[nabs-l] accessible handouts/matterial

Thu Mar 31 22:12:46 UTC 2011

Hi, Ashley,
  I would not suggest going to the dean or someone above your
professors for this issue. If you could convince the disability
director at your school to speak with the professors, that would be
great, but if not you might need to continue reminding your professors
about your access needs. From my experience, instructors generally
don't mind sending out materials in electronic format, but they can
often get distracted and forget. Many also tend to finalize their
lectures at the last minute, which makes it impractical to send you
the slides beforehand. I have always been fine with receiving my
slides after class rather than in advance; professors generally
explain/paraphrase what is on the slides as they lecture, so I rarely
find it difficult to follow the class without access to the
PowerPoint. I take plenty of notes in class, and slides mostly
supplement my notes by providing an extra level of detail-- They do
not, and should not, serve as the only study tool! An alternative to
receiving slides via email is to bring a flash drive to class and ask
your professor to copy his presentation off the computer after
lecture-- before he can forget!
As for handouts, I think they are a bit easier to handle. As Shawn
said, scanning, while not ideal, is a very feasible option of
accessing printed materials.
  I'm not suggesting for you to stop advocating for yourself-- It is
indeed frustrating to not receive materials in an accessible format,
especially considering that it is something your instructor could
easily provide. However, it is also essential to establish a good
working relationship with your instructor, and going above him for
something relatively minor is not the way to accomplish this (if he
refuses to provide you exams in an accessible format or does not
inform you of the required books in advance, that is a different
matter). Keep communicating with your professor, and remind  the
disability office that they are supposed to serve as a liaison between
students and professors and make sure that you get your
accomoodations. Meanwhile, practice your note-taking skills in class,
and  be prepared for the reality that scanning is necessary once in a
while. Good luck!
   Katie

On 3/31/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> No I did not go to the dean yet. Maybe I will.
> But I also went to the disability coordinator campus wide about this and the
> out of date technology on campus.
> She said the right things but I got no where with here.  They still have
> jaws 8 on campus.
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kevin Chao
> Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 10:53 AM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] accessible handouts/matterial
>
> Ashley and All,
>
> Have you taken things up with dean, vice chancellor of student
> services, and others who are above and beyond professor and disabled
> student services?
>
> After my awful experience with disabled student services, I've come to
> rely on them much less, work with professors directly, and when
> professors were unwilling to accommodate, I've resorted to above. A
> lot of advocacy is needed in this area.
>
> Yes, it's valid to feel frustrated. However, expectations should be
> set much higher, where you should and will get all accessible material
> now and forever.
>
> Kevin
>
> On 3/30/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> Well after advocacy, some professors don’t get it.
>>
>>
>> An update.
>> As you know I am trying to get accessible handouts/notes as it is in my
>> accomodation letter.
>>
>> I gather that your professors send you handouts before class or a day
>> after.
>> That is good and often professors have done just that.
>>
>> Well, know what?  I sent the comm professor an email last week about the
>> handouts.  What happened? Today we got another handout on a paper! I did
>> not
>> get the accessible electronic copy!
>> I could not ask him because we were planning a group project and he left
>> before class ended.
>> I will tell my disability counselor.  Meanwhile, I can scan the handout.
>>
>> I have come to the conclusion he will just not be accomodating and do much
>> different. He is a nice guy but very busy and one that I think makes up
>> the
>> schedule shortly before class.  He can be funny and gets the class
>> involved
>> through questions.  But communication has some to be desired.
>>
>> The grammar professor has  emailed me the handouts including the
>> powerpoint
>> from the last student presenter. But she did it this week, which did not
>> allow me any time before today’s class to study/learn the matterial!  She
>> is
>> a bit more receptive than the comm professor.
>>
>> I am frustrated but came to the conclusion it will likely be that way for
>> the duration of the semester.  I will always encounter student handouts I
>> cannot read!
>> Tonight one girl had a large multi page handout but she was nice enough to
>> tell me she would email it to me privately using my more accessible
>> earthlink
>> account.
>> The professor decided that students would present on one chapter and teach
>> the class for a grade.  Students have slides and/or handouts. Unless they
>> go
>> the extra mile to email them to me, I will have to just listen.
>> I did tell them at the end of class to email me in advance please, but no
>> one but today’s one presenter took down my email.
>> BTW she is also Ashley and she plans to teach English; maybe that is why
>> she
>> is more cognicent of needs.
>> In the original syllabus, students were not going to present, but were
>> going
>> to be tested; then she changed the syllabus and now instead of a test,
>> students are presenting.  I’ll have to do the best I can.
>> At least the professor reads some of the slide or paraphrases in cases
>> where
>> the speaker is unclear.
>>
>> Comm stands for communication.
>> Ashley
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