[nabs-l] SO MANY ACCOMMODATION ISSUES! Advice needed!

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hi Chelsea,

I'm sorry to hear this. I have been through classes where I speak to 
professors and email them for accomodations such as copies of slides and do 
not receive them. I felt ignored. But I never dealt with several bad 
professors in one semester. I'll take each subject by itself.
Overall, I think you are doing well by attempting to communicate with 
professors; I'd file a complaint if I were you and speak to professor's 
supervisors. Usually the assistant dean or head of the department is their 
supervisor.

For math, I have low vision too and did math visually with dark pens and 
large print, yet I did not see the board and had to teach myself a lot.
They spoke what they wrote, but I could not learn auditorily. I think its 
very unfair for any professor not to have office hours or respond to student 
emails. That is their duty and I do not understand how the prof can get away 
without providing office hours. Is he part time? If not, all full time 
professors are required and even paid to have office hours.
This is definitely reportable.
As for notes to study from, I had that challenge too.
Have you tried asking a classmate? Does the prof follow the textbook? Could 
you look at the text magnified and see how problems are worked out?
Also, many schools have a tutoring service for free or minimal fee. You 
might benefit from finding out about tutoring options and using their 
service.

Your history class: I agree you need to access the slides. I would put that 
request in writing in emails and copy your
disability counselor. This is a basic accomodation. Again, I'd report that 
to the head of the prof's department.
Has he given any reasons for failing to give you slides?
Meanwhile, remember that slides just are written supplements to lectures. If 
the prof lectures half decently, he should speak all important
notes on slides. You could take notes based on what you hear. Even when I 
get slides, I often find they do not help much, and meerly are an outline of 
the lecture.
Remember that most professors at the lower levels of classes follow the 
text. So read your text well, and that should reinforce what is said and 
presented in class.
You sound like you have fairly good vision. Have you tried sitting in the 
front row to see slides?
When I sit near the front, I can read some of the slides; usually the titles 
of slides at least as that is bigger font.

If professors are this bad, you might have to withdraw because its better to 
have a W in some classes than Fs. Sad but true and I've learned that some 
people you cannot work with. Its their way, or the high way.

English:
You need access to the slides and what they write on the board. Your 
professor has a legal obligation to give you access. They need to speak what 
they write. I usually cannot see the board either, even if I sit up front. I 
get access to the board by asking them to verbalize what they write.
All slides and handouts the professor generates needs to be given to you in 
accessible format either large print or electronically.
Why doesn't these professors post slides on blackboard? In many college 
classes, professors posted class material such as slides on blackboard for 
all to see. Its too bad they do not do this because if they did, you'd 
download and read them like everyone else.

All I can think of is to have a meeting with both professors for history and 
english.
Reiterate your accomodations. Take note of what you go over and what they 
say. If they refuse to help, go above them and report it. Oh, follow up with 
emails after the meeting.
Then file complaints.

You could probably do okay in classes without slides. Slides are usually 
outlines of the messages and visual supplements to lectures.
But any other material you need access to. And, why can't you take quizzes 
in another location with extended time. Most colleges have a testing center 
and students with disabilities go there for exams. Unless they are pop 
quizzes, you should be able to take them in the designated location for 
students
with disabilities.
You should not have to take quizzes in the hall where there can be many 
distractions from passers-by!

Finally, if any professor asks you or intimidates you to drop their class, 
that is not only unethical, but illegal.
Professors cannot choose who is in their class.
Definitely keep copies of these emails and report them to the dean. If you 
do not want to cause more issues and fear retaliation, then
you can still report thisafter the semester ends.
Its one thing not to accommodate you, but to constantly ask you to drop the 
class crosses a line getting into harrassment and intimidation.


Good luck.
Ashley-----Original Message----- 
From: chelsea peahl via nabs-l
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2015 11:58 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Cc: chelsea peahl
Subject: [nabs-l] SO MANY ACCOMMODATION ISSUES! Advice needed!

