[nabs-l] school is not accomodating

Sat Jan 21 04:52:44 UTC 2012

Hi,
Well, I can ask about the jaws demo. The school hasn't taken any steps to 
get texts to us. And finding readers is more challenging, though I found 
them before with more interviews. This is a very multi cultural school. So 
many of those interested in reading were those with accents.
Obviously, I did not hire them. Another issue was schedule conflicts; I did 
not have this at the university since we could study at night.

Regarding the ADA and buildings, I'll look into this. Yes rooms have to have 
sinage. The school is in ADA violations but for other issues like lack of 
hand rails on steps. They get  away with it because the buildings are older. 
Although, I don't know if the new building only a few months old is in ADA 
compliance or not. One very inconvenient thing is that there is only one 
elevator in it and its down some hallway out of the way as if they don't 
want people to use the elevator. That would be hard for someone who is 
mobility impaired.
I haven't been in it enough to observe if all doors are wide enough for a 
wheelchair to go through.
It’s a poorly designed layout. What I think I'll do is memorize where things 
are in relation to the carpeted lounge area; they have a area for students 
just to sit and study and/or hang around in the middle. It is carpeted 
there. Around this area on the back two walls are where the doors to the 
offices are for counseling, testing center, admissions, etc.  Its very 
strange. It would make much more sense to have halls!

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Arielle Silverman
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 6:35 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] school is not accomodating

Hi Ashley,
I understand your situation at school is frustrating, but I'm not sure
that the school is actually in violation of any ADA mandates. Schools
aren't necessarily required to have a DSO at all, much less purchase a
scanner and Braille embosser. And while your building's layout may be
very annoying to try and navigate, it's not inaccessible to you as a
blind person. I'm not sure the ADA says anything about making
buildings accessible to the blind except perhaps to put Braille
signage on elevators. I don't know if Braille is required on doors.
I think your first priority should probably be finding a more reliable
way to get access to your books and exams. As for the JAWS issue, can
you install your copy of JAWS as a demo on your school computer
instead of asking them to buy another license? Or you can get a
netbook, which is a very lightweight laptop, for $400 or less.
You might see if the DSO will help you find a reader to read your
texts or if there is a scanner anywhere on campus, like in the library
or student services building, if DSO doesn't have one. If not, you can
advertise for readers in your classes, which I know you already have
experience with.
As for getting around the building, if you can walk through it a few
times with a reader, friend, or O&M and just learn to get to a few
locations within the building you will probably have an easier time.
You don't need to learn the whole building; just the location of the
places you need to go frequently.
I agree that the inaccessible website and CD's are a problem, but it
sounds like that's the fault of the publisher, not the fault of the
school, right?
Arielle

On 1/20/12, jeff crouch <jeffanel at gmail.com> wrote:
> yes, i am in 8th grade. I am very formiller with the ada and the idea.
> I like studying stuff like this.
>
> On 1/20/12, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Jeff,
>> You have more rights if you are in middle or high school, which I think
>> you
>> are! Under the Individuals with disabilities education Act, idea, you 
>> have
>> a
>> right to a free and appropriate education.
>> And your parents should advocate for braille signs and whatever
>> accomodations are needed.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: jeff crouch
>> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 4:31 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] school is not accomodating
>>
>> yeah, oh, this is my first time on this bord, and i love it. Wow i am
>> more active on hear then i am on the nfbmi list. lol, i can't wait to
>> get to know you wonderful people, hey if you have skype feel free to
>> add me, my screen name is
>> magic2127
>>
>> have a good day
>> with love
>> jeff crouch
>>
>> On 1/20/12, Jonathan Franks <franks.jonathan13 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I agree, you should keep talking to theschool. Also, if you get more
>>> people
>>> to talk to the school on the issue, the school will be more likely to 
>>> the
>>> problem. My suggestion is to go out and talk to your friends and peers
>>> and
>>> let them know about the issue, advocating is a good way to solve a
>>> problem
>>> or come up with solutions. Good luck.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jan 20, 2012, at 2:25 PM, "Gloria G" <gloria.graves at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I am first sorry for the trouble you are having to deal with. I had a
>>>> friend in Nabraska who had the same issue with rooms throughout the
>>>> school
>>>> not being labeled and she talked to someone in her school and things 
>>>> got
>>>> worked on
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ashley Bramlett"
>>>> <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 1:14 PM
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] school is not accomodating
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>
>>>>> Just want to vent. My school doesn’t seem very accomodating and they’re
>>>>> the largest community college in the commonwealth. Yo They got over
>>>>> five
>>>>> campuses and you can read about at www.nvcc.edu.
>>>>>
>>>>> I’m just taking further classes to get a writing certificate and
>>>>> figured
>>>>> extra knowledge will enhance my resume as I look for work. No one’s
>>>>> hiring so it will be a whwile; might as well learn more.
>>>>>
>>>>> First, my disability service office, DSO, does not scan any texts. I 
>>>>> am
>>>>> still waiting for electronic text; fortunately, a family member can
>>>>> read
>>>>> meanwhile til I find a reader at school. If the publisher won’t give 
>>>>> us
>>>>> the e-book, they likely never will; I mean its been two weeks!
>>>>>
>>>>> Second, I am taking that It class as I mentioned before. The 
>>>>> instructor
>>>>> wanted jaws installed in her office because she needs to show me the
>>>>> steps. Hmm. Maybe I need a laptop. But I hate the idea of lugging the
>>>>> thing around!
>>>>> They tell us they don’t have enough licenses; um how absurd. They need
>>>>> lots of them. what if another blind student needs jaws in a classroom
>>>>> lab?
>>>>>
>>>>> Third, they cannot braille tests; at least they will outsource to get
>>>>> it
>>>>> brailled though; just seems like a large school would be able to
>>>>> braille
>>>>> tests!
>>>>>
>>>>> Fourth, this new building which holds the student service stuff and
>>>>> counseling center is very open few halls, few landmarks. I bet its not
>>>>> ADA compliant. I don’t know though. Its certainly confusing for a 
>>>>> blind
>>>>> traveler. Sighted people get lost until they’ve been there a lot since
>>>>> its not laid out well.
>>>>>
>>>>> Not to mention the inaccessible website and CD for the IT class too.
>>>>> Publishers need to get with the program!
>>>>>
>>>>> Ashley
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nabs-l mailing list
>>>>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
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>>>>> nabs-l:
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> 73
>> kd8qiq
>> jeff crouch
>>
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>
>
> --
> 73
> kd8qiq
> jeff crouch
>
> _______________________________________________
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>

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