[nabs-l] Would love some help or advice from any blind graduate students

[Jedi]

Natalie,

Getting into grad school is a multi-step process that can (lets face 
it) be anoying and difficult for anyone regardless of disability. The 
trick is to stay on top of things once you get the process started and 
try to stay as organized as possible. So far as blindness goes, you'll 
need a list of skills in order to float this grad school boat.

firstly, you'll want to consider the school you wish to attend. Most 
schools have decent web sites with reasonable amounts of info regarding 
their programs. You may find surfing these sites useful to get a sense 
of what you're doing. Also, make friends with people in the program 
you'd like to get into because a phone call or personal conversation 
can do a lot for you in terms of collecting information and getting noticed.

Some university programs have electronic application forms whee you can 
apply for grad school online. Some don't. It just takes a bit of 
investigation on your part. If the application is online and 
accessible, I highly suggest you do it online. If not, you'll need a 
reader for a paper ap.

As for the GRE, you can only apply on paper because your application 
will need to go specifically through the disability center. Your 
application has four parts: the general registration form, your 
disability information (the nature of your disability and your proposed 
acommodations), a statement from a service profesional varifying that 
you have a disability and that you use your proposed accommodations on 
a regular basis, and some sort of varification from a physician 
regarding your disability. The application fee is $130 and can be paid 
by either yourself or your rehab agency. If your rehab agency pays for 
it, you'll have an additional step in your process in order for them to 
both authorize the expenditure on their end and fill out their payment 
info for the ETS. Once your paper application is in, you play the 
waiting game for about four to six weeks in order for ETS (the 
Educational testing services) and their disability center to register 
you, find you a testing center, and agree to your proposed 
accommodations. Generally, you'll get the accommodations you want.

In terms of blindness, there are several accommodations to choose from 
including a Braille test, a live reader, a live scribe, a recorded 
test, a print test, a print answer sheet, large print materials, a 
special workplace with additional lighting, a typing device such as a 
brailler or laptop or typewriter for essays, a slate and stylus, a 
computer test, and a number of ways you can mix and match these. You 
can also ask for extended time. To be honest with you, I took the 
extended time because I wanted my test in Braille, but I'm not the 
world's fastest reader. I also have test anxiety during standardized 
exams. The time I had still wasn't enough for everything, and there's 
no way in hell sighted people get all their test done in the 2 hours 
and 50 minutes alotted to them. Frankly, they need more time, too.

In terms of communication and coordination between ETS and your grad 
school, make sure there's loads of time as things can get dicy in terms 
of getting your scores electronically from ETS to your grad school, the 
actual application, etc. Don't be surprised if you find yourself making 
tons of phone calls to either entity for any reason.

You can get GRE practice materials in Braille if you want. that's what 
I did. When they get your paperwork, a representative from the GRE 
disability group wil contact you by phone or TTY just to touch bases 
and clarify anything needing clarification. You can also choose your 
test date at this time and request practice materials.

Sorry for the rambling nature of this post, but I hope it helps.

Respectfully,
Jedi

Original message:

> Hello Nabs list,

> My name is Natalie and I only joined the mailing list a day or so ago. 
> I'm really hoping to get some help. Someone recommended I try this 
> mailing list, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

> First off, I'm a totally blind person, and while I'm not a student now, 
> I was a student up until this past May. Since graduating I've debated 
> with myself on whether to continue on with a masters degree. I really 
> would love to, but I've come across a few roadblocks.

> My first roadblock is taking the GRE. I really would like to talk with 
> anyone offlist if they're blind and have taken the GRE. Or done 
> whatever needs to be done to get into the graduate program at their 
> respective schools. I really would like to know how they studied, what 
> kinds of accomodations they got for it and so on.

> I have more questions, but I don't want to clutter this e-mail. I'm 
> interested in talking to anyone who can help me. Even if they're not a 
> graduate student now. Anyone with any kind of tips, advice, or 
> suggestions will be appreciated.

> Thank you,
> Natalie
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