[nabs-l] college ebooks question

Sat Mar 22 20:15:40 UTC 2014

Hi,

Why we can't just have books given to us for free:  Getting text, or
otherwise accessible versions of books is an accomodation.  However,
that does not excuse us from not buying the book like everyone else.
Just be happy that the university isn't charging you for converting
the book, and you're paying a fair price rather than paying double for
the same thing (a college in my area is notorious for doing this, even
though it's technically illegal).  Also, if the university can't get
book files from the publisher, they then will need your copy to rip it
apart and scan it.  Most universities have online bookstores, so what
I do is just send the recipt of my order that is emailed to me to the
disability services inbox, and that's proof enough for them.  Don't
forget, even though you buy these print books and never use them, you
can still sell them back and regain some of your money.  I do this
every semester, and usually I get more back than most people do
because my books are still in the rapping, and all the bookstore
workers have to do is restock them.

Bookshare is a great source for textbooks, and so is Bard/NLS.  I
personally hate Reading Ally because I support braille over readers
and don't use readers for anything myself, but I know it works for
other people.

Best practices for getting books and other accomodations in the
future: Let the DS office know what your needs are as soon as you
schedule your classes.  Email your professors and see if they would
like to meet in-person or over the phone to discuss course materials.
Turn in book lists and recipts as soon as you have them.  If there is
an online platform for the course, see if you can  get someone in IT
to check out the accessibility ahead of time.  These things are even
more important if you have accelerated courses, modules, or courses
over the summer or MayMester schedules.  Pay attention to deadlines
regarding when you can drop classes without penalty, because if the
accessibility of a class is an issue for you you need to try to switch
into another section with different requirements so you can work
around the issue, or you need to switch into a new course entirely and
take that semester to work out the kinks before signing up again.

On 3/22/14, Suzanne Germano <sgermano at asu.edu> wrote:
> The bookstore should be able to provide you all of that information. they
> should also be able to tell you if they sell the electronic version. If you
> have title and author you can google the book and get publisher info.
>
>
> On Sat, Mar 22, 2014 at 11:36 AM, John Sanders <sandersj6 at att.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> I'm not sure who the publishers are on the reading 150 and study
>> strategies for success.
>> I hope to hear from you soon.
>> Sincerely,
>> John Sanders
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Suzanne Germano
>> Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2014 1:32 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] college ebooks question
>>
>> Have you checked with the publishers to see if the books are already in
>> electronic format? On you on VR, I have known students who have had
>> readers
>> paid for through VR.
>>
>> Are you saying they claim that Michigan State provides no accommodations?
>> I
>> have been on their website and they do provide etext (as long as it is
>> not
>> already available from another source), Braille ( they prefer to do texts
>> for use with refreshable but will do paper braille books, note takers in
>> class etc
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Mar 22, 2014 at 10:11 AM, John Sanders <sandersj6 at att.net> wrote:
>>
>>  Hi,
>>> What makes it worse is that both of my classes I'm taking are 8 weeks
>>> long.
>>> With out a reader and some one to write, it's going to be hard for me to
>>> get caught back up with the rest of the class.
>>> It's my fault for not notifying the Office of disability supported
>>> services that I needed these accomidations ahead of time.
>>> This is a lesson that I've learned and will make sure it doesn't happen
>>> again.
>>> The community college that I'm going to is trying to go towards what my
>>> major University, Michigan State University is doing. That's not
>>> providing
>>> any accomidations at all.
>>> I hope to hear from you soon.
>>> Sincerely,
>>> John Sanders
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message----- From: Loren Wakefield
>>> Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2014 11:53 AM
>>> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] college ebooks question
>>>
>>> It's not just that.  Even once a receipt is turned in, it can still take
>>> several weeks to get the books.  And when you are dealing with a class
>>> with
>>> lots of reading, or is on an accelerated schedule, it can be fun trying
>>> to
>>> catch up.
>>>
>>> Loren
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Helga
>>> Schreiber
>>> Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2014 9:17 AM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] college ebooks question
>>>
>>> Hi guys, this is Helga. I think buying the books and bring a receipt is
>>> not really so good. They are actually very expensive. It's not need for
>>> us
>>> to purchase books with our own money since we can't  read it and we are
>>> going to get an electronic copy of it. But the only way if we are buying
>>> the book is we have financial aid in order to buy them. But Financial
>>> Aid
>>> always comes four or two days before class and that is not good for us
>>> since we are not able to get our books in text or something! I think
>>> they
>>> should give Financial aid to all visually impaired studets and other
>>> disabled students in order to buy the books before hand so that they can
>>> give it to the DSS office! What do you think about this? Just curious!
>>> Hope
>>> to hear from you soon. Thanks so much and God bless!! :)
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>  On Mar 22, 2014, at 8:59 AM, "Loren Wakefield"
>>> <theweird1 at mediacombb.net
>>> >
>>>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Ed proof that you have paid them for their work.  Why should they give
>>>> you it for free?
>>>>
>>>> Loren
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of John
>>>> Sanders
>>>> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 9:19 PM
>>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] college ebooks question
>>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>> I have a question:  I'm currently attending Lansing Community College
>>>> and
>>>> the Office of disability services department is saying that if I want
>>>> to
>>>> have a inclass assistant and have my textbooks translated in to etext,
>>>> I
>>>> need to buy the books and show the receipt that I had bought the books.
>>>> Why is this required?
>>>> I hope to hear from you soon.
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> John Sanders
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-- 
Kaiti