[nabs-l] DSB delaying needed equipment

[Jewel S.]

This is my feelings also. I do not think the refreshable Braille
display is a luxury, but an essential tool for my learning. I am a
visual and tactile learner, and have a lot of trouble learning by
audio teaching only. I often have to re-read what JAWS has read to me
several times, and have to rewind audio books if I have the least
distraction (such as someone making a comment to me or the radio or tv
or pretty much any background noise can distract me).

A quick update. They want to do an accessment (laptop or PDA). I'm
going to ask about justifying just getting the laptop, as I think
it'll be the easiest way to go (more compatibility with programs, more
connection with other students, less expensive for DSB, more versatile
in future programs that I purchase). The supervisor was not in today;
I will speak to him on Monday and get this all straightened out.

~Jewel

On 7/23/10, Briley Pollard <brileyp at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I just wanted to offer that I don't agree that a Braille display is a
> "luxury", and that you shouldn't push for Voc Rehab to provide it. Is having
> print a "luxury", for sighted students? No. If Braille is your preferred
> reading medium, you shouldn't be forced to just get by with only audio if
> that is not how you best learn. They would never send a sighted student off
> to college and say, "Good luck getting by with no print books." Voc Rehab
> can provide this for you, and moving up the chain of command will achieve
> the quickest results. Every regional office has specific complaint
> procedures which you can request in writing from your councilor's manager.
>
> Just my thoughts,
> Briley
> On Jul 22, 2010, at 4:44 PM, Arielle Silverman wrote:
>
>> Hi Jewel and all,
>>
>> This is an old story that I've heard way too many times from students.
>> Your counselor's actions (or non-actions) are ridiculous and
>> definitely need to be addressed with her supervisor(s). In the
>> meantime, though, I think it's important to come up with a plan B that
>> doesn't involve DSB at all, at least while you're waiting. A few
>> ideas:
>>
>> 1. With rehab, I'd focus on getting the computer and scanner. The
>> refreshable Braille display and embosser are nice, but they're
>> luxuries, not necessities, in my opinion. Asking for just a couple
>> pieces of equipment rather than the whole gamut may be less
>> complicated/bureaucratic.
>> 2. Does your school have an office for blind/disabled students? If so
>> they very well might have equipment for loan, like computers, and they
>> should have public-access scanners that you can walk in and use. If
>> not, find out if there's anywhere else on campus (like the bookstore
>> or library) where you can borrow or rent a computer for low or no
>> cost. Perhaps family members or friends might have extra computers you
>> can borrow? Once you have the computer, you should be able to download
>> a free open-source screen reader to use with it.
>> 2. The NFB has a technology loan program and your NFB affiliate might
>> have one too. Call the NFB Braille and Technology Center at
>> 410-659-9314 for details. Of course borrowing equipment for free is
>> better than racking up interest, but it could be a last-resort,
>> temporary option.
>> 3. If you can't get a portable computer, see if any of the public
>> computers on your campus are accessible (all Mac's are out of the
>> box). What you may need to do in a pinch is use a voice recorder in
>> class and then use the public computer for assignments.
>> 4. Remember that
>> www.rfbd.org
>> provides books in audio format, and
>> www.bookshare.org
>> provides books for free in a text format that you can read on a
>> regular computer (either the public computer or a rented one).
>> 5. Don't forget that readers are low-tech and relatively cheap
>> (usually $7 per hour) and if your school has a community service club,
>> you might be able to find volunteer readers. If rehab is
>> uncooperative, your school (either the disability resource center or
>> the department of your major) may be willing to help pay for readers,
>> at least initially while you wait for equipment.
>>
>> In short, while you should definitely nag rehab to get you what you
>> need (especially the laptop, scanner, and perhaps an audio book player
>> like a Stream), rehab isn't, and shouldn't be, your only option. I
>> think the only piece of equipment that's really mission-critical is a
>> computer, and that can be either a personal computer or a public
>> computer. Even your local public library might have a public computer
>> you can use. I'd recommend staying in your classes if at all possible.
>> Textbooks can be read with readers (readers can even be students in
>> your classes, who have to read the books anyway), or with a public
>> scanner (which might be available in the library or DRC).
>>
>> Best of luck and please keep us posted on your progress.
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 7/22/10, William ODonnell <william.odonnell1 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> I would have to say that I agree with Joe on many of the points he has
>>> made.
>>> Also, keep some things “off record” with your councilor.  I am referring
>>> to
>>> the suggestions of you purchasing a net book that you provided in your
