[nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from Rehab andsomeothercollege questions

Tue Apr 26 08:08:01 UTC 2011

Good points Nicole.
Yes all most all dorooms have a card swipe, but theft in dorooms happens all the time. I have been around dorooms long enough to to know this. As Nicole  pointed out people who are steeling will not know and frankly will not care that you have a expensive screen-reader and a OCR software on your computer. All they want is that computer and frankly even note-taking devices like Packmate or Braille-note are not amune from theft. 
Anmol
I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers.
Hellen Keller

--- On Mon, 4/25/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:

> From: bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from Rehab andsomeothercollege questions
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Monday, April 25, 2011, 4:37 PM
> When I was in school, I kept it
> locked. The roommate had a key too; so we 
> both got in when we needed to.
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Nicole B. Torcolini at Home
> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 2:23 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from
> Rehab 
> andsomeothercollege questions
> 
> Security is only relative. Stanford has card swipes on the
> dorms, and people
> still get in. And, yes, if you do have a roommate, don't
> give an inch about
> the door being locked. I never unlock mine. I just leave it
> locked and use
> the key to open it. It's true that people probably are not
> going to run off
> with your adaptive technology, but they are not going to
> know/care that a
> laptop has a screen reader on it. Either they would get
> your information off
> of the laptop or just wipe its memory.
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Cindy Bennett" <clb5590 at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 9:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from
> Rehab andsomeother
> college questions
> 
> 
> You can purchase room insurance for relatively cheap.
> Different
> campuse have different levels of security, but in my
> experience dorms
> tend to be more secure than off campus housing since RA's
> are on duty
> and someone is always at the front desk, and only certain
> students
> have card access. But it is true that other students might
> be the
> biggest threats. I have generally found people to be pretty
> trust
> worthy though. There are definitely exceptions to this, but
> I feel
> that people are probably at a pretty equal risk of having
> things
> stolen from them. Blindness related technology is
> expensive, but it is
> also specialized, and I feel like someone looking to steal
> and sell
> would want to take something that would be easy to sell and
> difficult
> to trace back to its owner. You could definitely talk to
> your roommate
> and let them know that you think it is really important
> that if both
> of you are gone or sleeping that the door should always be
> locked.
> 
> Cindy
> 
> On 4/25/11, Anmol Bhatia <anmolpbhatia at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> > Good points Arielle.
> > The only thing I would add is to keep consideration
> that our technology is
> > expensive and I would hate for any of it to come up
> missing or stolen. So
> > maybe at first unless you know someone and can trust
> that person get a
> > single room until you get there and get to know others
> and have made
> > friends. Maybe second semester or second year
> > you can get a roommate with someone you know.
> > Anmol
> > I seldom think about my limitations, and they never
> make me sad. Perhaps
> > there is just a touch of yearning at times; but it is
> vague, like a breeze
> > among flowers.
> > Hellen Keller
> >
> >
> > --- On Mon, 4/25/11, Arielle Silverman <nabs.president at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> From: Arielle Silverman <nabs.president at gmail.com>
> >> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology
> requests from Rehab
> >> andsomeother college questions
> >> To: "National Association of Blind Students
> mailing list"
> >> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> >> Date: Monday, April 25, 2011, 12:24 AM
> >> Hi Jordan and all,
> >>
> >> When I applied to college, because of advice from
> my DSS
> >> counselor and
> >> encouragement from my parents, I disclosed on the
> housing
> >> application
> >> that I was blind. I was assigned a single room,
> and
> >> initially I was
> >> assigned a handicapped-accessible room. I fought
> to get a
> >> non-handicapped room, but decided to keep the
> single
> >> because I feared
> >> that my technology would crowd out a roommate. As
> it turned
> >> out, I
> >> brought a Braille printer that I didn't ever use.
> If I
> >> could do it
> >> over again, I would never have told housing that I
> had a
> >> "disability"
> >> or requested a single. I made an effort to
> socialize with
> >> my
> >> floormates, but still I felt I didn't quite click
> with the
> >> other girls
> >> on my floor and I really think if I'd have had a
> roommate
> >> it would
> >> have been a lot easier to get in the social
> swing.
