[nabs-l] Paying to be denied in the college classroom

Mon Jan 19 04:49:55 UTC 2015

Hi Bridget and all,

I believe in the TEACH Act.  Passing it is an important step on the
road to equal access to technology.  But please, if you haven't, read
this month's Braille Monitor.  (And I'm not just saying that because I
have an article in it.)

Seriously, guys, there is a Q and A about the TEACH Act.  It will help
you to understand what the TEACH Act will and won't do for
universities.  I work for my university's adaptive computing and
technology center, so I am possibly more aware than mmost of all the
inaccessible technology we face as we enter the classroom.  Although
the TEACH Act will shift universities in the right direction by
motivating them to purchase and develop accessible tech, the venders,
creators, and designers are still responsible for making these
products.  The market will shift, but in many cases, there are simply
no fully accessible alternatives for these technologies.  Or we have
had to wait years for the software or programs to become accessible.

I have tested  video players and learning management systems, among
other programs, and I found none to be fully and consistently
accessible.  I suppose I should write a TEACH Act letter with all I
have seen in my job...  But my point in writing this part of my email
is for you to understand that the TEACH Act is only the beginning.

I hate to be the doom and gloom here, but I believe that solving the
inaccessible technology issue will not cause our discrimination in the
classroom to disappear.  These professors, who hold these attitudes
discussed above, will still exist.  Don't get me wrong; having
technology that works for us will help, but a biology lab will still
involve dicection, and performing on a stage will still mean
navigating it safely.  My point is that the way we are treated stems
from the professors' attitudes about blindness.  Some are open,
understanding, and willing to accomidate, while others refuse to work
with us, do not listen, and don't allow us in their classes.

Not sure what the solution is here...  But I think speaking up helps.
Maybe we need to speak to universities about these problems; perhaps
we need to speak to administrators of higher education institutions.
And maybe we need to form groups in our states and speak up at our
universities.  I really don't know what could be done.  This is such a
large issue that is magnified in the job market and as we blind people
travel in the real world.  But it's something to ponder as we begin
our semesters this winter.

On 1/18/15, Kaiti Shelton via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> In many cases I've seen that my own university is an outlier to issues
> of accessibility, but I'm not sure why this is.  It could be that
> Dayton is a pretty inclusive city; people are generally accepting and
> friendly.  It's made a lot of lists, most recently the number one spot
> on a list of lesser-known accepting places for LGBTQA people as well
> as "Most friendly colleges in America," "happiest college students,"
> "Most accepting of immigrants," and so on.  There's a city-wide
> initiative to be accepting to people of different cultures, religions
> ethnicities, arts styles, etc, and although disabilities aren't
> specifically mentioned many times I feel like that positive acceptance
> trickles over to people with disabilities here, too.  I've not only
> seen it happen with me on campus, but also with other disabled people
> I've passed by in public downtown.  It sure lends credence to that
> study idea.  :)
>
> On 1/17/15, wmodnl wmodnl via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> It is a problem-- however, there is a university here in Boston that is a
>> true outlier to everything negative we know about the college experience
>> as
>> blind people!!!
>> Truthfully, I think this has to do with the diverse leadership inside
>> this
>> university.
>> I studied at a school for my undergraduate degree in NYC with a
>> leadership
>> that was not diverse or inclusive towards many. As a result, the problems
>> of
>> access and treating others badly trickled down.  Anyone else notice that,
>> we
>> as blind people are generally more welcome and treated better in diverse
>> stores, neighborhoods, towns/cities, etc?  That would be a interesting
>> research project.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>>> On Jan 14, 2015, at 11:42 AM, Bridget Walker via nabs-l
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi everyone,
>>> The previous thread made me really think about some of the major
>>> problems
>>> we face in the college classroom. I'm sure many of us agree if we have
>>> support from the professor, technology, accessible materials, and peers
>>> we
>>> can get through anything.
>>> I considered the idea of a professor saying do not show up to class
>>> because the topic is visual or their way of saying I don't want to deal
>>> with you today. Not only is this against the law but, let's identify who
>>> pays for the education now. It isn't your professor.
>>> We have professors who try and dictate what courses we are able to
>>> access
>>> and they have no right. If you need a math class to graduate guess what,
>>> you take it. By law they provide reasonable accommodations you provide
>>> in
>>> writing.
>>> I think this is a widespread problem that needs to be fixed for all
>>> students with disabilities because it's not just people who are blind.
>>> I'm sure tired of being told I do not belong in a class because I can
>>> not
>>> see. Yet, somehow at the end of the semester I get an A.
>>> I'm tired of having to prove myself to some adjunct who isn't even a
>>> doctor in their field and even then it doesn't make it ok.
>>> I realize at one time people with disabilities did not go to school let
>>> alone college. Guess what, things have drastically changed and people
>>> need
>>> to get over it. I love those of you who are biology majors out there.
>>> That
>>> was my dream. My college would not let me major in biology because I was
>>> blind. I wanted nothing more then to teach high school biology. I had to
>>> settle for english after getting an A in intro physiology.
>>> I'm am lucky I have financial support but, when a professor tell me not
>>> to
>>> go to a class or I can't take a class because I'm blind, where is my
>>> money
>>> going. Where is the money that supports me going?
>>> Sorry this is a bit emotional. I just know the whole college experience
>>> needs to be improved.
>>> These are just my thoughts.
>>> Bridget
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
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>>
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>
>
> --
> Kaiti
>
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-- 
Julie McGinnity
National Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President, National Federation
of the Blind of Missouri recording secretary,
graduate Guiding Eyes for the Blind 2008, 2014
"For we walk by faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7