[nabs-l] accomodations for english classes

Tue Feb 3 14:13:14 UTC 2015

I had to use the Norton Anthology in my english classes and believe I was able to get it from Bookshare in an accessible format. Yes, the file is huge, but at least it was accessible. You should definitely research how to make a complaint about accessibility at your university. This sounds like yet another case of a college just not knowing what they are obligated to provide for their blind students. 
Aleeha Dudley and Seeing Eye Dog Dallas 
Vice President, Ohio Association of Guide Dog Users 
Vice President, Ohio Association of Blind Students 
Both proud divisions of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio 
Email: blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com <mailto:blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com> 
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back. 
“The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears.” - Arabian proverb 

> On Feb 2, 2015, at 9:09 PM, Ashley Bramlett via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Carl,
> 
> Again, the school denied my request to convert to a different format.
> She said the text comes in pdf and it has to stay that way for security reasons.
> They are being difficult. They have the conversion software which is adobe pro.
> They just will not do it.
> The school knows about the website accessibility  issues too, and fails to fix them. Me and a blind staff member and student told them of it.
> 
> I need to see the text. Learning ally is not working well for me for a lit class.
> I do like your idea of the braille display. I can use the notetaker's braille display hooked to the pc.
> That, or, I can see if putting the text file on a USB drive and placing the drive in the BrailleNote will work.
> Then I can read the pdf on the notetaker and forget the step of the pc.
> 
> I'll just have to see what happens when the file comes. I'm just so frustrated with the school, northern virginia community college. nova for short.
> 
> I would think they  would want to be helpful, not make excuses.
> 
> The norton anthology text is so big, I will have to experiment and see what size USB drive I need to put it on.
> 
> 
> Ashley
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Karl Martin Adam
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 6:17 PM
> To: Ashley Bramlett ; National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] accomodations for english classes
> 
> If you have a Braille display you can connect it to your
> computer, and it should display anything your computer can read.
> It doesn't have to be a BRF file.  Similarly, you can connect
> your notetaker to the computer and use it as a braille display or
> read files on it directly.  Many schools don't have conversion
> software to make the PDF into something else, and anyway,
> converting it won't make the words unsmoosh.  If it's really a
> big deal for you, try using robobraille or one of the other
> conversion services out there.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ashley Bramlett via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Mon, 2 Feb 2015 17:41:12 -0500
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] accomodations for english classes
> 
> This is a copy for the list.
> 
> Hi Lucy and all,
> thanks for the responses.
> 
> Unfortunately, I was informed that I will get a pdf file only.
> I requested it from the school and am waiting. They denied my
> request to
> convert it to a text based format even though other colleges do
> that.
> This community college is just difficult, IMO. Its an elective
> thankfully so
> if I have to miss copying quotes because I cannot go find them,
> its not such
> a big deal.
> 
> Lucy,
> I wish I could use my braille display, but I do not have a  brf
> file and
> never will.
> I checked bookshare.
> They do not have this book.
> 
> The text is Norton Anthology of short fiction. The seventh
> edition.
> 
> If you can assist me, I'll write off list.
> Just let me know, and which email you want me to use.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Ashley
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lucy Sirianni
> Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 3:17 AM
> To: Ashley Bramlett ; National Association of Blind Students
> mailing list
> Subject: re: [nabs-l] accomodations for english classes
> 
> Hi Ashley,
> 
> As a doctoral candidate in English and a college-level English
> instructor, let me take a stab at answering just a few of your
> questions.
> 
> First, I would encourage you to obtain the text in a format you
> can access via Braille display.  This will not only allow you to
> access them in class but will also make it much easier to
> integrate quotes into your writing, as you can simply paste them
> into your analysis.  Many of the Norton anthologies are available
> via Bookshare.  If the one you're using isn't, feel free to
> contact me directly, as I frequently teach from various Norton
> anthologies and may be able to point you toward an accessible
> version of the one assigned for your class.
> 
> Second, I would ask for both comments and handouts to be sent to
> you electronically.  These are very reasonable accommodations to
> request and ones I routinely offer students with no inconvenience
> to myself.  Assuming you do indeed have a note-taker, you
> shouldn't need the handouts too far in advance of class, so the
> professor shouldn't need to alter his or her schedule of lesson
> planning substantially.
> 
> I haven't worked with Blackboard or with texts in audio format,
> so I can't offer any input on your other questions, but please
> don't hesitate to be in touch if I can help with anything else.
> 
> Enjoy the course!
> 
> Lucy
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ashley Bramlett via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Date sent: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 23:24:54 -0500
> Subject: [nabs-l] accomodations for english classes
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I?셫 taking a literature elective.  A year or so back, I tried
> taking one and wrote to you all about a professor not interested
> in accomodating me.
> He showed videos of the literature he used and I would not be
> able to access that outside class with a reader among other
> issues.
> 
> Fortunately, my new professor for short story seems nice and
> willing to help.  No videos are used and his class is very
> auditory with lots of discussion; sometimes in small groups and
> sometimes as a whole class.
> 
> Here are my  questions and concerns though.
> Note that I have the book in audio form now, but am looking for
> it in text form and may ask my dss office to get it from the
> publisher.  I generally have found publisher files unfriendly
> though as its pdf.  the words are often smashed together and
> words are broken up with hyphens as jaws reads them.
> But, I might need to try that way as I really need to see the
> text and spelling of some words.  Otherwise, I may have to pay a
> reader to read some of the stories where Learning ally readers
> are low quality or in situations where I need to see the spelling
> and quotes in the story.
> 
> What ideas do you have for these issues.
> 
> 1.  The class is asked to bring their texts and reference
> passages for discussion.
> So far, the prof or a student reads the quotes to me.  But I am
> at a disadvantage not seeing the quotes in their context.  Other
> students can read further past the quote or skim the page to
> refresh their memory where the passage came from.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Do you bring  an accessible copy of the book to class? for
> instance, a brf file or text file on your braille notetaker.
> 
> 2.  We have to write about the readings either a reading journal
> response or discussion board.
> After writing them, how has your professor given you feedback?
> Do you ask for it electronically so you can read his/her
> response?
> In the past, I?셶e handed in homework and professors wrote it by
> hand like everyone else; they would go over it with me if I asked
> or I just asked my reader to read it over.
> But, since the prof does it electronically via blackboard, maybe,
> he could write the feedback in the paper.
> 
> 3.  For the discussion boards, is that accessible? I use jaws 15.
> If you had issues, what were they? They use blackboard and we
> have to not only have to write a new post but also  comment on
> them as well, and I don?셳 know if I will be able to comment on
> them.  I know I could not years ago in an english class.
> 
> 4.  How do you work quotes into your reading responses or essays?
> Doing this auditorily is harder and I hope I can get this book in
> text soon.
> 
> The only way I can think of  is to copy it carefully verbatum on
> my braille note first as I?셫 reading.
> I cannot go back like everyone else and skim for quotes and then
> pick what I want to.  I?셪l have to think about it as I read and
> copy it down as I listen.
> Is it okay to start a paragraph with the quote or should I
> explain it and then quote it?
> 
> 5.  Our responses have to be a certain word count or more.  I use
> word 2010.  How do I find the word count?
> 
> Also when  using handouts in class for activities, how  do you
> access them? Just use another student as a reader? That?셲 what
> I?셶e usually done.
> I was considering trying to get handouts ahead of time, but I
> don?셳 think the professor preps too far in advance.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Ashley
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