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

Sun Feb 6 14:21:45 UTC 2011

All they have done is get a computer and the Jaws software. That's
only for me to use at home. It won't help me take notes in class.
Blessings, Joshua

On 2/6/11, Ignasi Cambra <ignasicambra at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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