[NABS-L] Camera Accommodations In Virtual College Classes?

[Manahil Jafri]

Hi Nick, 

I would encourage you to keep your camera on in the class, as you mentioned, it is great practice for the professional world. 

Now a days, there’s a lot of technology out there that can help us with camera placement. If you’re a JAWS user, there’s a face in view feature that you can use to help make sure your centered/the lighting is good. You can also take a picture/screen shot of your frame before you join a meeting, and ask be my AI,, or call an agent to check for you. 

I know some friends that have a desk set up where they keep an external webcam placed, and they don’t move it, and so they know exactly where to sit / where to look because it’s in the same place all the time. 

There is a arguement to be made that this is more work for us to do and worry about, and so I do understand if you were to take the accommodation, I know some people that do. However, the professional world can be a little less forgiving about this sometimes, so the more you can practice now, I think it’s for the better. The decisions up to you, hopefully this gave you some ideas. 

Best of luck, 
Manahil 

> On Aug 25, 2025, at 7:11 AM, Sandra Gayer via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Nick,
> 
> I'm a soprano singer, actor, voiceover, voice coach and Braille Music teacher.
> 
> 
> Camera work can be an issue for us but as long as there aren't any stipulations about the kind of camera you have, you could get away with the built-in camera on your computer. If you have a laptop, you can orientate yourself to it, so that you could be reasonably confident you're straight, in relation to it. I always ask if whoever it is can hear me an see me. Sometimes I could ask, do I need to adjust the frame? Once you get used to doing these things, it's quicker and easier. If you want to be a professional in any field, it's something you'll have to get used to and confident in, even if the confidence is under the 'fake it till you make it' heading. School might allow you to sit there with your camera off but if you're doing client work with sighted people, know that they set a lot of store by being able to see who they are talking to. They're very uncomfortable without that, even if they say it's fine to have your camera off. They always prefer if you are visible. The main things to be aware of is how you look, how clean and tidy you are. Be in the frame all the time, if they want to see you. You can't wander off to another part of the room and have the lecture on in the background, or eat your food, or anything else. I get away with typing at the same time, because my hands are out of shot. You'll learn what is and what isn't in shot, if you practise with friends/family/trusted colleagues. The fun starts when you have external, high definition cameras and microphones, keeping eqipment out of shot whilst looking like a million dollars. Until then, enjoy this.
> 
> 
> Very best wishes,
> 
> Sandra.
> 
>> On 24/08/2025 23:45, Nick Stover via NABS-L wrote:
>> Hello all,
>> 
>> My college career has been made entirely of virtual classes, with most
>> professors being very laissez-faire as to whether one's camera was on or
>> off. A professor this semester, however, is very avid for video this
>> semester, complete with cameras. I'm totally blind, so setting up a camera
>> is not the easiest thing in the world. Trying to feel out if there's a
>> blind consensus for these situations: do you insist on accommodation of the
>> camera being off which my DRC adviser has made clear I can do, or take it
>> as learning opportunity because you will be expected to utiliz  similar
>> set-ups in professional contexts? And for those of you who operate
>> professionally, how valuable are these sorts of skills? Is this the sort of
>> visual expectation you can subvert without much fuss, or have you had
>> negative feedback/consequence from having your camera off at meetings?
>> Warmly,
>> Nick
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