[nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?

Sun Jul 3 02:11:37 UTC 2011

If anyone can help me find a good deal on a Pac Mate, with a 20 cell
display, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks, Joshua

On 7/2/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Joshua,
> As for jaws, sometimes classes are in computer labs or visit computer labs.
> Mine did so for freshman english.
> You have a right to use the computer with jaws. If your school can only
> place jaws on one computer, then they bought the wrong authorization key.
> I don't know the specifics; FS could tell you.  But I believe there is a
> network license where jaws can be placed on multiple computers.
>
> As for brailled texts, yes ask them about other sources.
> NBP can give them a cost estimate rather quickly. Their website says
> Textbooks
> Our qualified staff follows the rules for literary, Nemeth, music, and
> computer braille codes as set forth by the Braille Authority of North
> America (BANA).
>
> So they do all types of brailling including math and music.
>
> Good luck with advocacy. Its too bad you don't have a braille display as I
> think that would be helpful to read your work and notes. Unless you are a
> auditory learner, its easy to miss something by just listening.
> I always study via my braille Note for tests. Reading my notes helps me
> remember them better. And I like being able to find things easily via the
> find command or place markers.
>
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joshua Lester
> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 8:19 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?
>
> Ashley, if you read my other posts, I don't have a note taker, anymore.
> I'll bring up NBP, this year.
> Thanks for bringing them up!
> Also, the college is only authorized to put Jaws on one computer.
> They can't put it on every one.
> I can't understand why.
> Blessings, Joshua
>
> On 7/2/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Joshua,
>> Yes it’s a big problem. At nova, community college, they failed to provide
>> braille math books too.
>> Get an advocate involved. The school is not helping because
>> its very expensive to get a math book transcribed into braille.
>> RFB will not produce braille and if that is what you need, then they are
>> not
>> providing you adaquate accomodations.
>> A solution is electronic text in Word. If you get the electronic text from
>> the publisher, a Braille Note or other notetaker with braille display will
>> read the Word file. I think it can translate the text into nemeth braille.
>> So read it on the braille display.
>> Another solution to get some critical concepts is have a reader type the
>> information in the computer. Then if you have an embosser, emboss the
>> material or, again with a braille display, just read it on the display
>> from
>> the computer.
>>
>> Its not a perfect solution. But yes I think you need to see it to learn
>> it,
>> so you need braille and these may be some ways to get braille.
>> Your school is trying APH. How about National braille Press?  NBP has
>> transcribed college level texts before. They might have an algebra book
>> your
>> school should purchase. No, it may not be your school's textbook, but the
>> concepts probably are the same. You could call NBP for more info about a
>> book.
>> That may be a cheaper option than sending a book to be transcribed and
>> embossed to braille.
>> Ashley
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Joshua Lester
>> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2011 6:25 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?
>>
>> Why won't someone help me, get Braille Math books, for my community
>> college?
>> I haven't had a Braille Math book, and it's time for Intermediate Algebra.
>> I've already gone to Disability services, and they're willing to help,
>> on the local level, but they're going through RFBND, (now, Learning
>> Ally,) instead of APH, for the Blind.
>> I've asked them to try them, but I'm not hearing anything.
>> This isn't just an FSU issue, it's universities, and community
>> colleges, nationwide.
>> Something more needs to be done.
>> Blessings, Joshua
>>
>> On 7/2/11, Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I won't be in Orlando, but call me and tell me what happens
>>> during the general sessions.  I can't go because of money and
>>> stuff.  Jamie, I'd love to see FSU get bombed with more than one
>>> lawsuit about discrimination against the blind.  You got lots of
>>> errors in their accessibility policy, but I have yet to see those
>>> errors.  I hope to see an article about this in the Monitor.
>>> Beth
>>>
>>>  ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: blackbyrdfly at gmail.com
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>> Date sent: Sat, 2 Jul 2011 17:22:36 -0400
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?
>>>
>>> Thanks to everyone who wished us luck in our case. I'll relay
>>> your words of encouragement to Christopher as well.
>>>
>>> See you all in Orlando!
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jul 2, 2011, at 3:21 PM, Joshua Lester
