[nabs-l] the test accomodations

Sun Apr 28 18:22:35 UTC 2013

Just curious: if you were to have a braille copy of the test, what is
the point of having a reader?

Chris Nusbaum

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 28, 2013, at 11:52 AM, Suzanne Germano <sgermano at asu.edu> wrote:

> 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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