I am in dier need of advice!This is my first semester returning to school 
after taking a year-long leave of absence to receive blindness training in 
Utah. I may have entered this semester too confidently, but I felt like I 
could better advocate for myself, but this semester may get the better of 
me.
I'm not just dealing with accessibility or accommodation issues in one or 
two classes, but all of them plus with my universities accessibility center. 
(ASD) Here is just a glimpse of whats happening
Math: Everything is done on the board. He uses no technology in his class, 
and is not open to trying anything. I cannot see anything happening, and so 
have had to teach myself math this semester off of YouTube videos. He does 
not have office hours, and does not respond to emails. My midterm was not 
emailed to the ATC to be made accessible until the day of the midterm, and 
that is what has happened with several tests as well. I have a notetaker, 
but having to rely on her notes isn't enough for a math class. We have since 
tried using a transcriber, but because I have to make the font so large to 
read it, most problems do not fit on the screen. I am unable to see a 
problem start to finish because the program kicks me to wherever the person 
is typing and I am unable to look back. We have since discontinued this 
service because it wasn't working for me. We are looking for a new option to 
fill this. (ATC is looking at trying a video magnifier, but we won't have 
access to one for weeks to try, then we will have to purchase one which will 
take a few additional weeks, and by the time it arrives, the semester will 
be over.
HIstory: I have a notetaker who is decent in there, but access to slides is 
a joke. I did not receive slides until the day before the midterm for the 
semester. How do you study for a midterm when you get the information the 
day before. I have yet to receive any slides since our midterm 2 weeks ago. 
I talk to him daily almost begging for the slides, but it has yet to happen.
Music: I have an intro to music class online. I learned that my 
accommodation letter was never sent (thats how my university does it for 
online classes) and therefore I have no accommodations for my tests within 
that class. I am working my hardest to get them, but its after midterms, so 
I may never receive accommodations for the course.
English: My english class is a joke. It has been since the beginning. At 
first, my professor tried sending me into the hallways for our daily quizzes 
(I haven't figured out why) Everything is done on the board through 
powerpoint and other sources daily, and the only thing I am ever given 
access to is the quiz (Printed). She has emailed me asking if I was going to 
drop her class, has refused to give me quizzes with the class, calls out my 
blindness almost daily, and doesn't give me access to any extra credit that 
the rest of my class gets. Because I am unable to see the board, and she is 
unwilling to help me, I am left to figure everything out on my own. (which 
sucks. If Im paying to take a class, maybe she should teach me that subject) 
Just today, she sent me another email saying the stuff shown overhead isn't 
that important...and if I thought it was unfair, I should go talk to her. (I 
talk to her DAILY to no avail!) I have since been advised by ASD to not 
return to her class until further notice. (which is stressful because we 
have daily quizzes that can't be made up.) I also have a notetaker, but I'm 
lucky to receive a few sentences of notes once a week.
ASD: My councilors was of accommodating me with the struggles in my classes 
was to offer to buy professors larger markers and to tell me to walk to the 
board if I can't see it. (I'm legally blind at 20/400 and 20/600 vision, and 
declining.) I have brought up these issues since first week, and he never 
tried to approach the situation in the slightest. After weeks of fighting, I 
finally got someone to listen to me. (our amazing Lab Tech, Jenna! She has 
gone above and beyond her job to help me, and I couldn't thank her enough.) 
When she heard there was this big of a problem, she has been working to try 
and help me solve this. I have since gone through a councilor change to try 
and get something done, and yet, nothing is happening. (other than a few 
emails sent.)
Its past midterms. My grades are suffering because of this all, and its not 
my fault! I'm frustrated! My grades aren't due to laziness or not doing the 
work, they are from test scores because how can you study when you are never 
given the information?!
It has been advised to file a formal grievance against the university, but I 
still hold on to hope that things will get better, but I have fought all 
semester. I have talked to professors almost daily. I've stated these issues 
since the beginning. I have fought with the ASD more than once a week. I 
have had to get a new councilor, and have sat through multiple meetings a 
week with the ASD and ATC. I have had to threaten a formal grievance, (and 
may have to file one.) I overall feel like I'm becoming the ASD "Problem 
client" and thats the last thing I want. I just want access to my classes! I 
know I should pick my battles, but if I back down now, I'm backing down for 
the next three years or longer, and I'm not willing to do that! This is my 
education, and I deserve access just like everyone else! This is definitely 
taking a tole on me!
I need your advice on where to go from here. I have more meetings tomorrow 
and throughout next week, and I need to get them to hear my voice, and what 
may have been helpful to you!
Thank you! Chelsea Peahl
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