[nabs-l] Need some help college issues

Fri Nov 22 05:59:18 UTC 2013

Bridgit,
Wow, I had issues but not as many.
Mine were related to securing texts in a usable format. Often the ds office 
sent me pdfs which were unreadable. That, or the pdf text files were very 
hard to understand because they had half the words stuck together.
Often, I just hated the electronic text and gave up that. I was in a unique 
position to afford hiring readers since my family has that sort of money.
So I used readers and taped the reading in case I needed to go back to it.
I also had troubles securing accomodations to get access to printed 
matterial in class; mainly getting the professor's slides and handouts.
Anyway, I just say this to point out I, too, had difficult professors, but 
none so difficult as your situation.

You really have a tough situation! I suspect my ideas will be ones you've 
tried.
Here it goes.
Refusing to accommodate you is illegal. Meet with the ds office. Then meet 
with deans. Then see if your school has a formal complaint process and file 
a complaint. Meanwhile, if you are doing terribly, I suggest withdrawing 
from the class.

For the access problem, this sounds like a huge barrier; its like telling a 
wheel chair user they can take the class, and failing to provide a ramp to 
their seat.
All I can suggest is see if they will use a different site, but from what 
you said, they likely won't.
What exactly do they do on the google sites? If file sharing, ask your peers 
to email
you the documents. I ran into this issue in english composition, the 
difference was the professor did not use it all the time as yours does.
For this one assignment, I  got the professor to email me the student files 
I needed.
Another idea for file sharing is using drop box. I don't see why they cannot 
just  use blackboard or whatever your online classroom system is, instead of 
google sites.
Oh my goodness! It sounds like they're being stubborn.
Finally use a reader if they won't give you an alternative way to do the 
work, but really they should, it’s the law.

For the art class, this, too, sounds discriminatory.
The professor cannot refuse to grade you provided you can physically do the 
work.
I don't know what to say other than have the ds office counselor meet with 
you and the art teacher to work it out.

Finally, the math course.
I am appalled to hear this still happens.
I also took a math course in college. I had the very same issue!
The book was not accessible on the MY Math Lab software.
I used RFB  which is now learning ally for my book.
In place of doing online work, I did work from the book.
Another option is to use a reader.

They should give you an alternative assignment since you cannot do your work 
online.

I hope some of this helped.

Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Bridget Walker
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 12:26 AM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] Need some help college issues

Hi everyone,
I have reached a point where I need all the help I can get. First it helps 
to have some background. My primary disability is blindness due to a TBI. I 
have another component to my condition which is spastic CP.
So I am now a junior, an education major, and think I have it all. At least 
that's how the semester starts.
I need to know what do I do if due to my secondary disabilities that are not 
blindness professors either refuse to accommodate me all together or focus 
on one disability and not the other?
My next question is in the area of equal access. I am all for advocating for 
yourself in this area and using whatever you have to get the job done.
One of my professors uses google sites and although I made her along with DS 
aware of the accessibility problem I am still required to use the site. I 
sent everyone the letter Sean sent the list with my explanation but they 
don't care.
Now we move on to art. I'm taking a sculpture class nice and tactile. The 
professor refuses to grade me because I'm blind and have CP. I can't see and 
can't move my hands the way other people do. She said I receive a pass fail 
for the class and am required to do everything but not for an actual letter 
grade. She told me at the start I can see powerpoints. Ok no if I read 
Braille, have a guide dog, and get migraines when I use my eyes I don't 
think I can see. DS didn't even back me up I had to bring my eye report to 
the head of the art department to prove my disability. Let's add in the part 
there is already documentation about my disability at DS.
Finally we get to math. Let me say I knew math was going to be a challenge. 
My book is I not accessible on my math lab with jaws 15. The college wanted 
me to downgrade my screen reader and my IE version so my math lab might 
work. I tested it with an older version of jaws and windows seven it is not 
compatible as far spas I know. Bigger point I should not be downgrading my 
technology for a book.
Then to have them say what is the big deal?
We have an embosser on campus. We are lucky. I have Braille as an 
accommodation but, we need someone to Braille my tests because I can't 
that's not ok and DS is not trained. DS has brailled before and did well 
they just won't do it I guess a confidence thing. So I have to take my tests 
with jaws. Jaws and math are not a good combo.
I just want to know what do people think of all of this?
I have met with as many resources on campus to reach a common ground and I 
get nowhere.
I have a year and a half left. I don't want it to be like this.
I feel like I take five steps forward and ten steps back.
Thanks
Bridget

Sent from my iPad
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