[nabs-l] school is not accommodating

Sat Jan 21 15:43:35 UTC 2012

Good morning Ashley and everyone,

    You need to work with your state and/or chapter presidents. Never mind 
the school officials. Furthermore as Arielle pointed out be careful in what 
you say is a school accommodation and what is not. Perhaps some of your 
concerns such as not being able to navigate the campus independently could 
be fixed by taking some time out and attending an NFB training center. You 
would also get help with many of the other issues you raised. And if your 
counselor gives you horsepuckey about your state's rehab agency paying for 
this training here again is where you need to work with your NFB affiliate 
to get resolution of your issues which could include enhancing your 
blindness skills. Now stop the excuses and get on with addressing your 
concerns so you can succeed in school and beyond.

Peter Donahue

----- 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 10:41 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] school is not accommodating

No, I'd rather have someone familiar with school issues. My chapter
president also works for the federal government and I don't see her taking
off work for such a thing. Vabs, that is a joke; its inactive and I don't
know who the president is.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Peter Donahue
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 6:00 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] school is not accommodating

Hello Ashley and everyone,

    How about your chapter or VABS President. I'd use these folks over
someone who may know little or nothing about accommodating blind students.
Perhaps your state president can assign your situation to another board
member if he cannot take it on himself. Did you contact him about these
issues? Don't write these individuals off just because you think they're too
busy or not interested in helping you. Hope you can get things worked out.

Peter Donahue

----- 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 2:44 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] school is not accommodating

Humberton,
Rehab is a joke; remember I'm a continuing ed student; so my rehab counselor
is  concerned about getting me a job with a bachelors degree; she won't go
to meetings with the school; not sure that is a good idea. I mean rehab
doesn't follow their own regulations of informed choice; that is why they
fight with consumers about services.

Now, I do want to bring in an advocate; my state president of nfb is busy
and travels a lot. So I might try a local advocate first. I think I'll ask
my local independent living center to help. The centers for independent
living deal with all people with disabilities. Also I might contact my state
reps in richmond.
Chap peterson has been to nfb meetings here so he might be willing to help
even though he represents the next district over. Yes I will definitely
contact my state officials.

As for braille signs. Um oh my, you got me started. While we do have braille
numbers, other important info is not in braille. The professor's nname is
not brailled! I remember waiting over ten minutes for my professor who ran
late due to parking issues. Someone finally came along and read me the phone
number on the door! Then I called her. Then she showed up three minutes
later and appoligized for being late. Well, I read her name since I have
vision and confirmed I was indeed in the right place! But it wasn't easy.
They could have at least put contrasting letters there for low vision
students!
Same with other signs. Uh, gray letters on dark background isn't good for
low vision people.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Humberto Avila
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 3:06 PM
To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] school is not accommodating

Hello Ashley and all:

This is so awful. I think these experiences are and can always occur
anywhere in this nation with blind students going to college. I'm not sure
if this could be possible but whenever someone has those sad and bad
inaccessible experiences in college, they should:
1.  talk to the DSS director or dean of students,  and if not working,
2.  they should bring in the VR counselor with the DSS people at the college
and discuss these issues, and if that doesn't work,
3.  bring in an advocate at the state or local level government who can
explain the ADA and tell them how they are not providing the information and
services to a blind student(s) that should be provided by law, and if that
does not work,
4.  bring in an advocate from the National Federation of the Blind who can
really chew their butt! Like maybe, the state or chapter president and/or
maybe even more powerful, a national advocate. And if applicable, if the
school is still not doing the job, he can sue the school on behalf of the
NFB.

Just my idea on this. But, in the end, we must stop colleges and
universities from not providing the services like accessible textbooks and
web sites and even well brailled classroom doors. This is completely nuts.
If we want change, we must take action now.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Joshua Lester
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 11:53 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] school is not accomodating

That's sad!
My community college is awful at accomidating me, as well.
The Braille signs only say, "Classroom," and "Office," but it won't
say who the instructor is.
The offices don't even have the employee's names on the door, either.
It may, in Print, but not in Braille!
The classrooms, I can understand, because different instructors may
use the same room.
They should, however, put the room number on the door, instead of
"Classroom."
I've asked my DSO about it, but they won't do anything.
Blessings, Joshua

On 1/20/12, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 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
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