[nabs-l] Frustrating High School Issue...

johnnie Jean duran johnniejduran at gmail.com
Wed Jan 29 04:00:10 UTC 2014


Dear National Association of Blind Students,
As some of you are aware of, next year, I will become a 9th grader
(freshman) at Alameda International High School. This high school is a
public school in Lakewood Colorado.
While visiting the school for the first time, I'd realized that the
area in which the 9th grade students have classes in, has no braille
on the walls. There are 2 pods, that look exactly alike, but there is
no braille on each doorway to identify which room you are entering.
This is going to be an issue for me because there is no way of
identifying which room I am entering, or which pod I am in. I brought
this situation up to my TVI and ONM teachers. My ONM teacher then
informed me that she'd spoken to Alameda several times, and they've
made it seem as if this issue was not a necessity. My TVI told me that
she would talk to the administration about this issue. A few days
later, she happily informed me that they were getting braille up on
the walls ASAP.
2 months later, while I am viseting the school with my 8th grade
class, we took a tour through the pods, and still I did not see any
braille. At a parent night my Mom attended tonight, she brought up the
issue to the Assistant Principal as well. He informed us that he's
been aware of the situation for several years, and then turned away as
if it were not important enough to discuss. He then told us, that I
would be placed in a challenge room with students who have multiple
disabilities. I was frustrated with this issue because of the fact
that I do not need to be in a challenge room. I am capable of
everything a sighted individual is capable of doing, and the only
thing that is stopping me is that braille. I feel like I am being
underestimated, and I rfuse to be placed in a challege room when I
don't need it.
The NFB is my last resort, therefore as experienced blind students, I
am asking for your help. How would I take this situation to the next
level?
All advice is always appreciated!
Thank you,
JJ

-- 
Ms. Johnnie Jean Duran
8th Grade Student
O'Connell Middle School - An IB World School
Lakewood, Colorado, United States
Member Of The National Federation Of The Blind Of Colorado (NFBCO),
The Colorado Association Of Blind Students (CABS), and the North Metro
Chapter of the NFB.
Facebook: facebook.com/johnniejean.duran
Instagram: jj_duran13
Skype: jj.duran13
Kik: jjd_13
Twitter: jj_duran_13




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