[nabs-l] meeting results and what to do to get a working computerfor college

Tue Jul 24 13:03:49 UTC 2012

Tyler,
Good post. I'll add that college i s what you make it. You can study and get 
good grades or just skate through barly passing.
Its quite hard. But if it were easy, we'd have more college grads. College 
is higher education separating the educated from the not so educated.

Yep, respect is what you make it. I could write so much on that. I've known 
many blind people who were bullyed or had issues in public school; yet, in 
college, they really shined and got involved in studies and clubs that they 
wanted to.
So, I guess my point is just since you had a bad experience in high school 
or public schools, it doesn't mean that translates to college.

I encourage anyone who needs it to avail yourselves of college resources 
like tutoring, academic advising, the library, and professors. Professors 
have been great to me in general; sure a few here and there suck about 
accomodations, but overall they were helpful. They often went out of their 
way to help. My intro to computers professor brought in parts of a computer 
for me to feel.
How awesome to see the hard drive and actual memory chips on the 
motherboard; I did not see the pictures, so
this was helpful. Other professors have sat with me and given me feedback on 
my papers before grading them and this was nice because I cannot read their 
comments and it made their expectations clearer. Other professors just 
helped me more and described charts or diagrams they had.
Professors will also write reference letters for you.

I think you can gain respect in college you did not have before. You can 
find your niche sort of by choosing your major and what to engage in outside 
school. Self esteem improves too if you get involved in stuff and try new 
things.

That said, college isn't for everyone, and if Desiree feels its not for her, 
that is okay.
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Littlefield, Tyler
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 10:08 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to do to get a working 
computerfor college

I'm sorry I'm not helping the pity party here, but for most people,
respect is what you earn. If you don't earn their respect, then you
don't get it, and it's pretty simple. Just because someone is in college
doesn't mean they're priviledged. I know people that are going on a
full-ride scholarship. Sure it sucks that I have to pay, but I can
guarantee you they worked their ass off in school to get it. Why am I
not going on a full ride? It's simple, I didn't happen to do that. Sure
there are people that that doesn't apply to, but not everyone gets the
golden platter handed to them; personally, as hard as things may be, I'm
glad I didn't. I can tell you that when I graduated high school and
later when I graduate college, I'm going to appreciate it a lot more
than someone with the golden platter.

We've also all had our own fair share of issues in school as a blind
student, it doesn't reflect badly on the human race as a whole, it's
just life again. It wasn't such a huge problem for me until high school,
but when high school rolled around and I started caring enough to want
to get good grades, I'll tell you it wasn't easy. I made numerous trips
across the school every day to make sure everything was getting
brailled; it really depended greatly on the teacher, and I got a few
that I had to yell at and then getting everything I needed was a miracle
by itself.

