just want to say, YOU ALL ARE
>>>> LUCKY! I go to a very small christian private schools, and I get
>>>> nothing! I get "enlarged" assignments and extended tests, but that is
>>>> about it. Though I know braille, nobody will provide it for me. My
>>>> sight is 20/800. I am colour blind, I don't have either preferal
>>>> vision or depth perseption and yet all I ever hear is "Oh, you have
>>>> some sight so use it!" So consider yourselves VERY lucky. I would do
>>>> anything to get braille books. I can't read this print much longer, I
>>>> go home crying because my eyes are burning so badly. You all are
>>>> luckier than you know.
>>>>
>>>> On 11/4/08, hannah <sparklylicious at suddenlink.net> wrote:
>>>>> All of my materials are brailled or on audio, but I don't get
>>>>> extra time on tests...
>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>From: "Rania" <raniaismail04 at gmail.com
>>>>>>To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2008 16:34:38 -0500
>>>>>>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] accomodations in public school
>>>>>
>>>>>>I had braille extra time on tests my books and hand outs were
>>>>> also brailled.
>>>>>>Rania,
>>>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net
>>>>>>To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>>>><nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:05 PM
>>>>>>Subject: [nabs-l] accomodations in public school
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'm asking this for a class as well as to compare my experience
>>>>> to yours.
>>>>>>> I had pretty decent services.  I got braille and audio books and
>>>>> my TVI
>>>>>>> was good at giving braille handouts and I got extra time on
>>>>> tests.
>>>>>>> As we have discussed before, I struggled fitting in socially
>>>>> though.
>>>>>
>>>>>>> In my psychology of individuals with disabilities class, I was
>>>>> asked to
>>>>>>> present about visual impairment and accomodations and other
>>>>> academic
>>>>>>> impact.  So my questions.
>>>>>>> 1.  What accomodations did you use?
>>>>>>> 2.  Were they effective? If you used print you may have been
>>>>> more effective
>>>>>>> with braille.
>>>>>
>>>>>>> 3.  What should have been done that was not?
>>>>>
>>>>>>> Common accomodations I can think of are: large print or braille
>>>>> handouts,
>>>>>>> audio texts, and extended time on tests.
>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>>> Ashley
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