[nabs-l] DSB delaying needed equipment

[RJ Sandefur]

Take it up with her direct suppervisior, and try writting a justification 
letter. Why do you need the equipment? If that doesn't work, then request a 
hearing. Any one else have anything to say? RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Justin Young" <jty727 at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:52 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] DSB delaying needed equipment


> 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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