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

Tue Apr 26 20:32:50 UTC 2011

A lot quieter than the mPower.  Nicole, you haven't gotten an 
upgrade yet? * Frown!

Chris Nusbaum

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

 ----- Original Message -----
From: "Nicole B.  Torcolini at Home" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 19:01:37 -0700
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from Rehab 
andsomeother college questions

And I've heard that the Apex is supposed to be quieter than the 
older
models.

----- Original Message -----
From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 6:52 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reasonable technology requests from Rehab 
and
someother college questions

 Jordyn,
 I can't speak to the Pacmate, but the Braille Note is a little 
noisy but
 not bad.  The person beside you may hear it, but no one else.  
Its no
 louder than someone typing on a laptop.

 Good luck with your decission.
 Ashley

 -----Original Message-----
 From: Jordyn Castor
 Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 8:05 PM
 To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
 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 out of date and I have NVDA.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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