>>> email.  Remember the following approach: don’t ask, don’t tell or do not
>>> give any additional information than requested.
>>> In addition, always copy a supervisor when you’re documenting so the
>>> context
>>> of what you discuss is not altered or misrepresented at a later date.
>>> Finally, investigate whether or not your local independent living center
>>> has
>>> advocates that will speak on your behalf.
>>> Note: some colleges and universities have laptops or net books that
>>> disabled
>>> students can reserve from there DSS office for use during class.  In
>>> regard
>>> to readers or reading services, some organizations for the blind as well
>>> as
>>> community centers have people from the community who volunteer who may
>>> assist you.  In addition, check with your college or university to see if
>>> you can post an add requesting for volunteers to assist you when time is
>>> of
>>> the essence and your accommodations/equipment is not available.  I say
>>> the
>>> following since it is a reality.  Note: I do not want to discourage or
>>> scare
>>> you; however, throughout your college career, you will learn and see that
>>> you will need to liquidate all avenues since many times you will
>>> experience
>>> faulty services and accommodations while meeting important deadlines as
>>> any
>>> other student.  You will need to be strong and always be your own
>>> advocate
>>> while never losing focus with your agenda.
>>>
>>>
>>> --- On Thu, 7/22/10, Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> From: Joe Orozco <jsorozco at gmail.com>
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] DSB delaying needed equipment
>>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Date: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 11:30 AM
>>>> Hi Jewel,
>>>>
>>>> I see online that North Carolina just started a new fiscal
>>>> year.  This is
>>>> bad, because this is when agencies can afford to lapse a
>>>> little.  If I were
>>>> you, and taking your budget into consideration, this is my
>>>> personal
>>>> recommendation:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Take Justin's suggestion and go straight to the director
>>>> of that field
>>>> office.  It's not your job to ease this counselor into
>>>> her new position.
>>>> Your first priority is getting what you need to be ready
>>>> for school.  Put
>>>> your communications to the director in writing.  Say
>>>> in your first e-mail
>>>> that you will follow up via telephone in a few days to talk
>>>> about what can
>>>> be done.  Later, after your phone call, send another
>>>> e-mail summarizing what
>>>> was talked about.  Always keep a written record of
>>>> your communications.  In
>>>> the letter you should give a brief summary of the events to
>>>> this point, but
>>>> I would spend more time listing the equipment you need and
>>>> a good
>>>> justification for why you need them.  This may
>>>> somewhat minimize the need
>>>> for an assessment if you can give concrete reasons for why
>>>> the products are
>>>> required.  Also, rank your products in order of most
>>>> important.  The Victor
>>>> Stream, for example, may be a necessity, but it could
>>>> probably go near or at
>>>> the bottom since your top priority is the ability to take
>>>> notes in class.
>>>>
>>>> 2. Locate the individual or office that handles technology
>>>> assessments.  The
>>>> more people you have inquiring into your case, the better,
>>>> and even if they
>>>> say they need to hear from your counselor, when your
>>>> counselor calls the
>>>> people will be familiar with you and have more of an
>>>> incentive to act.
>>>>
>>>> 3. Talk to your NFB affiliate president.  He or she
>>>> may know of someone
>>>> working in the agency who can look into your case.
>>>> The affiliate should
>>>> also prove to be a good advocate on your behalf.
>>>>
>>>> 4. Locate your nearest Lions Club.  They may be able
>>>> to step in and help
>>>> with the cost of a netbook.  If you can get that, you
>>>> can use one of the
>>>> free or reasonably priced screen readers while you wait for
>>>> your other
>>>> technology to arrive.  The main thing is to get you
>>>> something for the first
>>>> day of class, and I think your Lions Club or Rotary Club
>>>> should be able to
>>>> generate $300 on your behalf.
>>>>
>>>> This is, at least, a start.  I'm in a bit of a rush
>>>> but can offer more later
>>>> if you're still in a bind.  Hopefully others will
>>>> chime in as well.
>>>>
>>>> Best of luck,
>>>>
>>>> Joe
>>>>
>>>> "Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up
>>>> their sleeves,
>>>> some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at
>>>> all."--Sam Ewing
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>
>>>> [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>> On Behalf Of Jewel S.
>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 9:06 AM
>>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] DSB delaying needed equipment
>>>>
>>>> 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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>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Arielle Silverman
>> President, National Association of Blind Students
>> Phone:  602-502-2255
>> Email:
>> nabs.president at gmail.com
>> Website:
>> www.nabslink.org
>>
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