Going to college is a privilege, not a right. Yes, it's harder if you're
blind, yes, it's harder if you don't have scholarships, c'est la vie.
I've always had the mindset that your life is what you make it. As I
said, no-one is great at everything, and everyone struggles with some
classes, it's the way it is. If life were easy, everyone would have gone
to college and we wouldn't have this debate. Ultimately though, the
choice is yours; you can accept life as it is and do the best with it,
or you can complain about it.
On 7/23/2012 7:54 PM, Desiree Oudinot wrote:
> Oh, that was just grade school. But none of my experiences throughout
> the time I was in school were all that great, which makes me not only
> doubt the human race as a whole, but also has lead me to believe that
> while you're in school, you have no rights. This goes for college too
> since it's an institution of learning. Sure, people are paying to go
> there, but let's get real. Some are riding on a scholarship, so
> they're not paying out of pocket, or some have their parents pay for
> them. In the case of blind people, rehab pays for most, if not all of
> your college education if you play by their rules. I really wasn't
> trying to start a debate about my situation though. I consider myself
> to be a realist. I know what I am and am not good at. No amount of
> convincing myself that I'm good at math will make it so. No amount of
> convincing yourself that you can see will make it so, either. There's
> a fine line between being hopeful and sticking your head in the
> clouds.
> The only reason I revealed any of this at all is because some of us
> didn't grow up privileged. Some of us had to fight for every hint of
> respect we ever got. Some of us haven't been respected in so long that
> we don't even know what it feels like anymore. I get the feeling that
> that's kind of what Beth was saying too. I'll take the tirade of
> criticism that's sure to rain down on me for saying that, but at least
> I'm being honest.
>
> On 7/23/12, Brandon Keith Biggs <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hello,
>> If you knew you were better than the people in your math class, then you
>> probably will be. It's also a mind set. You are the smartest person the
>> school has ever had, and you will do just about anything to show that 
>> you're
>>
>> the smartest.
>> BTW, cheating is more trouble than it's worth. So if you think you're
>> cheating to make something easier, you probably aren't cheeting. High 
>> school
>>
>> doesn't count for much in the real world, so I'm sorry for the horrid 
>> things
>>
>> they did to you, but college math courses are often lots more fun.
>> My college has a class called, math for non mathematical people, and it's
>> how to do math without thinking about math.
>> BTW, you can't really do stats without using a calculator.
>> If you want to do something, nurture that want and make it a need, then
>> fulfill that need. Once the step has been taken and you're in your first 
>> day
>>
>> of class, it's not long till you've gotten an A at the end of the 
>> quarter.
>> So believe you're the best and then be the best.
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Brandon Keith Biggs
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Desiree Oudinot
>> Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 2:54 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to do to get a working
>> computerfor college
>>
>> Hi all,
>> Writing isn't some people's strong point. I know for example that my
>> math skills are extremely weak. When I was in elementary school, the
>> teachers didn't really know how to show certain concepts to me. I did
>> long division, but whenever I would use my Brailler, students would
>> tell me I was distracting them and making it so they couldn't learn.
>> Then they would throw erasers and rubber bands and a bunch of other
>> stuff at me. The teachers never did anything because they were just as
>> uncomfortable with my blindness as the students were. Anyway, back in
>> those days it was considered cheating to use a calculator, but I used
>> to do it anyway, just so I could pass. In my family, even getting a c
>> was considered a failure. Now, I've heard that things have changed
>> nowadays, and it's pretty much acceptable to use a calculator, but I
>> would neverfeel comfortable doing it. I would feel like I was doing
>> something wrong, and I think you can get kicked out of college for
>> cheating.
>> I say all this because now I'm at a serious disadvantage when it comes
>> to math. I need a calculator to do a lot of basic things. I can't even
>> calculate a tip for a cab or restaurant or whatever in my head. That's
>> just one of the reasons I'm not currently a student. I don't want to
>> fail or be kicked out of college for cheating.
>> The other reason I bring all this up is because, as I said, some
>> people are just weak in certain areas. tutoring may help in the short
>> term, but I think that these core curriculum skills, like reading or
>> math, are something that you're either good at or you're not. You
>> might be able to get some training wheels, and wobble your way through
>> the classes, but will it really increase your understanding to
>> noticeable proportions? I think not. It will get you through, and
>> maybe that's all that matters in the end, but due to my experiences
>> I'm really not sure.
>> I wouldn't discourage anyone from receiving tutoring, though. If that
>> makes the difference between a pass and a fail, then that's all you
>> need. But for me personally, I know there would be a lot of shame
>> surrounding it. I wouldn't feel right about paying someone an
>> astronomical (or minimal, if that's the case) fee just for them to go
>> running off and whisper about that stupid blind girl they had to help.
>> We've all heard about the dreaded stereotypes associated with
>> blindness. So wouldn't a person, a young person, and we all know how
>> ignorant certain people in this generation are, automatically put two
>> and two together, no matter how wrongly, and say hmmm, are all blind
>> people this stupid?
>>
>> On 7/23/12, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> Tyler,
>>> good post. I couldn't have said it better. You have to justify and Beth
>>> hasn't articulated a good justification. Macs get viruses too. In my
>>> state,
>>>
>>> they tend to buy windows computers. I don't know why the preference, but
>>> I've never heard of them going the apple route.
>>> So I think it will be hard to get one.
>>> Ashley
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Littlefield, Tyler
>>> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2012 1:32 AM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to do to get a working
>>> computerfor college
>>>
>>> Can I ask why you're pushing for a mac? pointing them to apple
>>> propiganda so you can get it doesn't work. If you know you want it
>>> because it does something better than the pc, go for it. Otherwise, just
>>> get a pc.
>>> On 7/19/2012 11:21 PM, Brandon Keith Biggs wrote:
>>>> Hello,
>>>> If you graduated high school and got excepted into college, you should
>>>> just go and tell them that you're going and you need this, this and 
>>>> this
>>>> in order to be independent. You need to have a technology assessment by
>>>> a
>>>>
>>>> professional blind technology person and it's your right to get that
>>>> assessment. If your counselor doesn't get you the meeting with the
>>>> adaptive technology professionals, talk to their supervisor. Let the
>>>> supervisor know that your rehab counselor is keeping you from 
>>>> succeeding
>>>> in college and if they want you to pass your classes, you have got to
>>>> have
>>>>
>>>> a computer. Because you aren't someone with time to worry about a
>>>> technology failure, you really need an apple computer that will be
>>>> dependable and has the best support in the world.
>>>> http://www.apple.com/why-mac/
>>>> This is why you need a mac, and you have not had the experience you 
>>>> want
>>>> in college with your PC, so because you want the best, you need to have
>>>> a
>>>>
>>>> Mac.
>>>> First rule of rehab, they want you to do and show what's best for you.
>>>> They will only guide you if you let them. you must be sure, un moving
>>>> and
>>>>
>>>> firm that this is what you want and there is nothing better you can
>>>> have,
>>>>
>>>> even though there may be things you're uncertain about. Confidence is
>>>> the
>>>>
>>>> key and independence is the way.
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Brandon Keith Biggs
>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Beth
>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 10:01 PM
>>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] meeting results and what to do to get a working
>>>> computerfor college
>>>>
>>>> Hi.  The meeting with rehab was unsuuccessful in doing anything
>>>> but made me aware of stuff.  They don't want me to have a Mac
>>>> because they don't feel I should have one.  I understand they
>>>> don't buy macs in Colorado, but my concern about third party apps
>>>> fell on deaf ears.  They want me to do a "situational assessment
>>>> and work adjustment training."  They found an agency for me to
>>>> work at, and they're forcing me to go to mental health group and
>>>> counseling therapies.  Honestly, I'm getting tired of this.  I
>>>> didn't think a mental issue would cause the employment to be the
>>>> top priority.  But I can't exactly go along with Rehab and their
>>>> plans.  They pretty much coerced me into doing the work
>>>> adjustment training, saying that I was "putting the cart before
>>>> the horse" with college and all.  But most sighted normal people
>>>> go to college and get a major.  What am I supposed to do?
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Beth
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>> --
>>> Take care,
>>> Ty
>>> http://tds-solutions.net
>>> The aspen project: a barebones light-weight mud engine:
>>> http://code.google.com/p/aspenmud
>>> He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he
>>> that
>>>
>>> dares not reason is a slave.
>>>
>>>
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-- 
Take care,
Ty
http://tds-solutions.net
The aspen project: a barebones light-weight mud engine:
http://code.google.com/p/aspenmud
He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he that 
dares not reason is a slave.

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