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

Fri Oct 30 05:48:54 UTC 2015

well, seems like you need another history professor if you cannot follow his 
lectures. Glad all is documented.

-----Original Message----- 
From: chelsea peahl via nabs-l
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2015 1:08 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Cc: chelsea peahl
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] SO MANY ACCOMMODATION ISSUES! Advice needed!

I've gotten to the point where I record everything said in meetings. Even 
within front row, I can't see. (I'm lucky to tell that there is writing at 
times!)
Everything is documented. All of the issues I have stated is directly from 
my accommodations letter. My math professor is part time, and like I 
said--anti-technology. My history professor--well, there is no way to follow 
in his class. He rambles on about many different things at a time. I'm 
taking 15 credits this semester. I have notetakers that ASD (my schools 
equivalent to DRC) pays for, but like I said, I'm lucky to get the little 
notes I do. There is no way to explain this semester, I hate that somehow I 
got all bad professors! (All recommended by my former ASD councilor!)

Chelsea Peahl

> On Oct 29, 2015, at 10:59 PM, Ashley Bramlett via nabs-l 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Chelsea,
>
> Also keep copies of emails from your disability counselor.
> If you file complaints, the more writing you have, the better.
>
> Meanwhile, if you are taking over full time credits which at most schools 
> is 12 credits, you probably should withdraw from some classes.
> If you are set on working within the class and trying to keep decent 
> grades, then I suggest getting notes from classmates and getting tutors. 
> Also, to access writing on the board, you could ask students to read to 
> you or have your notetaker read it to you. In classes where there was a 
> lot of notes on board, I'd ask someone to read them to me whispering it of 
> course. Usually the professor spoke what they wrote for me though.
> Are these white boards? White boards offer more contrast as you have white 
> on black writing. If they keep all notes up all class, if you walk up to 
> it after class, you can copy down what is there.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
>
> -----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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