[nabs-l] accomodations for english classes

[Karl Martin Adam]

You're=20right=20of=20course=20that=20they=20should=20convert=20the=20file=
=20for=20you,=20
but=20the=20thing=20is,=20even=20if=20they=20do,=20that=20won't=20solve=20y=
our=20problem.
The=20OCR=20software=20Adobe=20or=20Kursweil=20or=20whatever=20uses=20to=20=
convert=20a=20
PDF=20to=20text=20has=20the=20same=20problems=20trying=20to=20figure=20out=
=20what=20
letters=20are=20in=20the=20picture=20(which=20is=20what=20a=20PDF=20is)=20a=
s=20the=20OCR=20
jaws=20uses,=20so=20you'll=20have=20the=20same=20problems=20with=20words=20=
stuck=20
together=20or=20letters=20being=20incorrect=20even=20if=20they=20convert=20=
it=20for=20
you.=20=20Occasionally=20one=20OCR=20will=20be=20better=20than=20another=20=
for=20a=20
specific=20text,=20but=20there=20isn't=20really=20one=20that=20works=20part=
icularly=20
well=20over=20all.=20=20The=20only=20way=20to=20get=20something=20that's=20=
nice=20and=20
polished=20is=20to=20have=20someone=20sit=20and=20proofread=20after=20conve=
rting,=20
which=20is=20extremely=20time=20consuming=20and=20tedious=20to=20do.=20=20S=
chools=20
should=20probably=20provide=20that=20as=20a=20service,=20but=20almost=20non=
e=20of=20
them=20do=20unfortunately.
=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
From:=20Ashley=20Bramlett=20via=20nabs-l=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To:=20"National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20list"=20
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date=20sent:=20Mon,=202=20Feb=202015=2021:19:34=20-0500
Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20accomodations=20for=20english=20classes

Aleeha!

you=20get=20it.
The=20school,=20Nova,=20simply=20pushes=20me=20and=20others=20around.
They=20have=20the=20conversion=20software=20to=20honor=20my=20request=20to=
=20convert=20
the=20publisher=20file=20to=20a=20text=20format=20like=20RTF.
They=20simply=20will=20not=20do=20it=20on=20basis=20of=20security.

You=20are=20right=20they=20have=20to=20provide=20an=20accessible=20format.=
=20But=20who=20
determines=20what=20is=20accessible?
Who=20determines=20what=20is=20a=20suitable=20accomodation?

Well,=20they=20have=20one=20way,=20and=20I=20like=20another.
The=20lady=20coordinating=20alternate=20texts=20told=20me=20that=20it=20was=
=20pdf=20
files=20period;=20pdf=20files=20were=20readable=20with=20jaws,=20acording=20=
to=20her,
so=20there=20was=20no=20need=20to=20convert=20anyway.
I=20wrote=20back=20explaining=20that=20jaws=20cannot=20read=20many=20publis=
her=20pdf=20
files=20well;=20that=20words=20are=20often=20smashed=20together=20as=20it=20=
speaks.

Who=20is=20this=20woman=20to=20tell=20me=20that=20jaws=20reads=20all=20pdf=
=20files=20fine=20
when=20she=20does=20not=20use
jaws=20herself?=20Has=20she=20tested=20it=20yet=20to=20find=20out?=20No!

If=20the=20file=20fails=20to=20read,=20I=E2=80=99ll=20call=20a=20meeting=20=
and=20show=20them.

Oh,=20yes,=20I=20tried=20Bard.=20They=20do=20not=20carry=20any=20norton=20a=
nthologies.
I=20have=20learning=20ally,=20but=20as=20I=20said=20before,=20I=20need=20a=
=20text=20file;=20I=20
need=20to=20find=20quotes=20for=20journals.=20I=20need=20to=20have=20a=20fi=
le=20to=20follow=20
along=20in=20class=20like=20everyone=20else.

If=20I=20have=20to=20do=20an=20audio=20book,=20it=20will=20be.=20but=20it=E2=
=80=99s=20a=20struggle.=20
I=20have=20to=20pause=20it=20to=20copy=20down=20quotes=20and=20its=20easy=20=
to=20miss=20
stuff.=20Also,=20I=E2=80=99m=20finding=20I=20cannot=20spell=20names=20and=20=
places=20right=20
not=20seeing=20the=20text.=20if=20I=20had=20a=20text=20file,=20I=20could=20=
spell=20them=20
with=20jaws.


Anyway,=20thanks=20for=20your=20ideas.=20As=20I=20said,=20I=20will=20try=20=
the=20pdf=20file=20
once=20they=20give=20it=20to=20me=20and=20hook=20my=20notetaker=20to=20the=
=20pc=20to=20try=20to=20
read=20it=20with=20jaws=20and=20the=20braille=20display.


