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

Tue Apr 26 01:03:56 UTC 2011

The PAC Mate is much, much better now.
On 4/25/2011 8:52 PM, Cindy Bennett wrote:
> I have used both, and I do love that there is a way to reset the
> Braille Note without erasing material. When I used the PacMate back in
> high school, there was not a way to do this, and it crashed quite
> regularly. But I had one of the first versions of the PacMate, and it
> could be much better now. I would stick with what you're used to. But
> if there isn't a way to reset your PacMate without erasing material,
> you should backup your files on a very very regular basis.
>
> Cindy
>
> On 4/25/11, Jordyn Castor<jordyn2493 at gmail.com>  wrote:
>> I honestly think the PAC Mate crashes less on the Braille keyboard
>> models then on the actual keyboard models. I have a computer style one
>> at school and it crashes all the time! I haven't had to send it in
>> because of software failures. I just usually do a clean reset of the
>> unit and it works wonderfully. I also have the newest version of the PAC
>> Mate so don't know if that makes a difference as I've heard of the
>> earlier models having more problems which doesn't surprise me lol.
>> On 4/25/2011 8:10 PM, Nicole B. Torcolini at Home wrote:
>>> Does the PacMate crash a lot? Have you ever had to send it in because
>>> of software failure?
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jordyn Castor"<jordyn2493 at gmail.com>
>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 5:05 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from Rehab and
>>> some other college questions
>>>
>>>
>>>> Right now I have a PAC Mate with a braille keyboard and a 40 cell
>>>> display which is mine. I'm just concerned about using the keyboard in
>>>> class since it's so loud! lol I also use a laptop, but mine is pretty
>>>> out of date and I have NVDA. So, I want a new laptop with Window Eyes
>>>> or something. I also have a Booksense.
>>>> I'm just going to say this. My name is Jordyn, spelled J o r d y n,
>>>> just so people don't think I'm a guy. lol! I've seen it spelled with
>>>> a lot of variations on this list so I'm just letting you all know.
>>>> Anyway, thanks so much for the great suggestions on the technology!
>>>> What do you guys think in your preference of the BrailleNote to the
>>>> PAC Mate and why if it is just used for notetaking and book reading
>>>> and such? I really don't want to get into a huge BrailleNote versus
>>>> PAC Mate debate, just wondering though. lol You can email me off list
>>>> with your opinions if you want.
>>>> Do you think people get annoyed with the loudness of your notetaker
>>>> in class?
>>>> Thanks again,
>>>> Jordyn
>>>> On 4/24/2011 9:46 PM, bookwormahb at earthlink.net wrote:
>>>>> 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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