[nabs-l] the test accomodations

Sun Apr 28 15:51:20 UTC 2013

Can they provide you a Braille copy of the test so you can follow along
with the reader?

On Sat, Apr 27, 2013 at 9:34 PM, Arielle Silverman <
Arielle.Silverman at asu.edu> wrote:

> 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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> >>> om
> >>>>>
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