[nabs-l] accomodations in school

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hi Frandandiah,

I read  your account of your struggles with  obtaining accomodations in private school and its rather sad.  I would think they would see it as their Christian duty to try and educate you.  You say they are not even providing adaquate large print and braille is nonexistant.  Unfortunately, private schools are not legally bound to provide accomodations.  Why can't you switch to public school?  

Your parents and teachers are making demands on you to "use your sight" further than you can do.  I hope you've explained you use the vision you have but it is not adaquate to meet your academic needs such as reading lots of books.  The signs you described should be convincing: visual strain, crying from the frustration, fatigued, and slow reading.

Have you had an eye exam?  An eye exam will show your visual deficits.

The best solution is to switch schools.  But if you can't, here are some ideas.  Obtain books through Recording for the Blind www.rfbd.org.  Use a service called Bookshare online; they have scanned texts and pleasure books; www.bookshare.org.
Have you considered readers?  Ask teachers to email or put worksheets and paper matterial on disk.  Then in school with a laptop or desktop, enlarge it to the best font for you.  This way you won't strain to read.
How about looking for audio books through other sources such as Amazon.com or audible.com.

You can use the following sources assuming you are legally blind:
National library service for the blind; this is run through the state  although federally funded; they have braille, large print and tape books, called talking books.

American Printing house for the blind; www.aph.org
I think they record books and sell products.

American Foundation for the Blind www.afb.org.

HTH,
Ashley

Ashley H Bramlett
Undergraduate Student
Marymount University