> >> Nowadays, most
> >> college students come with a computer of some sort
> and I
> >> think many
> >> also bring a printer. You can get a scanner
> that's
> >> integrated into
> >> your printer, so if you have a scanner/printer, a
> computer
> >> and
> >> screen-reading software, you really have no more
> equipment
> >> than your
> >> sighted dorm-mates will have. Even if you splurge
> and also
> >> get a
> >> Braille Note, Pac Mate or other portable
> notetaker, it can
> >> easily fit
> >> on your desk, and if you bring a laptop or
> netbook, your
> >> equipment is
> >> even more compact. So don't worry about any
> special
> >> housing
> >> accommodations, unless perhaps if you have a guide
> dog.
> >>
> >> Arielle
> >>
> >> On 4/24/11, Nicole B. Torcolini at Home <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
> >> wrote:
> >> > I just want to make a few
> >> points.
> >> >
> >> > The notetakers are definitely catching up on
> the
> >> technology, but there are
> >> > still things that you can and will need to do
> on a
> >> computer that you cannot
> >> > do on a notetaker. One of these things is
> formatting.
> >> Teachers in secondary
> >> > school tend to be much more relaxed about
> formatting,
> >> but, in college, what
> >> > passed in secondary school probably will not
> pass in
> >> college. I hardly ever
> >> > turn any thing in directly from my
> BrailleNote.
> >> >
> >> > I don't think that the person
> >> was using the Braille display *instead* of
> >> > VoiceOver. I don't know how it works on
> Apple
> >> products, but I know that, on
> >> > windows computers, you have to have a screen
> reader to
> >> act as a driver for a
> >> > Braille display.
> >> >
> >> > To answer the question of why
> >> you would need both speech and Braille,
> >> > some things are easier/faster to do listening
> and some
> >> are better done with
> >> > Braille. For example, I would find it very
> hard to
> >> listen to math. On the
> >> > other hand, I can understand JAWS talking a
> lot faster
> >> than I can read, so I
> >> > listen to things for which it is not critical
> that I
> >> know every little
> >> > punctuation mark.
> >> >
> >> > One last comment about
> >> emailing work. In college, most things are not in
> >> > a format that can be read on the BrailleNote.
> Most
> >> professors use PDF. Some
> >> > use PowerPoint. Very few use word documents.
> Even if
> >> they do, most use docx
> >> > files and/or files with formatting that the
> bn does
> >> not support.
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: "Chris Nusbaum" <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com>
> >> > To: <davidb521 at gmail.com>;
> >> "National Association of Blind Students mailing
> >> > list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> >> > Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 8:26 PM
> >> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology
> requests
> >> from Rehab andsomeother
> >> > college questions
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> Hi, guys.
> >> >>
> >> >> Just a few thoughts on David's
> suggestions.
> >> I agree with your comment
> >> >> about the laptop vs the notetaker. With
> the
> >> newer versions of the
> >> >> notetakers like the Braille-Note Apex
> that I have,
> >> you can do most
> >> >> anything that you could on a computer
> with your
> >> notetaker as it's all
> >> >> computer technology now instead of PDA
> >> technology. However, if you're
> >> >> doing a Internet research project or
> something,
> >> the more tools in your
> >> >> toolbox, the better. I know that some
> sites
> >> are accessible to screen
> >> >> readers but not to notetakers, and vice
> >> versa. So I would reccomend
> >> >> definitely seeing if you can get both.
> Now
> >> keep in mind, as I said
> >> >> before, rehab probably isn't going to get
> all the
> >> technology you need for
> >> >> you, but you never know. You might need
> >> another funding source, like a
> >> >> Lions club or another foundation like the
> I CAN
> >> Foundation that I
> >> >> mentioned in the last email to you. On
> the
> >> display vs notetaker and
> >> >> Braille embosser topics, I would suggest
> a
> >> notetaker over a Braille
> >> >> display for its portability and
> convenience.
> >> I would reccomend a
> >> >> Braille-Note Apex over the Braille-Sense,
> based on
> >> what I've heard about
> >> >> the Braille-Sense. However, one of the
> NFB
> >> executives was showing me a
> >> >> Braille display called RefreshaBraille
> from APH,
> >> which he uses for his
> >> >> iPod instead of VoiceOver. It really
> doesn't
> >> matter, in my opinion,
> >> >> whether you get a screen reader for your
> computer
> >> or a Braille display.
