[nabs-l] DSB delaying needed equipment

[Justin Young]

In terms of who you should take it up with its her supervisor.  If she
isn't doing her job you need to say that to their direct supervisor.
I am not sure on the laptop question.
Best luck,
Justin

On 7/22/10, Jewel S. <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> I am having serious issues with DSB here in North Carolina. I begin
> classes August 16, and have been working toward getting some needed
> equipment. This equipment is a netbook with JAWS, a refreshable
> Braille display, a VictorStream Reader, a Juliette embosser, a
> scanner, OpenBook scanning program and Dusxbury (spelling?), and JAWS
> for my home computer. I have been working very hard on my side to get
> this done in time for classes. However, I was reassigned recently to a
> new VR counselor (by new, I mean green...this is her first position).
> She did not even know who the assessment person *was*, let alone how
> to do an assessment referral, so after I saw one person for review of
> my home computer and basic needs, she did nothing with that
> information, despite him having stated that I needed an assessment
> with a particular computer teacher. It was not until I asked him what
> the next step was again that he said that my counselor should have set
> up the assessment (when I had talked to him the first time, he had
> said that my VR counselor would see the referral sent and I needed to
> just wait for the referral to go through).
>
> Now, because of my counselor's delay in getting the referral done, the
> paperwork has not even been submitted for my equipment. At first, they
> told me it would take two to three weeks to get the equipment. Then
> they said one month. Now they are saying that it could take up to two
> months!
>
> Classes start August 16, and I do not have any of the equipment I
> need. The only method of note-taking I have (other than getting a
> notetaker to take notes for me, which I'd rather not) is my slate and
> stylus. With my physical problems, I can only use a slate for a few
> lines at a time before my wrist and arm begin to hurt very badly, so I
> don't see that as a possibility at all. I do not even have a voice
> recorder, though I am considering whether I have the funds to purchase
> one myself (I am on a very tight budget these days).
>
> I have suggested the solution of renting a laptop until my equipment
> comes in. However, my counselor seems to have taken that to mean that
> I am willing to buy a used laptop on my own. She has suggested places
> to purchase used laptops and said she will look into it also. When I
> asked her whether this would take the place of the laptop promised me
> by DSB, she didn't answer directly but told me that the laptop I would
> purchase would last me throughout my curriculum. But if it's used, how
> can she be so sure? And how does she expect me to pay for such a
> laptop?
>
> Is this appropriate action on the behlaf of my counselor? SWhat should
> I expect to happen? If she is not doing things properly, who should I
> bring this up with?
>
> As I said, classes start in a few weeks. I do not have a way to record
> the classes, type notes, read my books in class, or complete
> worksheets in class. I will basically be stuck relying on other
> students to take notes for me, read exercises to me, and will not be
> able to participate when the class reads the books. I might as well
> not even attend class, for all I will be able to do! From what DSB is
> telling me, it will be halfway through the semester before I get any
> of my needed equipment. Is the renting of a laptop a reasonable
> accommodation while I wait, or should I drop these classes and wait
> until next semester? I will not be able to participate appropriately
> in class without even a laptop, and my grades will be drastically
> effected by this.
>
> Any advice, please?
>
> Yours,
> Jewel Shuping
> Wake Tech Community College
> Raleigh, NC
>
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