[nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from Rehab and some other college questions

[bookwormahb at earthlink.net]

Gordyn,
Technology depends on your needs and it has to relate to your college goals.
Everyone likes laptops now a days; but IMO an advantage to bringing a 
regular desktop to the dorm is its stable and you don't have to worry about 
battery life and its more fragile.  Now if you intend to take notes on it 
during class, then yes bring a laptop to college.
Do you have a notetaker already such as  a BrailleNote?
If so, you already have a braille display.
I agree ask for a scanner with OCR software like Openbook.

The braille display, your choice of screen reader, and computer are personal 
preference.
Rehab bought me my BrailleNote and Openbook software with scanner.  But I 
already had some technology like jaws and duxbury because my family is 
supportive.

What are you going to use the braille display for?  That is more expensive 
than a computer, scanner, and OCR software combined.
So what justification will you have for them to spend that much money on it? 
Something to think about.
In VA I don't know one college student who got a
40 cell braille display!  Students typically get a screen reader, OCR 
software, scanner and a notetaker; state buys either the PacMate or 
BrailleNote.
Just be prepared to justify the braille display as this is not a common 
request. If you need it, go ahead though.
But the state might think "oh why should we buy this when we paid for a 
screen reader and Openbook to read to him?".

Regarding roommates, I'm with you. Get a roommate, unless you have a guide 
dog.  Then the dog might pose a problem living with a roommate because of 
allergies or something.
Meet with housing so they don't assume you need a special placement or 
something.  I think blindness should not affect where you live as long as 
you can walk down stairs in an emergency; so live whereever freshman live 
and don't let blindness be a barrier.
Ashley
-----Original Message----- 
From: Jordyn Castor
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 8:09 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from Rehab and some other 
college questions

Hi again guys!
I'm going to college in the fall, as I already said yesterday. This is
why I have so many questions! I just want to be sure I'm doing
everything right, and what better way to do this then asking other blind
students? :) So, thanks for all your great advice on everything!
My other question is, what are reasonable things to ask Rehab for in the
way of technology?
I'm thinking a laptop, 40 cell braille display, Window Eyes, and a
printer scanner combo thinggy with software like OpenBook or Kurzweil. I
don't know if I'd get a notetaker though as these are super expensive.
lol Any suggestions or other things you'd ask for? What are you all
using as far as technology in college?
My college also has a place where I can, I think, borrow technology like
an embosser or Braille Display. Should I use that rather than asking
rehab for some of the things like the display and the printer? I think
it would be awesome to have a printer in my dorm though lol!
Oh, speaking of dorms, do most of you have a roommate or a single room?
A lot of my blind friends seem to have single rooms because of the
expensive technology, but, I want a roommate, I think. lol Thoughts?
Anyway, I'll stop rambling! :)
Thanks again,
Jordyn

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