>>> <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>>  Yes she is.
>>>  Jamie, this message is to you, when you look at this list again.
>>>  I pray that you're successful, and that other universities stop
>>>  discriminating against the disabled.
>>>  Blessings, Joshua
>>>
>>>  On 7/2/11, Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>  That is...  outrageous! I believe Jamie's on this list, so I
>>> wish
>>>  you the best of luck! Mr.  Goldstein is a great lawyer and one
>>>  that NFB has been working with for 20 years, so I think you'll
>>>  have a good chance of winning the case! Good luck!
>>>
>>>  Chris
>>>
>>>  "A loss of sight, never a loss of vision!" (Camp Abilities
>>> motto)
>>>
>>>  The I C.A.N.  Foundation helps visually impaired youth in
>>>  Maryland have the ability to confidently say "I can!" How? Click
>>>  on this link to learn more and to contribute:
>>>  www.icanfoundation.info or like us on Facebook at I C.A.N.
>>>  Foundation.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  Sent from my BrailleNote
>>>
>>>  ----- Original Message -----
>>>  From: Beth <thebluesisloose at gmail.com
>>>  To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>  Date sent: Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:15:42 -0600
>>>  Subject: [nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?
>>>
>>>  Hi, guys.  I thought I might ask you Florida students or any
>>>  students out there if you've heard that two of my friends are
>>>  suing FSU, my old university.  They're suing because of the math
>>>  department and the way the faculty has been treating them.  For
>>>  more, here's a clip of the article.
>>>
>>>  Blind Students Sue Florida State University for Discrimination
>>>  6/29/2011
>>>
>>>
>>>  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>>  CONTACT:
>>>  Chris Danielsen
>>>  Director of Public Relations
>>>  National Federation of the Blind
>>>  (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>>>  (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
>>>  cdanielsen at nfb.org
>>>
>>>  Blind Students Sue Florida State University for Discrimination
>>>  National Federation of the Blind Outraged at University's
>>> Actions
>>>  Baltimore, Maryland (June 29, 2011): With the assistance of the
>>>  National
>>>  Federation of the Blind, two blind students-Christopher Shane
>>>  Toth and Jamie
>>>  Ann Principato-filed suit today against Florida State University
>>>  (FSU) and
>>>  its board of trustees.  The suit alleges that FSU's Department
>>> of
>>>  Mathematics discriminated against Mr.  Toth and Ms.  Principato
>>>  by
>>>  failing to
>>>  provide them with proper accommodations so that they could
>>>  successfully
>>>  complete required math courses for their respective degree
>>>  programs.  The
>>>  violations include requiring the students to use an inaccessible
>>>  Web-based
>>>  application to complete homework assignments, tests, and
>>> quizzes;
>>>  requiring
>>>  the use of clickers that cannot be used by a blind person to
>>>  respond to
>>>  in-class questions and obtain bonus credit; failing to provide
>>>  Braille
>>>  versions of the required textbooks in violation of agreed-upon
>>>  accommodation
>>>  plans; and engaging in retaliatory actions when the students
>>>  complained of
>>>  these violations.  In all cases, faculty members in the
>>>  Department of
>>>  Mathematics were generally uncooperative, unhelpful, and even
>>>  hostile, and
>>>  did not provide meaningful alternative methods for Mr.  Toth and
>>>  Ms.
>>>  Principato to successfully complete the required courses.  As a
>>>  result, both
>>>  students are currently unable to continue their degree programs
>>>  and find
>>>  their careers indefinitely on hold.
>>>
>>>  Dr.  Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the
>>>  Blind, said:
>>>  "Discrimination against blind students is all too common, but it
>>>  rarely
>>>  stems from actual animus towards the students.  This case,
>>>  however, involves
>>>  the repeated, deliberate, and intentional disregard of the
>>> rights
>>>  of these
>>>  two students, whose academic records have now suffered
>>>  irreparable damage
>>>  and who have suffered lost opportunities, emotional distress,
>>>  embarrassment,
>>>  humiliation, and retaliation by university officials.  The
>>>  National
>>>  Federation of the Blind will not stand for this outrageous
>>>  treatment of
>>>  blind students and we will continue to support this lawsuit as
>>>  fully as
>>>  necessary in order to ensure that these young people are
>>>  compensated for the
>>>  egregious conduct of faculty and staff in FSU's Department of
>>>  Mathematics."
>>>
>>>  The plaintiffs are represented in this matter by Daniel F.
>>>  Goldstein, Sharon
>>>  Krevor-Weisbaum, and Brooke E.  Lierman of the Baltimore firm
>>>  Brown,
>>>  Goldstein, and Levy; and Matthew Dietz of the Miami firm Law
>>>  Offices of
>>>  Matthew W.  Dietz, P.L.
>>>
>>>  Beth Taurasi
>>>  Sent from my BrailleNote Apex
>>>
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