[nabs-l] school is not accomodating

Sat Jan 21 06:23:14 UTC 2012

Hi Ashley,
I believe you are right that braille signage is required by the ADA in
newer buildings, but I do agree with Arielle that your first priority
should be finding a practical way of getting textbooks in an
accessible format. In addition to the options that have been suggested
so far, I would like to point out that Bookshare has recently become
an extremely valuable resource. If you carry an individual membership,
you can use the Request Books feature on their website to ask them to
add the textbooks you need to their on-line library. As long as you
specify that the books are needed for school-related purposes, they
are very prompt in responding and will generally get the books scanned
within a few weeks. It takes them an unrealistically long time to
proof-read and edit the books, but for the most part this is not
particularly problematic-- The raw scan itself is of a very high
quality and is in fact among the best etexts I have come across. I
tried their services for the first time this semester to access a
textbook I need as a teaching assistant, and it has worked very well,
so I thought it worthwhile to share the resource.
Good luck!
Katie

On 1/21/12, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
> The ADA does only apply to buildings, but the Students with
> Disabilities Act applies to everything else.
> Blessings, Joshua
>
> On 1/20/12, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Hi,
>> They do have to be brailled. But as I said earlier, the ADA only applies
>> to
>> buildings constructed after the law or if they do renovations.
>> But still, if you need it, they should place signage there upon request.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Gloria G
>> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 6:56 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] school is not accomodating
>>
>> Hi,
>> This is also interesting for me to hear because I had the idea that is was
>> law that the buildings or the room numbers had to be brailled
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 5:35 PM
>> 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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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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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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