[nabs-l] Fwd: Math courses

[Cricket Bidleman]

Aaron,

I do not have the expertise to respond to this as thoroughly as I
would like. So I'll give an answer on here. But I'm sure other people
will have some wonderful insights for you. See forwarded message
below, folks.

Yes. Learn Nemeth. NFB probably has a course on it. If not, get in
touch with your Vocational Rehabilitation counsellor and see what they
can do. I'd do that anyway, actually. Tell them that you need to learn
Nemeth ASAP. Stress that you need to, don't give them an option.

College algebra ... Should not be terribly graphics oriented. It can
very very easily be transcribed for you since there won't be that many
graphics. Until you can learn Nemeth, find a tutor and a reader to
help you. There are plenty around your campus, most likely. Go in for
extra time with the profs, they will have office hours. Yes, a youtube
video might help, but be warned that they can be dreadfully visual.
Last resort? Shoot me an email, and I'll tutor you myself. That's only
last resort because I'm going to be ridiculously busy ... But I can
find time if need be. Exercise that self-advocacy every possible way
you can. Be polite, but make it well known that you need help. You
don't want it. You need it.

Get started on this ASAP. Don't procrastinate. Don't let it wait. That
class will be the death of you if you do. And trust me, it feels
amazing to conquer math. Don't let it conquer you.

Science ... My teachers still fear teaching me that. Talk to your
profs one on one and tell them honestly how you learn best. A partner
is absolutely a good idea especially for lab stuff. If the prof is
uncomfortable with a student helper, ask for a TA. If that doesn't
work, talk to the disability office and tell them you need a partner.
If that doesn't work, contact Department of Rehab. If that doesn't
work, contact the NFB. Make it clear that you need help. If you have
to contact the NFB, it will be because no one was willing to
accommodate you even though you did all the proper things, and they
will take care of it because it will be a legal issue at that point.
When you talk to your science prof, be flexible and willing to
negotiate. Be honest, polite, and understanding. It would be kind of
scary to teach a blind student lab science, especially if they had
never taught any blind person science. Work with your prof, make them
feel comfortable and at ease with you and your learning style and your
knowledge and accommodations. If you do that, they will eventually
want to help you. If they're rigid and unwilling despite your best
efforts, then they're a jerk. If they're a jerk, take extra steps.
We'll cross that bridge if we come to it.

I really hope that helps! Let me know if there's anything else I can do.

Best,
Cricket Bidleman

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Aaron <blindgeek1989 at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2016 23:04:48 -0400
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Math courses
To: Cricket Bidleman <cricketbidleman at gmail.com>

I believe one of the math segments is algebra college algebra. What would
you do for science because my college science profs are scared to teach a
blind person and you have to have a lab partner. I don't take the profs
being scared as an excuse however, I have asked my disabilities office
about this math and science issue for 4 years and with my senior year
coming up in the fall all they have said is I don't know. Would looking up
YouTube videos on college algebra help? What about learning nemeth code?