Ashley
From:=20Aleeha=20Dudley
Sent:=20Monday,=20February=2002,=202015=207:46=20PM
To:=20Karl=20Martin=20Adam=20;=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Stud=
ents=20
mailing=20list
Cc:=20Ashley=20Bramlett
Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20accomodations=20for=20english=20classes

Here=E2=80=99s=20the=20thing.=20The=20college=20has=20to=20provide=20you=20=
with=20an=20
accessible=20version=20of=20the=20file=20that=20will=20work=20for=20you,=20=
as=20long=20as=20
doing=20so=20is=20not=20an=20undue=20burden=20on=20the=20university.=20Ther=
e=20are=20
plenty=20of=20ways=20they=20could=20make=20this=20file=20useable=20for=20yo=
u.=20
Granted,=20some=20of=20the=20styles=20the=20author=20uses=20may=20not=20com=
e=20out=20well=20
with=20JAWS,=20but=20have=20you=20tried=20BARD=20or=20Learning=20Ally?=20So=
rry=20for=20
jumping=20in=20late=20on=20this=20thing=20and=20sorry=20if=20these=20things=
=20have=20been=20
asked=20before,=20but=20it=20annoys=20me=20to=20no=20end=20when=20universit=
ies=20and=20
colleges=20push=20students=20around=20and=20claim=20that=20something=20can=
=E2=80=99t=20be=20
done=20when=20it=20could=20very=20easily.

Aleeha=20Dudley=20and=20Seeing=20Eye=20Dog=20Dallas
Vice=20President,=20Ohio=20Association=20of=20Guide=20Dog=20Users
Vice=20President,=20Ohio=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students
Both=20proud=20divisions=20of=20the=20National=20Federation=20of=20the=20Bl=
ind=20of=20
Ohio
Email:=20blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com
The=20National=20Federation=20of=20the=20Blind=20knows=20that=20blindness=20=
is=20not=20
the=20characteristic=20that=20defines=20you=20or=20your=20future.=20Every=20=
day=20we=20
raise=20the=20expectations=20of=20blind=20people,=20because=20low=20expecta=
tions=20
create=20obstacles=20between=20blind=20people=20and=20our=20dreams.=20You=20=
can=20
live=20the=20life=20you=20want;=20blindness=20is=20not=20what=20holds=20you=
=20back.
=E2=80=9CThe=20wind=20of=20heaven=20is=20that=20which=20blows=20between=20a=
=20horse=E2=80=99s=20
ears.=E2=80=9D=20-=20Arabian=20proverb

=20=20On=20Feb=202,=202015,=20at=206:17=20PM,=20Karl=20Martin=20Adam=20via=
=20nabs-l=20
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>=20wrote:

=20=20If=20you=20have=20a=20Braille=20display=20you=20can=20connect=20it=20=
to=20your=20
computer,=20and=20it=20should=20display=20anything=20your=20computer=20can=
=20read.=20=20
It=20doesn't=20have=20to=20be=20a=20BRF=20file.=20=20Similarly,=20you=20can=
=20connect=20
your=20notetaker=20to=20the=20computer=20and=20use=20it=20as=20a=20braille=
=20display=20or=20
read=20files=20on=20it=20directly.=20=20Many=20schools=20don't=20have=20con=
version=20
software=20to=20make=20the=20PDF=20into=20something=20else,=20and=20anyway,=
=20
converting=20it=20won't=20make=20the=20words=20unsmoosh.=20=20If=20it's=20r=
eally=20a=20
big=20deal=20for=20you,=20try=20using=20robobraille=20or=20one=20of=20the=20=
other=20
conversion=20services=20out=20there.

=20=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
=20=20From:=20Ashley=20Bramlett=20via=20nabs-l=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20=20To:=20"National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20lis=
t"=20
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20=20Date=20sent:=20Mon,=202=20Feb=202015=2017:41:12=20-0500
=20=20Subject:=20Re:=20[nabs-l]=20accomodations=20for=20english=20classes

=20=20This=20is=20a=20copy=20for=20the=20list.

=20=20Hi=20Lucy=20and=20all,
=20=20thanks=20for=20the=20responses.

=20=20Unfortunately,=20I=20was=20informed=20that=20I=20will=20get=20a=20pdf=
=20file=20only.
=20=20I=20requested=20it=20from=20the=20school=20and=20am=20waiting.=20They=
=20denied=20my=20
request=20to
=20=20convert=20it=20to=20a=20text=20based=20format=20even=20though=20other=
=20colleges=20do=20
that.
=20=20This=20community=20college=20is=20just=20difficult,=20IMO.=20Its=20an=
=20elective=20
thankfully=20so
=20=20if=20I=20have=20to=20miss=20copying=20quotes=20because=20I=20cannot=20=
go=20find=20them,=20
its=20not=20such
=20=20a=20big=20deal.

=20=20Lucy,
=20=20I=20wish=20I=20could=20use=20my=20braille=20display,=20but=20I=20do=20=
not=20have=20a=20=20brf=20
file=20and
=20=20never=20will.
=20=20I=20checked=20bookshare.
=20=20They=20do=20not=20have=20this=20book.

=20=20The=20text=20is=20Norton=20Anthology=20of=20short=20fiction.=20The=20=
seventh=20
edition.

=20=20If=20you=20can=20assist=20me,=20I'll=20write=20off=20list.
=20=20Just=20let=20me=20know,=20and=20which=20email=20you=20want=20me=20to=
=20use.

