[nabs-l] taking a college class for no credit

Thu Dec 3 06:42:27 UTC 2015

Hi Vejas,

I agree with Justin.
Its not worth the risk. Like Kennedy, I had no blindness training or 
experience working out college accomodations before attending college. I 
started at George Mason university before transfering to Marymount 
University.
Every college is different, so I'm not so sure that taking a class at tech 
will help you enough to familiarize yourself with accomodations.
For instance, some colleges, usually large state schools, have rather 
bureaucratic rules and procedures for test accomodations.
They might require that you take an exam at the testing center at a 
designated time you set up. They will have a computer with a screen reader 
if you need it. They will only let you use their pcs and their readers. Some 
schools might make you sign in with your ID before taking your exam. Oh, and 
some schools might have you sign the honor code.
Other schools are less strict. Those schools are often smaller schools, 
private or public.
As for test accomodations, your accomodations are typpically double time, 
which I advise taking in case you need it, an alternative test format such 
as electronic copy, a reader if needed to fill in scantron answers, and a 
quiet room. You will likely set up a test appointment through your testing 
center if the school has it or directly through dss.
Some blind students who do not need extra time take exams right in class 
with their own laptops.
That is what test accomodations boil down to. At my first school, george 
mason university, I they did not have a testing center at the time. I 
signed up to take the exam with dss directly and went to a separate room to 
take the test. I used the pc they provided with jaws to do my exam. I was 
provided double time. Back then, I just had to informally present myself and 
they noted when I started the exam; and I left my belongings in the main 
office for someone to watch. You don't take things with you as they do not 
want you to cheat.
Now GMU has a testing center, and much of the procedure is the same, but you 
do have to sign in to take the exam with an ID.

As for accomodations generally, you make your accomodations up with your dss 
counselor. Every school is different. But generally speaking, you give the 
accomodation letter or memo to every professor. You then speak to the 
professors about what you need.
The responsibility is on you to communicate your needs to professors. 
Honestly, I do not think you have much to worry about. If you have practiced 
advocacy skills, and I know you have, you just carry this to college and you 
will be fine. Most professors will honor what you need, but you will get 
those who are difficult. Then you talk to them further in office hours or 
get your dss counselor to help out.
It shouldn't be too hard to receive accomodations.

Now if you really want to see how a class is run at college, then you could 
sit in on several classes with a professor's permission. College classes are 
more lecture based and go faster. This might help you see what college is 
like and how you might take notes and study. How I took notes and studied is 
different in college than in high school!
They lecture on stuff they know. It may or may not be in the book, so taking 
good notes and listening is real important. But in high school, class 
typically repeated the text; at least that was my experience.
Personally, I think how college is taught versus high school is more of a 
difference and concern  than getting accomodations.

Anyway, that's my advice. And as all have said here, you can ask any 
questions you need once you are in college.

Ashley
-----Original Message----- 
From: justin williams via nabs-l
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2015 10:57 PM
To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
Cc: justin williams
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] taking a college class for no credit

Dude, don't, do, that.  It's just not worth it!
I'm usually not this emphatic, but you have an entire list who can answer
any questions about tests, and accommodations if you want.  You can call me
on the phone, or what have you, but shenanigans of that sort are not worth
the risk in my opinion.
You might be able to get away with it; the course does not count, but I
really think your best bet is not to do that and take that kind of a chance.

Pull up your college's disability office on the web and familiarize yourself
with their services.  When you get there, sign up as a student.
Get your class syllabi a little early, go through them, and see what your
assignments are.
If you have any questions, we'll help you with the rest
Justin

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of STOMBERG,
KENNEDY via nabs-l
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2015 10:29 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: STOMBERG, KENNEDY <kestomberg at coe.edu>
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] taking a college class for no credit

To be completely honest, your best option might be to simly not take the
college class with LCB.

I didn't do any Blindness Training, and I had no experience trying to get
accomidations at college before I went to college. Other people might
disagree with me, but it just may not be worth losing your scholarship.

Good luck to you!
Kennedy Stomberg

On Wed, Dec 2, 2015 at 9:00 PM, Vejas Vasiliauskas via nabs-l <
nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi All,
> I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this, or could
> give me some guidance on my situation.
> I live in California, but am taking a year off between my senior year
> and my first year of college so that I can attend LCB.
> I applied for college last year as a senior, and already have a place
> at a college in California, which I deferred.  I received a
> scholarship from this school for a very generous amount of money.  I
> am allowed to keep the scholarship provided that I don't take any
> college courses at all from anywhere else.
> Most LCB students have the opportunity to take a college class at
> Tech, and I would like to be able to do that too, for two main
> reasons: to learn about how tests work and to learn about asking for
> accommodations in a place where I have lots of support.
> I have heard that it is possible to audit a class, which means to take
> it with no credit, but I don't want my current school to find out at
> all, so I want to make sure that the procedure is done right.
> Any advice on how to approach this would be welcome.
> Thanks,
> Vejas
>
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