[nabs-l] schools

Thu Aug 25 21:26:51 UTC 2011

stop

On 8/25/11, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
> Keri, it's Joshua Lester.
> I E-mailed you, yesterday.
> Please respond.
> Thanks, Joshua
>
> On 8/25/11, keri <wvucountrygirl729 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I had had mixed opinions about this school, and i really feel that i
>> rushed
>> into the school before i fully did my research, but they were so
>> unorganized
>> and disability services were so rude.
>> keri
>>
>> "Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away; and all the things I want
>> to
>> say can find no voice. Then, in silence, I can only hope my eyes will
>> speak
>> my heart."
>> --Robert Sexton
>>
>> "For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth
>> there
>> is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere
>> to
>> receive it."
>> --Ivan Panin
>>
>> Find that guy that will pick up every piece of your shattered heart & put
>> it
>> back together; Replacing it with a piece of his.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2011 12:32 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] schools
>>
>>
>>> Hi Kerri,
>>> Would you be willing to tell us what happened? Depending on what it
>>> was, we might be able to suggest some things you can do to avoid
>>> having it happen again, regardless of what school you decide to
>>> attend. As blind students, there are a number of things we can do to
>>> plan ahead and be able to get the best possible education regardless
>>> of the school's attitudes toward blind students.
>>> Best,
>>> Arielle
>>>
>>> On 8/24/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>> Kerri,
>>>> Your questions are very broad and one could write a book on college
>>>> experiences.
>>>> I don't have too much time, but I'll try and summarize my experience and
>>>> answer your questions.
>>>>
>>>> Selecting a college should be based on how you like the school; do you
>>>> want
>>>> a large school or a small school and small classes?  Do you want one
>>>> with
>>>> diversity? A religious private school adhereing to your beliefs?  I
>>>> recommend touring a school and even visiting a few classes if you can.
>>>> See
>>>> how you like it. Of course the school may  be determined on who accepts
>>>> you. But if several schools accept you, you can choose.
>>>> Also, I recommend having the solid academic skills; if your grades are
>>>> only
>>>> average, you may want to attend a community college to start. College
>>>> admission is very competetive now.  Some scores accept the SAT, others
>>>> the
>>>> ACT, and some don't require any scores.
>>>> You do not want to get to college and struggle with the basics that they
>>>> assume you have.
>>>> Also, have a way to take notes, have good computer skills, and if you
>>>> live
>>>> in a dorm know how to do laundry, hang clothes, make a bed, and other
>>>> basic
>>>> daily tasks. You will need computer skills such as typing in Word, basic
>>>> formatting in Word like Bold, centering, spell checking etc. Know the
>>>> internet and email too.
>>>>
>>>> I say this because such skills help you in college. No one is perfect
>>>> and
>>>> other life skills will be practiced and sharpened in college.  I mean
>>>> such
>>>> skills as planning a schedule; I used my braille note calendar for that.
>>>> Also notetaking and test taking skills are important. You should be a
>>>> good
>>>> advocate to your professor; communication skills are important too. And,
>>>> finally, if you live in a dorm, you'll want to go out with friends or
>>>> shopping alone and maybe out to eat; so have a system to identify money.
>>>> If
>>>> your parents can assist you in getting a bank account and a  debit card,
>>>> this will help a lot.
>>>>
>>>> So what college did I go to? I attended George Mason University as  a
>>>> commuter; I heard some nasty things went on in the  dorms and did not
>>>> have
>>>> the confidence to walk so far from the dorm, so I wanted to commute. I
>>>> transferred to a small school, Marymount university, and liked it there.
>>>> I
>>>> had a roommate on campus some semesters and experience the ups and downs
>>>> of
>>>> a public bathroom.
>>>> What was my major?
>>>> I couldn't decide; I tried to be an education major and got too
>>>> discouraged.
>>>> I  was a
>>>> liberal studies major; so a general BA degree focussing on psychology
>>>> and
>>>> communication.
>>>>
>>>> How were disability services? At GMU they were huge; the DSO was  large
>>>> and
>>>> more impersonal. You met with a counselor and filled out an accomodation
>>>> form and took a copy to your professors.
>>>> GMU provided more services, but when they scanned texts it was not
>>>> always
>>>> efficient; I'd get the text after I needed it; but they improved since I
>>>> left.
>>>> Accomodations included: accessible texts via electronic format or
>>>> Learning
>>>> Ally, testing accomodations such as extended time and alternative
>>>> formats
>>>> including braille, copies of professor's notes and handouts that he/she
>>>> showed to the class, human notetakers, and computers with adaptive
>>>> software
>>>> like jaws.
>>>>
>>>> At MU it was only one DSO counselor and she really new students by name.
>>>> They had less services. I was not able to get braille tests; they said
>>>> the
>>>> equipment was too expensive. But they did procure jaws for the library.
>>>> I worked out accomodations with professors though and did not run into
>>>> much
>>>> trouble. My hardest thing in college was access to textbooks and
>>>> research.
>>>> The library had a wealth of material such as encyclopedias, reference
>>>> books,
>>>> periodicals, etc which is not accessible.
>>>> I used readers to get me through those research tasks.
>>>> At MU services were: accessible texts if available, testing
>>>> accomodations,
>>>> electronic handouts from the professors, human notetakers, and adaptive
>>>> software on the public computers. They put jaws in the library and one
>>>> computer lab.
>>>>
>>>> So college is tough, but its hard for any student. I found the pace of
>>>> classes rather stressful. I even got extentions on some papers
>>>> occasionally.
>>>> But some classes were very interesting and some professors could be
>>>> entertaining.  I enjoyed the class discussions too. It fostered my
>>>> thinking
>>>> skills and gave me some new perspective on an issue or topic.
>>>> I suggest finding a major you like and one that will prepare you with
>>>> skills
>>>> for your desired career. If you do not know what you wish to study, you
>>>> can
>>>> go undeclared for a year or two. Another suggestion is if you are caught
>>>> between two majors, either do both or decide on your best one; take some
>>>> classes in both areas and talk to those students in those majors.
>>>> This way you can get a feel for the work involved in that area of study.
>>>>
>>>> Ashley
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: keri
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 1:51 PM
>>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] schools
>>>>
>>>> I'm looking to hear of personal experiences with colleges.
>>>> what college did you attend, your major, how was the accessibleness for
>>>> you,
>>>> and how were disability services there.
>>>> keri
>>>>
>>>> "Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away; and all the things I want
>>>> to
>>>> say can find no voice. Then, in silence, I can only hope my eyes will
>>>> speak
>>>> my heart."
>>>> --Robert Sexton
>>>>
>>>> "For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth
>>>> there
>>>> is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart
>>>> somewhere
>>>>
>>>> to
>>>> receive it."
>>>> --Ivan Panin
>>>>
>>>> Find that guy that will pick up every piece of your shattered heart &
>>>> put
>>>>
>>>> it
>>>> back together; Replacing it with a piece of his.
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>>>>
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>>>
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>>
>>
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