=20=20Thanks.

=20=20Ashley

=20=20-----Original=20Message-----
=20=20From:=20Lucy=20Sirianni
=20=20Sent:=20Tuesday,=20January=2027,=202015=203:17=20AM
=20=20To:=20Ashley=20Bramlett=20;=20National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20S=
tudents=20
mailing=20list
=20=20Subject:=20re:=20[nabs-l]=20accomodations=20for=20english=20classes

=20=20Hi=20Ashley,

=20=20As=20a=20doctoral=20candidate=20in=20English=20and=20a=20college-leve=
l=20English
=20=20instructor,=20let=20me=20take=20a=20stab=20at=20answering=20just=20a=
=20few=20of=20your
=20=20questions.

=20=20First,=20I=20would=20encourage=20you=20to=20obtain=20the=20text=20in=
=20a=20format=20you
=20=20can=20access=20via=20Braille=20display.=20=20This=20will=20not=20only=
=20allow=20you=20
to
=20=20access=20them=20in=20class=20but=20will=20also=20make=20it=20much=20e=
asier=20to
=20=20integrate=20quotes=20into=20your=20writing,=20as=20you=20can=20simply=
=20paste=20
them
=20=20into=20your=20analysis.=20=20Many=20of=20the=20Norton=20anthologies=20=
are=20
available
=20=20via=20Bookshare.=20=20If=20the=20one=20you're=20using=20isn't,=20feel=
=20free=20to
=20=20contact=20me=20directly,=20as=20I=20frequently=20teach=20from=20vario=
us=20Norton
=20=20anthologies=20and=20may=20be=20able=20to=20point=20you=20toward=20an=
=20accessible
=20=20version=20of=20the=20one=20assigned=20for=20your=20class.

=20=20Second,=20I=20would=20ask=20for=20both=20comments=20and=20handouts=20=
to=20be=20sent=20
to
=20=20you=20electronically.=20=20These=20are=20very=20reasonable=20accommod=
ations=20
to
=20=20request=20and=20ones=20I=20routinely=20offer=20students=20with=20no=20=

inconvenience
=20=20to=20myself.=20=20Assuming=20you=20do=20indeed=20have=20a=20note-take=
r,=20you
=20=20shouldn't=20need=20the=20handouts=20too=20far=20in=20advance=20of=20c=
lass,=20so=20the
=20=20professor=20shouldn't=20need=20to=20alter=20his=20or=20her=20schedule=
=20of=20lesson
=20=20planning=20substantially.

=20=20I=20haven't=20worked=20with=20Blackboard=20or=20with=20texts=20in=20a=
udio=20format,
=20=20so=20I=20can't=20offer=20any=20input=20on=20your=20other=20questions,=
=20but=20please
=20=20don't=20hesitate=20to=20be=20in=20touch=20if=20I=20can=20help=20with=
=20anything=20else.

=20=20Enjoy=20the=20course!

=20=20Lucy

=20=20-----=20Original=20Message=20-----
=20=20From:=20Ashley=20Bramlett=20via=20nabs-l=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20=20To:=20"National=20Association=20of=20Blind=20Students=20mailing=20lis=
t"
=20=20<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
=20=20Date=20sent:=20Mon,=2026=20Jan=202015=2023:24:54=20-0500
=20=20Subject:=20[nabs-l]=20accomodations=20for=20english=20classes

=20=20Hi=20all,

=20=20I?=E8=81=94=20taking=20a=20literature=20elective.=20=20A=20year=20or=
=20so=20back,=20I=20tried
=20=20taking=20one=20and=20wrote=20to=20you=20all=20about=20a=20professor=20=
not=20
interested
=20=20in=20accomodating=20me.
=20=20He=20showed=20videos=20of=20the=20literature=20he=20used=20and=20I=20=
would=20not=20be
=20=20able=20to=20access=20that=20outside=20class=20with=20a=20reader=20amo=
ng=20other
=20=20issues.

=20=20Fortunately,=20my=20new=20professor=20for=20short=20story=20seems=20n=
ice=20and
=20=20willing=20to=20help.=20=20No=20videos=20are=20used=20and=20his=20clas=
s=20is=20very
=20=20auditory=20with=20lots=20of=20discussion;=20sometimes=20in=20small=20=
groups=20and
=20=20sometimes=20as=20a=20whole=20class.

=20=20Here=20are=20my=20=20questions=20and=20concerns=20though.
=20=20Note=20that=20I=20have=20the=20book=20in=20audio=20form=20now,=20but=
=20am=20looking=20for
=20=20it=20in=20text=20form=20and=20may=20ask=20my=20dss=20office=20to=20ge=
t=20it=20from=20the
=20=20publisher.=20=20I=20generally=20have=20found=20publisher=20files=20un=
friendly
=20=20though=20as=20its=20pdf.=20=20the=20words=20are=20often=20smashed=20t=
ogether=20and
=20=20words=20are=20broken=20up=20with=20hyphens=20as=20jaws=20reads=20them=