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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hello Heather,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Also, Heather, if you have access to an office responsible for serving students with disabilities, you should consult them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Best of luck,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Marisa<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> nfb-db [mailto:nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>heather albright<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 18, 2013 11:32 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [nfb-db] rules in the ASLlab<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>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 </span>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 ----- <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='background:#E4E4E4'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:steve.jacobson@visi.com" title="steve.jacobson@visi.com">Steve Jacobson</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>To:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org" title="nfb-db@nfbnet.org">NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sent:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Wednesday, September 18, 2013 9:53 AM<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Subject:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Re: [nfb-db] rules in the ASLlab<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Explain more how you are taking this class? How are you getting the information being conveyed in general? It would seem as <br>though there must be something that could be worked out with the instructor to signal when you don't get something without <br>speaking? This is an interesting dilema since it could affect any blind person taking a course like this.<br><br>Best regards,<br><br>Steve Jacobson<br><br>On Tue, 17 Sep 2013 19:29:08 -0500, heather albright wrote:<br><br>>My problem is that they told me I cant speak if I have any questions or ask <br>>about a sign or how to make the sign! They said I will be asked to leave <br>>and cant come back till the next day! If I do it more than three times, I <br>>am band from the lab for 2 weeks! But I cant read the book with all the <br>>signs or see the videos! I am supposed to have 21 hours in the lab! I <br>>understand that you should use ASL but if you don't know it, how can you use <br>>it! If you cant see the person signing, what should you do? I have two <br>>tactile interpreters signing to me with me know any sign language at all. I <br>>only get 5 percent of what their saying! Is there a better method of <br>>teaching me? Even people taking ESL use their language to teach someone <br>>English!<br>>----- Original Message ----- <br>>From: RJ Sandefur<br>>To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List<br>>Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 7:18 PM<br>>Subject: Re: [nfb-db] rules in the ASLlab<br><br><br>>Hay I don't see any problem<br>> ----- Original Message ----- <br>> From: heather albright<br>> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List<br>> Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 8:13 PM<br>> Subject: [nfb-db] rules in the ASLlab<br><br><br>> Hello, I was wondering about the rules in the ASL lab! They said I cant <br>>talk in the lab at all, it is against the rules to speak! So if I don't get <br>>something, I cant ask to be sure! Is that not against ADA because, I won't <br>>have equal access to the lab! If I speak they can make me leave, they said I <br>>can go to another room but, it won't be the lab! Afterall I am blind and <br>>if I cant ask about a sign, that seems a little unfair! So how can a <br>>colledge say this to me and other blind students taking ASL? Heather<br><br><br><br>>------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br><br>> _______________________________________________<br>> nfb-db mailing list<br>> <a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a><br>> <a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a><br><br><br><br>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br><br>>_______________________________________________<br>>nfb-db mailing list<br>><a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a><br>><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a><br><br><br><br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>nfb-db mailing list<br><a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>