[nabs-l] accomodations for english classes

Tue Jan 27 16:47:24 UTC 2015

Text files, for me, it is usually in word, but a text pdf will do, allow you greater power and influence over your work.  Just turn jaws up high and let a rip. Copy and paste the same way as your piers, but read much much faster.  You may have to turn jaws or what ever your screen reader is you use down a little for content.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Crystal Plemmons via nabs-l
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 11:37 AM
To: 'Bridget Walker'; 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] accomodations for english classes

Hi Ashley, 

I'm also an English major, and I take my laptop to class. Like Bridget, I get almost all of my books from bookshare and take a lot of notes. I copy the passages that I think I might need a quote from directly into my notes so I can refer to them quickly. I don't bother with audio books unless I have to. The text file is the way to go. I'm not proficient enough at braille, so I have to listen with Jaws to my notes and the text during class. It does cause a conflict sometimes because you can't hear two things at once. So, if you can, use your notetaker. 

Also, what lucy said about sending you copies of handouts before class is good. I do find that they scan things out of books a lot though, so I have to use an OCR program. That's where having the laptop all the time comes in very handy. That's what all my professors do if it isn't already on blackboard. About blackboard, it works for me with Jaws. It is annoying, but doable. Let me know if you have any specific questions about it. 

And, definitely introduce your quotes. Check out the MLA style guide for details if you have to write a paper for that class. It is on bookshare. I have also scanned the section that I need from the  textbook if I really need the page numbers for a paper. If I am doing research, I absolutely cannot use an audio version. It is just too hard to navigate. 

Good luck with your class!

Crystal 

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridget Walker via nabs-l
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 9:27 AM
To: Lucy Sirianni; National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] accomodations for english classes

Hi Ashley,
I second what Lucy told you.
I am an english major I am a duel major in English and education.
I use bookshare for most all of my books. If I know I need an anthology I get them from learning ally. I am an auditory learner so I retain what I read very well. 
I take broiled notes hard copy as I read for class. They have important quotes, vocabulary, scenes to refer to etc. 
I can not follow along in the text in class. I make up for it with my notes. 
Professors will mention a passage which I will note in class and look over later. If we are in groups I will ask someone to read aloud no one minds and group members like it.
Discussion board I's and has always been a disaster. If you have a tablet access it on there. The computer is to obnoxious.
For professor comments have them provide the comments electronically through Microsoft word or email.  
I hope some of this helps.
Bridget

Sent from my iPad

> On Jan 27, 27 Heisei, at 3:17 AM, Lucy Sirianni via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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’m 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’ve 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’t 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’m reading.
> I cannot go back like everyone else and skim for quotes and then pick what I want to.  I’ll 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’s what I’ve usually done.
> I was considering trying to get handouts ahead of time, but I don’t think the professor preps too far in advance.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Ashley
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