[nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from Rehab andsomeother college questions

Mon Apr 25 03:44:20 UTC 2011

Hi, Ashley.

I agree with the portability of the Braille-Note.  About the 
parents thing, sighted people's technology is anywhere from 100 
dollars to 600 dollars (estimating) while technology for the 
blind is like * super * expensive.  My Braille-Note Apex cost 
about 6 thousand dollars! Thank God the school system bought it 
for me! Yes, you could buy a regular laptop which costs about 400 
to 500 dollars, but if you get a screen reader on it, it costs a 
lot more.  So even for families who aren't really poor, it's hard 
to buy technology for us without spending a lot of money.  It's 
just how much more time and money it takes to make stuff 
accessible.  That's what's so cool about out-of-the-box 
accessibility, like on Apple products.

 Chris Nusbaum

"A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities motto)

 ----- Original Message -----
From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sun, 24 Apr 2011 22:17:53 -0400
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from Rehab 
andsomeother college questions

Nicole,
We have that issue in VA.  They won't usually buy a notetaker and 
laptop
because they are both used for notetaking purposes.
But like you I found the notetaker essential for the portable 
notetaking
ability.  I took it to class, the library and to professor's 
office hours.
Very handy!
Its like picking up a paper to write because it powers up quickly 
and you're
ready to write!
I agree with you about the computer.  Whether laptop or desktop, 
you might be
better off getting another funding source rather than fighting 
rehab.
Could your parents buy it?  I find it odd that parents cannot 
help out when
they buy other children equipment like computers; if not yes 
lions clubs are
excellent resources.  They have helped many students in my area.

Yes I forgot about the VR stream.  Love it for recording and 
books.  Very
small.
Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: Nicole B.  Torcolini at Home
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 9:46 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from Rehab 
and
someother college questions

Okay...technology.  First, most rehab don't want to buy both a 
notetaker and
a laptop.  So that's where it gets hard.  You should definitely 
find out what
technology you can borrow from the college.  My personal 
experience is that
things seem to run the smoothest with both a notetaker and a 
laptop.  I use
the laptop for the internet, email, file storage, and writing 
major
assignments.  I use the notetaker (BrailleNote) for taking notes 
in class.  I
find the notetaker essential because it is portable, powers on 
quickly, and
does not stall as often as a computer.  So, it's really up to 
you.  However,
if possible, I would try to find another resource for getting the 
laptop
(Lions' Club?) and ask rehab for the notetaker.  Also, you may 
want to
consider getting a Victor Stream.  If you want to record your 
classes, which
most colleges allow as an accommodation, the VR Stream works very 
well.  Yes,
most of the notetakers have recording features, but they usually 
are not as
good as the VR Stream.

What technology do you use now?

Nicole

P.S.  Ask all the questions that you want.  That's what this list 
is for, and
there's no such thing as a stupid question.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jordyn Castor" <jordyn2493 at gmail.com
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 5:09 PM
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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