[nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?
Carly Mihalakis Esq.
carlymih at earthlink.net
Sun Jul 3 21:39:10 UTC 2011
'Afternoon, Ashley,
Most people don't seem to come complete with the
mind set that, if acquiring some piece of
equipment or service helps a single student
succeed in reaching something that
resembles success then, 'seems to me it might be
more than "worth it" to facilitate said device or service. Doncha think?
Struggle on my sister!
for today,
Car
>What do they do for students without
>disabilities? Well, many state universities and
>community colleges are spending millions on
>entertainment systems. They are spending tons to upgrade
>existing computers, projectors, and other
>technology. Ever wonder how much those
>computers cost to maintain and upgrade? It¡¯s a
>lot of money, yet my school won't even upgrade to jaws 12.
>Entertainment includes fitness equipment, which
>is somewhat inaccessible to us, of course with flat pannels.
>Also, they get big expensive plasma tvs,
>internet connections in the classrooms and most
>of the campus, a pool table and other entertainment things.
>Ah, they can spend money on non essential things
>to please other students and make them
>comfortable, but when it comes to requesting a
>jaws upgrade or a brailled exam, that seems to difficult to get and handle.
>I've been frustrated with the community
>college's inadequate accomodations including the
>inability to produce braille and tactile graphics.
>I needed braille to read the punctuation and
>spelling in my exams because they were testing
>us on the ability to edit and correct errors.
>Well, in short, they could not braille in-house
>and said they were not going to get a new
>embosser because hardly any students would need
>it. That is true; only one or two blind students at a time need braille.
>So I guess I kind of understand that. Well, they
>outsourced the brailling to another school, but
>I had to politely stay on them about getting the
>exam back and find out when they delivered it to the testing center.
>
>Its frustrating. I hope the lawsuit yeilds positive results.
>Ashley
>
>-----Original Message----- From: Josh Gregory
>Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2011 1:48 AM
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?
>
>Just a thought: Cost should only matter if the school is having
>budget issues or something... otherwise... what do they do for
>students without disabilities?
>Best,
>Josh
>
>sent from my Apex
>Email: joshkart12 at gmail.com
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Lea williams <leanicole1988 at gmail.com
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
><nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Sun, 3 Jul 2011 01:34:14 -0400
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] did anyone hear about the FSU lawsuit?
>
>This is what Freedomscientific website says.
>
>Multi-user options are available for JAWS Professional and
>Standard
>licenses, MAGic Professional licenses only, and all OpenBook
>licenses.
>They may be purchased
>in blocks of five seats in all cases. In the US, please call
>1-800-444-4443 for pricing. International customers, please
>contact
>your local distributor
>for pricing.
>Site License: Specifically designed for educational institutions,
>public libraries, and organizations whose sole purpose is to
>better
>the lives of the
>visually impaired. The Site License may only be used at one
>designated
>location.
>
>District License: Also designed for educational institutions,
>public
>libraries, and organizations whose sole purpose is to better the
>lives
>of the visually
>impaired. This license allows the institution to install the
>software
>at more than one facility.
>
>Enterprise License: Tailored to meet the needs of private
>businesses
>and government agencies. The enterprise license may be installed
>in
>multiple locations,
>but may only be used on machines owned by the specified company
>or agency.
>
>So your school would have to get a District License. My school
>allows
>me to put a demo on any and all of the computers I wish. better
>than
>nothing but not as great as having a full version.
>What about using one of those thumb drive Jaws?
>I need to look online on how that will work. I am going to take
>a
>computer class in the fall and need to figure out about putting
>jaws
>on a computer. My schools says that they only allow up to $250
>per
>student to spend on stuff for school if they are unable to
>purches it
>themselves They did start to look in to getting my math and other
>books in braille until i told them how much it would cost.
>At least they thought about it!
>I too face simmular problems that these two are facing. My
>college
>uses math labs on the web that is not totally exsessible to blind
>people. I have to have all my math read to me and is difficult
>at
>times when I have to spend hours a week in the learning center as
>if I
>am taking a whole other class that I am not getting credit for.
>
>On 7/2/11, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
>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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>--
>Lea Williams
>
>Phone;
>704-732-4470
>Skipe;
>Lea.williams738
>Facebook
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