[nabs-l] A National Standard Re: Obtaining electronic text

Sun Feb 6 07:49:27 UTC 2011

If the division of services for the blind is not even getting a notetaker for you, what are they planning on helping with? This must be frustrating...

IC
On Feb 5, 2011, at 11:42 PM, Joshua Lester wrote:

> Ashley, I can't get the Division of Services for the Blind of Arkansas
> to pay for a note taker. Do you know where I can get a good deal on a
> Pac Mate? I'm using readers and audiobooks, as well. I hate doing it
> that way. I'm also an evangelist, which makes it extra hard. I need
> the Bible in Braille. I have it in book form, but that's too many
> volumes. I need a Pac Mate so I can download it from Bookshare.
> Arkansas doesn't, (to my knowledge,) have a NLS library. Blessings,
> Joshua
> 
> On 2/5/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Joshua,
>> You can obtain braille books through web braille sponsored by NLS and read
>> that way if you have a braille display on a notetaker or you can get braille
>> books from your NLS regional library.
>> I'd encourage you to read and keep up your braille skills; no braile since
>> convention is a long time!
>> I also agree that braille texts in college would be wonderful especially for
>> english classes where you need to read more carefully for analysis and
>> getting quotes.
>> But braille is seldom available but some universities will give you braille
>> for math and science if you really push for it.
>> 
>> Nicole, I also agree we need a national standard as to what DRCs are
>> supposed to provide.
>> Again, I believe most universities/colleges do scan books or obtain books
>> from publishers; its just that nova doesn't because they have not bought
>> those resources.  Heck they do not even have an updated jaws.  Its
>> rediculous services are lacking.
>> I'm using readers since I can't get books in accessible format.
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Joshua Lester
>> Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 10:33 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] A National Standard Re: Obtaining electronic text
>> 
>> You are all talking about scanning books. I wish we could go back to
>> Braille. The sad thing is, that I haven't read any Braille since the
>> NFB convention. They don't offer college textbooks in Braille in
>> Arkansas. This drives me mad! If our textbooks were available on
>> Bookshare, I'd get them. Blessings, Joshua
>> 
>> On 2/5/11, Nicole B. Torcolini at Home <ntorcolini at wavecable.com> wrote:
>>> And it is things like this that are the reason that I think that there
>>> should be some kind of national standard or at least guidelines as to what
>>> DRC's should provide.
>>> 
>>> Nicole
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 6:45 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Obtaining electronic text
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> Brigitte,
>>>> That is great the DSO helps you and scans chapters as needed. That is
>>>> what
>>>> 
>>>> upsets me too. The largest community college in VA does not have the
>>>> ability to scan books; or that's what I'm told!  They say that they don't
>>>> have the software such as Abby fine reader or Omni pro, I think that's
>>>> the
>>>> 
>>>> name, to scan books for students!
>>>> Its so rediculous.  Oh they also do not belong to a database that allows
>>>> universities/colleges to share scanned books!
>>>> I think its called Access text. George Mason university, the nearest four
>>>> year college, belongs and does what your school does, scans books for
>>>> students as long as they purchased a book.
>>>> Of  course I use RFB and like you prefer the
>>>> live voice too over speech.  I also have used NLS and BARd on rare
>>>> ocassions because they have novels, not textbooks; but sometimes for
>>>> english or history classes that require readings like that NLS has come
>>>> in
>>>> 
>>>> handy.
>>>> For instance I read the Prince, The Cruicible, and part of Death of a
>>>> salesman that way.
>>>> 
>>>> Glad to know about your college; sounds like its standard practice for
>>>> DSOs to scan books and either put them on CD or send them to the student
>>>> via email.
>>>> That is how it was at Marymount.  They scanned by the chapter.  Not so at
>>>> Nova though.
>>>> 
>>>> Ashley
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Bridgit Pollpeter
>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 6:23 PM
>>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Obtaining electronic text
>>>> 
>>>> I know each Disability Office is different, but I try to involve myself
>>>> as much as possible in the process.  With PDF documents that are long, I
>>>> request they be broken up by chapter, or at least in smaller sections.
>>>> I have said I prefer Word documents, and they do what they can, but of
>>>> course I can not get everything in Word.
>>>> 
>>>> We also look for text available in all formats like RFBD, Book Share and
>>>> we contact the publishers directly sometimes.  A lot of times, I
>>>> purchase books and the DSO scans them.  Usually they send them by the
>>>> chapter.  I either receive emails with attachments for material, or they
>>>> use a feature on Blackboard called the X drive where I can download the
>>>> material.
>>>> 
>>>> I do use NLS and BARD at times, but usually in conjunction with
>>>> electronic copies since page numbers are not listed for NLS books.  It
>>>> is nice to have a live voice narrating over an electronic one, though I
>>>> have grown use to JAWS's drone!
>>>> 
>>>> Book Share was an adjustment for me because I use the text files on my
>>>> Victor Stream because I have a nerve condition and Braille is not always
>>>> the most efficient method.  The text files sound funny at times, but now
>>>> that I am use to it, it is actually nice because, like other electronic
>>>> versions, I can read line by line, para by para, spell words and other
>>>> features similar to how we use computers.  I download Book Share files
>>>> on my own at home.  Funny story though.  My DSO thought Book Share was a
>>>> software you downloaded, they didn't realize, one, you needed a
>>>> membership, and two, it required a device like a Victor and/or Braille
>>>> display.  In fact, they thought the software was the Victor Stream.  I
>>>> had to explain this to them.
>>>> 
>>>> Again, each DSO has their format for gathering and distributing
>>>> material, but be aware of how other institutions do things so you can
>>>> make suggestions, and do not hesitate to make request; the worse they
>>>> can do is say no.  Also, try to be knowledgeable of different options so
>>>> you can be helpful with methods that may be unfamiliar to your DSO, or
>>>> at least know someone who can provide this information.
>>>> 
>>>> Bridgit
>>>> 
>>>> Message: 9
>>>> Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 15:06:08 -0500
>>>> From: "Marsha Drenth" <marsha.drenth at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] obtaining electronic texts
>>>> Message-ID: <AE27D4778D98498EAD071EAC711B091B at Cptr233>
>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>>> 
>>>> Wow that seems very complicated. My college has me sign a form, they
>>>> request the book, and then it comes from the publisher on a CD as a PDF
>>>> file. Last semester that was not sucha good thing, as the PDF was huge
>>>> and very hard to handle. I converted it to a Text file and then it was
>>>> all good. I got another book this way again this semester. Haven't had
>>>> to do much with it so I don't know what it is like.
>>>> 
>>>> Sorry your college way is so complicated.
>>>> 
>>>> Marsha
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
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