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

Fri Oct 30 19:49:01 UTC 2015

Hi Chelsie,

First of all, I'd like to commend you for reaching out to this list.
It's hard to admit that you're struggling.  You're communicating
clearly and seem to be doing all the right things in terms of keeping
records.  Keep that up.  Tyler's point about a formal complaint going
on record is a good on.  Here are some other options.

I don't know what area you are in, but have you contacted your NFB
affiliate president?  That person (or someone else on your affiliate
board) can help you to advocate, contact the national office with you,
or do whatever else may be necessary in your case.  I have seen law
suits where the NFB filed along with the person making the original
complaints.  I am no lawyer, so someone may correct me, but then the
record of the complaints would contain more than just your name.  If
you don't file a complaint, speaking with the affiliate president or
the national office might just be helpful.  They can give you better
legal advice about filing complaints and taking next steps in that
process.

As for short term solutions, can you take your own notes in class.
IMHO, I would never have another student taking my notes.  Your notes
are a way to help you remember.  You write them in your style, and
even the act of taking notes puts the information in the memorybanks
another way.  You can also contact the appropriate departments, asking
for tutors, a professor who has office hours you can attend, or a TA
you could work with.  You can also use this as a way to let the
department chair know what's going on.  "Mr. math professor doesn't
have office hours and can't meet with me outside of class, so I'm
wondering if I could find a professor who can."

Contact the tutoring center to see if they have math tutoring.  Is
your history textbook helpful?  You can always use the textbook to
study if the tests are based on the chapters.  And I just can't
even... your english professor...  Make sure you keep those exciting
emails on file.  I would get some advice maybe before doing this, but
finding her boss and sending him/her those rude emails and evidence of
discriminatory action would be the thing to do.

I hope this helps.  I understand the feeling that your university is
against you, and I hope things do change.

On 10/30/15, Suzanne Germano via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> If they are hired by DRC you have the right to fire them and get better
> notetakers. They work for you and should take notes the way you want them.
>
> I am legally blind and I use a magnilink cctv connect to my laptop to see
> the board. I have also used mini binoculars. I am a student now but first
> went to college when there was no power points or technology it was all
> students taking notes. So I used binoculars and if necessary notetakers.
>
> I would start with asking for new notetakers and also see if any students
> in your class would scan and email their notes to you
>
> On Thu, Oct 29, 2015 at 10:08 PM, chelsea peahl via nabs-l <
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>> 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 cla
>>
>>  ss 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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-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division,
Second Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
"For we walk by faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7