[nfb-db] rules in the ASLlab

Thu Sep 19 00:04:55 UTC 2013

Hello Heather,

Your situation is certainly frustrating. It provides a clear illustration of
ignorance regarding Deaf-Blind needs and reasonable accommodations. We must
keep in mind, though, that advocacy plays a key role in breaking down the
barriers resulting from other's ignorance. One of the important components
of advocacy, in my opinion, is the transformation of ignorance into
understanding, and understanding into knowledge. This process is frustrating
and discouraging, to say the least.

I recommend you write a detailed letter to your instructor expressing the
facts of your situation. For example, you objectively explained you are
required to watch videos from which you must create videos. While you
understand fully the vitality of learning ASL as the language is spoken
(using one's hands), as a person without sight, you are unable to do so. In
order for you to obtain the information needed to successfully complete your
task, you need to verbally communicate with others. Although one may argue
you should use the alphabet to ask for clarification, you could counter with
the fact your peers have access to the visual information needed to
communicate without sight; they can easily iedentify a hand-shape visually,
they can easily review a book for visual clarification, and they can easily
navigate the videos visually. You should emphasize you are not requesting
"special treatment"-you are requesting reasonable accommodations.  A written
letter to your instructor will help you develop a strong basis for pursuing
legal representation if your instructor continues to refuse to negotiate
reasonable accommodations.

Also, Heather, if you have access to an office responsible for serving
students with disabilities, you should consult them. 

Situations like yours make me frustrated for those Deaf-Blind involved. As a
Deaf-Blind person myself, I know very well the time, energy, and emotional
discipline these situations require. Stay strong and clear head, and never
steer away from the fact. 

Best of luck,

Marisa

From: nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of heather
albright
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 11:32 AM
To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-db] rules in the ASLlab

I am taking the course in a class room where my professor is deaf and does
not speak!  So I have a note taker, a reader for the board, and two deaf
interpreters who sign to me what the professor saying and showing me the
signs!  I don't speak with them I just guess, sometimes a classmate will
tell me what the teacher is saying, the one who reads the board!  That is in
the classroom.  We have to have lab hours in the ASL lab making videos to
show our signing and you have to watch the videos to get the infromation to
be able to make your signing videos with quicktime! While in the lab, you
cant speak to ask questions or bring a voice reader to read the videos, your
not allowed to use spoken language in the lab!  I just feel like their
making this really hard for me to participate in the ASL program here!  For
example, I go to the lab today for tutoringand I have to sign in with my id
and some how find the person to whom I will be working with to learn the
signs, without ever speaking at all!  So if we are watching videos, they
will be signing to me and I have to guess what their trying to convey to me!
I understand not wating to use spoken language but everyone is learning
through their eyes by seeing the signs and seeing the book telling them the
sign!  I have nothing telling me anything, no braille book and no way to
understand the tactile signs because I cant ask what their signing to me!
Any ideas?  Heather ----- Original Message ----- 

From: Steve Jacobson <mailto:steve.jacobson at visi.com>  

To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <mailto:nfb-db at nfbnet.org>  

Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 9:53 AM

Subject: Re: [nfb-db] rules in the ASLlab

Explain more how you are taking this class?  How are you getting the
information being conveyed in general?  It would seem as 
though there must be something that could be worked out with the instructor
to signal when you don't get something without 
speaking?  This is an interesting dilema since it could affect any blind
person taking a course like this.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Tue, 17 Sep 2013 19:29:08 -0500, heather albright wrote:

>My problem is that they told me I cant speak if I have any questions or ask

>about a sign or how to make the sign!  They said I will be asked to leave 
>and cant come back till the next day!  If I do it more than three times, I 
>am band from the lab for 2 weeks!  But I cant read the book with all the 
>signs or see the videos!  I am supposed to have 21 hours in the lab!  I 
>understand that you should use ASL but if you don't know it, how can you
use 
>it!  If you cant see the person signing, what should you do?  I have two 
>tactile interpreters signing to me with me know any sign language at all. I

>only get 5 percent of what their saying! Is there a better method of 
>teaching me?  Even people taking ESL use their language to teach someone 
>English!
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: RJ Sandefur
>To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List
>Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 7:18 PM
>Subject: Re: [nfb-db] rules in the ASLlab

>Hay I don't see any problem
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: heather albright
>  To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List
>  Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 8:13 PM
>  Subject: [nfb-db] rules in the ASLlab

>  Hello, I was wondering about the rules in the ASL lab!  They said I cant 
>talk in the lab at all, it is against the rules to speak!  So if I don't
get 
>something, I cant ask to be sure!  Is that not against ADA because, I won't

>have equal access to the lab! If I speak they can make me leave, they said
I 
>can go to another room but, it won't be the lab!   Afterall I am blind and 
>if I cant ask about a sign, that seems a little unfair!  So how can a 
>colledge say this to me and other blind students taking ASL?    Heather

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