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

Fri Oct 30 23:53:17 UTC 2015

Chelsea,

A lot has changed since I majored in math over forty years ago, so I can't
address very well what should be expected of who.  What I can tell you is
that there was no technology back then, but I am not saying that is better.
What I did, though, was to ask the professor to talk as he was writing on
the board.  I got pretty good at writing down what he said, even with a
slate and stylus, thereby only needing to fill in the details with a reader.
I did not have a note-taker, but I did hire other students in the class to
go over hand-outs and we would compare notes.  It is hard for me to
understand why a note-taker would not be able to convey the information you
need, assuming the professor won't speak as he writes.  However, that might
be something he would do if you have not suggested it.

How does he deal with helping other students without office hours?  Some
professors have assistants who sometimes do the real work.  Even if such an
assistant is not a professor, often they are very good to work with.  I had
good experiences working with several assistants.

You didn't really mention your textbook.  Usually, but not always,
professors use the board to provide extra emphasis to problems in the
textbook.  While I don't think you are getting treated all that well by your
professor, having the textbook and a note-taker should get you further along
than it sounds is the case.  I'm not justifying the professor's behavior,
just trying to provide some alternatives.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On 10/29/15, chelsea peahl via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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-- 
Joshua Lester
Blessings to you in the name of Jesus Christ
"Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized everyone of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost," (Acts, 2:38.)

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