[nabs-l] Question about Testing Procedures

[T. Joseph Carter]

Jedi,

I am working on a project now to document the process of making a DSO 
actually useful for blind students.  Unfortunately, I may be somewhat 
hampered by the office in question at my university being targeted by 
a blame-shifting attempt in relation to ongoing discrimination by my 
faculty.  Still, much of the work is done already, and now it's just 
a matter of writing it up.

Joseph

On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 12:14:34AM -0500, Jedi wrote:
> Fellow Federationists:
>
> I would like your advice. I have decided to opt out of the SSD office at 
> my university in most cases because it's not terribly efficient in  
> helping blind students succeed in a timely and convenient fashion.  
> generally speaking, I have been able to arrange appropriate  
> accommodations without difficulty. Most teachers have been really  
> helpful in providing tests and other homework in electronic format, or  
> letting me decide who to work with and under what conditions. Recently,  
> i began a class in Special education. The professor uses a test program  
> that apparently doesn't allow for electronic tests usable by students in 
> any fashion. So, I decided that hiring a reader would be appropriate. At 
> first, my teacher agreed providing that I cover myself by giving her 
> proof of my blindness such as an eligibility letter for voc rehab 
> services. I was fine with that. Tonight however, she sent me an e-mail 
> saying that she'd never had a student opt out of using SSD offices, so 
> she asked a higher-up in her department if I could indeed use my own 
> reader. Apparently, according to her, I cannot. Apparently, I am required 
> to use SSD provided readers for this exam. I was under the impression 
> that I am allowed to hire and utilize my own readers and/or choose not to 
> utilize SSD support in my classes. I can understand why she would prefer 
> me to use an SSD reader so as to guard against possible cheating. I, 
> however, am perfectly fine not hiring the reader who ordinarily reads my 
> textbook to me. i have a few readers to choose from. What are my rights 
> in this situation? What are my options? What would you do if you were me? 
> Thanks very much for your help.
>
> -- 
> REspectfully,
> Jedi