[nabs-l] The import of Self-advocacy

Wed Jan 7 20:03:57 UTC 2015

Because technically, if the professor does not have it in writing that you
have a disability, they are not obligated to make any accommodations. Not
that as a decent human being they won't if your disability is obvious, but
in order for both parties to be in compliance, and even to protect the
professor  as well as yourself, some written form of communication is
technically required. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Karl Martin
Adam via nabs-l
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 3:00 PM
To: Michael D Ausbun; National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] The import of Self-advocacy

I'm a bit curious about why you guys contact your professors before the
first class.  I've done that with a few classes where the professor needed
to do a lot to make things accessible or where I needed to get specialized
materials in advance--lab sciences, geography, German, fencing, symbolic
logic--but I've always just gone up to ordinary humanities and social
science professors at the end of class on the first day.  It never really
occurred to me that the things I was asking for--handouts in accessible
format, permission to take notes with my apex, taking exams at dss--were
anything that were that big a deal.  Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've
never had any blindness related problems with a professor.  Getting books
has been challenging sometimes, but that has to do with publishers not
professors.  I definitely agree with Michael that it's important to order
books well in advance and plan for those hard to adapt classes like lab
sciences.  Going and finding my classrooms ahead of time is also something
I usually do though if I know the layout of a building well I usually just
go find the specific class on the day of.  I also try to be early the first
couple classes so I can go in the room and find a seat while most seats are
still open instead of doing that awkward thing where we wander around
trying to find the one empty chair in a full room.  The other thing I think
is really important is having a good relationship with DSS.  That includes
the director and specialists like the person in charge of getting books and
also the secretary if there is one and the student workers.  They all those
people can be really helpful to you if you have a good relationship with
them.

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Michael D Ausbun via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To: Roanna Bacchus <rbacchus228 at gmail.com>, "National Association of
BlindStudents mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org Date sent: Wed, 7 Jan 2015
19:26:57 +0000
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] The import of Self-advocacy

Hello Roanna,
	I’m not really sure how much to say; however, I certainly do agree.
Self-advocacy is the difference between success and failure, both in life
and at the University. With that said, here is a list of things which I do
at the University, in order to be an independent advocator:
1)	I always attempt to establish a connection and meeting with 
my professors before the semester starts. I introduce myself in an email,
let them know my level of vision, and request a meeting. When we meet, we
discuss their personal classroom etiquette and expectations, the
accommodations which I might need etc. I have never had a situation where a
professor was unwilling to work with me within reason (the only times I’ve
witnessed professors acting ablest was when the student went over their
head). Professors are people too and have feelings.
2)	I always try to gather my books before the semester starts, 
be that via the DSS office or by requesting them from book share. In the
case of requesting from book share, I recognize that it takes a while for
books to be available; therefore, I always find out what books I need well
in advance, then I request them. Book share can take any ware from a week
to four months, depending on the difficulty of the book (logic, math and
other visual fields have no descriptions or formula, at least from the
discussion I’ve had with book share’s representatives).
3)	I always take time to find out where my classes are located. 
This is a small thing, but doing so ensures that I can be confident on the
first day of class. In class communication with others is heavily reliant
upon ones confidence; thus, if you are able to be confident from the start,
then you can make friends quicker.
I’m not really sure what else to add off the top of my head; I hope this is
adequate. If I remember anything else, I’ll send another email.
Respectfully,
Michael
________________________________________
From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Roanna Bacchus via
nabs-l [nabs-l at nfbnet.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2015 9:35 AM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] The import of Self-advocacy

Dear Members,

As a blind college student I've had to advocate for myself without
assistance from others.  Each semester I advocate for myself by sending out
introduction emails to my professors before classes begin.  I think self
advocacy is important because it allows us to become more independent as
blind students.  I'd like to hear stories about how you've advocated for
yourselves.

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