[nabs-l] the test accomodations

Sun Apr 28 04:34:24 UTC 2013

I really think you will be less stressed and happier if you cut out
the DSS middleman, and just work with your professor. As a backup, if
the prof is totally unwilling, you can go back to DSS and follow their
rules. But you said the prof is helpful, so it's likely he'll be
willing to work something out with you that's fair.
Arielle

On 4/27/13, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
> What they mean is "if you take the test in our building you have to
> use our readers". The DSS policies don't apply to you once you step
> out of their office.
> I  don't know where other blind students have taken tests with their
> private readers, but I'd think you could do it in a designated testing
> room in the building where the class is, or you could go to the
> professor's office hours and do it there while the professor is around
> to ensure you don't cheat.
> If you ask the professor, they might be able to offer a reader who
> works for the department, like a student worker or an assistant. I
> don't know how it works in community colleges, but I know at my
> university, the psych department has a huge support staff. This will
> help you avoid having to pay out of pocket, though even then you might
> end up sacrificing a little bit on reader quality.
>
> Remember: the DSS policies are binding on the DSS staff, but they're
> not binding on you as the student. The only one who really has control
> over how you take tests is the professor. Some professors give their
> entire classes online exams. That's their right as professors to do.
> If the professor trusts you enough to let you use your own reader, or
> to use your laptop in class, or any of a number of other
> accommodations, that's their decision to make.
>
> Arielle
>
> On 4/27/13, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Arielle,
>> So you're suggesting that the professor and student which is me arrange
>> for
>>
>> a private reader I hire to take the exam.
>> Where would I take the exam then? I'll have to check if this violates
>> school
>>
>> policy.
>> Are you saying that you know blind students using their own readers for
>> exams with no objection from the professor? Where would they take the
>> exam
>> and how does the professor ensure that you did not cheat then?
>>
>> Ashley
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Arielle Silverman
>> Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2013 11:03 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] the test accomodations
>>
>> 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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>>>>>
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>