> >> >> It really serves the same purpose. If
> you
> >> have a screen reader, it's
> >> >> already reading the screen, so why would
> you need
> >> a Braille display, and
> >> >> vice versa? On the Braille embosser, it
> all comes
> >> down to individual
> >> >> preference. I used to love hardcopy
> Braille
> >> until I got the Apex. Now my
> >> >>
> >> >> teachers email homework or classwork to
> me and I
> >> detach it right onto my
> >> >> Braille-Note. I also email my teachers
> >> homework as attachments to emails
> >> >> instead of printing them out and labeling
> them in
> >> Braille, which saves a
> >> >> lot of time. I also use the good old
> thumb
> >> drive all the time in school.
> >> >> What's awesome about that is that in the
> middle of
> >> class, my teacher will
> >> >> say "Chris, I need your thumb drive to
> put a paper
> >> on it for today." If
> >> >> he/she has an electronic copy in their
> computer of
> >> the worksheet, they can
> >> >>
> >> >> stick it on my thumb drive and I can
> import it
> >> into the notetaker. It's a
> >> >>
> >> >> life saver! But if you prefer hardcopy
> Braille,
> >> it's a louder process and
> >> >> you'll use a lot more paper, but it's
> whatever you
> >> prefer. If you have
> >> >> any more questions, let me and the list
> >> know. Good luck!
> >> >>
> >> >> Chris Nusbaum
> >> >>
> >> >> "A loss of sight, never a loss of
> vision!" (Camp
> >> Abilities motto)
> >> >>
> >> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> >> From: David <davidb521 at gmail.com
> >> >> To: "'National Association of Blind
> Students
> >> mailing list'"
> >> >> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> >> >> Date sent: Sun, 24 Apr 2011 20:38:29
> -0500
> >> >> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable
> technology
> >> requests from Rehab and
> >> >> someother college questions
> >> >>
> >> >> Hi, Jordyn. Here are some things to keep
> in
> >> mind. Definitely try to get
> >> >> a
> >> >> laptop with a screen reader. I know that
> >> some agencies may not purchase
> >> >> computers, but rather the adaptive
> devices like
> >> screen readers,
> >> >> notetakers,
> >> >> etc. But there are always exceptions, it
> >> seems. You'll want a powerful
> >> >> computer with quite a bit of ram and
> processing
> >> speed, as well as a
> >> >> decently
> >> >> sized hard drive. As for OCR, if you're
> >> reasonably good with computers,
> >> >> look
> >> >> in to OmniPage, which is a mainstream OCR
> solution
> >> with excellent OCR
> >> >> accuracy. I believe that it might be
> better
> >> than Kurzweil and OpenBook,
> >> >> and
> >> >> you should be able to get it for less
> than
> >> $200. Be aware that OmniPage
> >> >> is
> >> >> not quite as easy to learn as OpenBook
> and
> >> Kurzweil, but if you are a
> >> >> decent
> >> >> computer user, you'll have little trouble
> with
> >> it. As for the Braille
> >> >> display and notetaker, I would
> personally
> >> recommend a notetaker with
> >> >> Braille
> >> >> output, since it's very portable, and you
> can just
> >> open it and take notes
> >> >> immediately, rather than waiting for the
> laptop to
> >> boot up. I'd get the
> >> >> notetaker before the Braille display,
> since most
> >> notetakers can act as
> >> >> Braille displays. However, I don't think
> >> it's as convenient as a
> >> >> dedicated
> >> >> Braille display. Maybe they'll get you
> >> both. A Braille embosser would be
> >> >> nice, but they can be loud depending on
> the model,
> >> and that may be a
> >> >> problem
> >> >> in a dorm setting. But if you really
> like
> >> using hard-copy Braille, then
> >> >> do
> >> >> try getting one. It would be preferable
> than
> >> having to schedule time to
> >> >> use
> >> >> the university's. Those are my thoughts.
> >> >> David
> >> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> >> From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org
> >> [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> >> On
> >> >> Behalf
> >> >> Of Jordyn Castor
> >> >> Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 7:09 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
> >> >>
> >> >>
> _______________________________________________
> >> >> nabs-l mailing list
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> >> >> %40gmail.co
> >> >> m
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> _______________________________________________
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> >> >> sbaum%40gmail.com
> >> >>
> >> >>
> _______________________________________________
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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
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> nabs-l mailing list
> >> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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> >>
> >
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Cindy Bennett
> UNC Wilmington Psychology major
> 
> clb5590 at gmail.com
> 828.989.5383
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> 
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> 
> 
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