[nabs-l] the test accomodations

Sun Apr 28 03:53:14 UTC 2013

Hi all,

I see both sides; I get Tyler's concern from the perspective of the DS
staff, because one of their jobs is that if they have a student who
asks to take a test in their office legally they have to follow
certain guidelines.  One of those is making sure they follow the
school policy and make sure the testing is fair.  On the other hand,
if they're providing a reader who causes someone to get a grade they
don't deserve, either potentially higher or lower based on what the
reader does or their clarity in reading, that is cause for concern
too.  DS offices are supposed to hire readers who can be neutral, in
the middle ground with clear speech, but of course not all colleges
are created equal, and certainly not all college disability offices
are either.

But, from my personal experiences thus far, I think what Arielle is
saying is right.  Disability offices can't demand you take every test
with them, and for the tests you decide to handle directly with the
professor they have no control over.  If it's okay with the professor
either they or someone else who is a competent reader can administer
tests, give it directly to the prof, and you can totally
circumnavigate disability services and the issues associated with
their readers.  That might be your best bet in avoiding this issue,
but I'd definitely keep an eye on it in case this persists and is a
problem for other classes in the future.  It's not worth getting
worked up over at the end of the year, as long as you do how you
should on the final exam you should be fine.  I would suggest making
arrangements with the professor as soon as possible and see what can
be worked out.

Ashley, that is an interesting system with the question marks.  I
didn't think of doing that, (I usually just write directly into the
test document, pick my multiple choice answers by marking an X in
front of the letter or the number that matches the letter when
matching terms,) but it works.  I may have to try that myself.

Good luck on your World Religions final; I'm taking a similar course
this semester too, although our final is just our last paper of the
course on modern religious philosophy.  Lots of Nietche and Bonhofer,
the religious philosophies of MLK vs Malcolm X, stuff like that.  Good
luck.

On 4/26/13, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
> A d A is last resort, but if her grade slips because of bad reading, then
> what is next?.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Littlefield,
> Tyler
> Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 11:11 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] the test accomodations
>
>
> of course it sounds like a possible ADA case. And this is why nothing ever
> gets done. Something happens and everyone screaches "xomg ADA lets sue,"
> and
> there are people happy to sue everyone because they might've made a funny
> face and that description of that funny face was not in the ADA manual.
>
> And that was basically my point. If the professor is working with the DSS
> office to figure out a way for you to take the test and they say no reader
> and that's what's agreed on between them, then there won't be a reader
> hired
> from outside. Ultimately it's up to the professor, but I'm just stating
> that
> I can see why there would be issues hiring readers from outside to take
> tests.
>   On 4/27/2013 9:03 PM, Arielle Silverman wrote:
>> No, a DSS office cannot legislate what you do outside of their office.
>> If you and the professor agree that you will use a reader you hired
>> yourself, the DSS office cannot step in and veto that arrangement you
>> worked out with your professor. The DSS office only has authority if
>> you give it to them by asking to take the test in their office.
>> Hiring your own readers for testing is only a problem if the professor
>> has an objection to it. Many professors are quite laid-back about
>> things like that, even if they are technically not quite in line with
>> school policy.
>>
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 4/26/13, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Sounds like a possible ADA case if it gets to far.
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley
>>> Bramlett
>>> Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 10:21 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] the test accomodations
>>>
>>> Arielle,
>>> oOh, um, this is a community college. I'm finished my BA degree but
>>> taking classes to further my studies and get a writing certificate.
>>> The class I need a competent reader for is religion.
>>> No a TA won't work. Also, Its community college.
>>> you make it sound easy. Gee, I do wish I could get my own readers.
>>> Gosh. I can think of like 20 people who would be competent readers
>>> and have a clue how to read such a test. But no, they don't allow me to
> do this.
>>>
>>> I do indeed have my own readers for studying and reading texts and
>>> looking up material and research, but no I cannot bring a reader to
>>> the exam. Personally, I think this is a legal
>>>
>>> matter and they need to change the policy so you can have the option
>>> to bring your own competent reader as an accomodation under the ADA.
>>> Its not fair, not equal access, and can cause one to get a lower
>>> grade using bad readers.
>>>
>>> Ashley
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Arielle Silverman
>>> Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 7:45 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] the test accomodations
>>>
>>> You can also ask the professor if the teaching assistant can
>>> read/scribe your exam, if there is one for the class. Most teaching
>>> assistants are graduate students or advanced undergraduates in the
>>> department and should know the material well, and since they're
>>> trusted employees of the professor, they are trusted not to help you
>>> cheat. Plus, many TA's have nothing else to do during an exam and
>>> would otherwise just be sitting around. If the class has no teaching
>>> assistant, as in a community college, maybe the professor could read
>>> it for you and scribe your answers during office hours the day before
>>> the test or some such?
>>> I know that blind students have hired their own readers for testing,
>>> which allows them to pick people who are competent. Some disability
>>> services offices frown on this practice because they prefer to hire
>>> and manage readers themselves, but it's an option that's at least
>>> worth discussing with your professor, who might not care much.
>>> Arielle
>>>
>>> On 4/27/13, Suzanne Germano <sgermano at asu.edu> wrote:
>>>> I haven't used readers since I am a partial and use cctv but when I
>>>> had disabled students pay for a chemistry lab aid I insisted the
>>>> person was a chem major and an A student.
>>>>
>>>> So maybe you could find your readers through the department. And
>>>> then you interview them by having them read to you.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Apr 27, 2013 at 3:30 PM, Kirt <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I'm in the middle of the nightmare that is transferring between
>>>>> colleges, but the college I am leaving almost always provided me
>>>>> with competent and capable readers. Sure, they might pronounce a
>>>>> few words incorrectly But they knew how to read out loud.  I hope I
>>>>> don't run into the same problem you are dealing with right now and
>>>>> my next college.
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>
>>>>> On Apr 27, 2013, at 11:21 AM, "Ashley Bramlett"
>>>>> <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As finals approach, I wanted to know what test accomodations you get.
>>>>>> Do
>>>>> you feel they are adaquate and meet your needs?
>>>>>> If you need a reader and person to scribe your answers on a
>>>>>> scantron,
>>>>> how are they? Are they competent readers?
>>>>>> I'm going through a discriminatory situation now. Most my readers
>>>>>> were
>>>>> incompetent but I got around that by asking them to speak slower
>>>>> and repeat things; I mean they could not speak all that clearly and
>>>>> read fast and spoke to the paper not articulately to me. Many exams
>>>>> I took with jaws to avoid this; I feel this way is slower for me
>>>>> and a reader can directly mark my answers on a scantron as well as
>>>>> go back to questions I missed. If I need a reader scribe I should
>>>>> be given a competent reader.
>>>>>> I'll tell more about this specific test issue in another message.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Look forward to seeing your responses.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ashley
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>
> --
> Take care,
> Ty
> http://tds-solutions.net
> He that will not reason is a bigot; he that cannot reason is a fool; he
> that
> dares not reason is a slave.
> Sent from my Toaster (tm).
>
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-- 
Kaiti