[Nfb-science] Biology Accomidations

[kwcurrin]

Hey Kevin,

I'm actually not sure of the name of my raised line drawing kit (I've been
trying to figure this out, but the name is not on the box in braille and I
can't find it with my magnifier. Maybe some braille labels would have been
helpful haha). I don't think it should be hard to find a good kit though.
The disability services office here at UNC also has a machine that uses
heat to raise an image (the kit I was using that I mentioned earlier is
drawn by hand with a pen). 

I have some new information on my lab experience. We had a test where we
had to identify several micro-organisms, among other things. The class used
microscopes to do this, but the lab director thought ahead and sent me some
descriptions to study and on the test she tested my knowledge of the
descriptions. I also have a lab assistant who helps with describing
anything visual that the teacher does and anything visual in experiments.
We work in groups, so its not necessary for me to do every task. In the
most previous lab, my lab partners collected the data and I recorded it. 
My lab assistant also reads quizzes and tests to me and I tell her what my
answers are (in another room of course). I prefer this method rather than
going to disability services to take the test because its faster for me and
if I have any questions, I'm only a room away from the instructor, instead
of across the campus.
Also if you have any residual vision, blowing up pictures of organisms to a
very large size can be helpful (this also helped me a bit). 
Make sure your lab manual is in an accessible format.  

Hope this helps. I'll keep sending information about the future
developments.

Kevin
On Thu, 12 May 2011 16:20:53 -0400, kwcurrin <kwcurrin at email.unc.edu>
wrote:
> Hey Kevin,
> 
> I actually just took biology 101 lecture this past spring, and am taking
> the lab now over the summer. The curriculum at your college will no doubt
> differ somewhat from the curriculum here at UNC Chapel Hill, but there
are
> a few main concepts in bio that should be universal. A raised line
drawing
> device of some sort should help with visualizing DNA, various organelles,
> and other structures. There were a lot of visuals on my prof’s
powerpoints,
> but we were rarely tested on them (though I think my professor changed
the
> test format a bit to reduce visuals for my sake). I had a tutor (payed
for
> by disability services) who helped with describing visuals for the online
> homework and for entering any data where the masteringbiology website may
> have been inaccessible to screen readers (such as matching assignments).
> Overall, if your good at visualling processes like photosynthesis,
> respiration, and so on from written descriptions, you should do fine.
> 
> As far as the lab goes, I’m still trying to figure everything out. In the
> lab I’m in, there is a lot of group work, so a group member could always
> help with showing you where something is, describing something visual,
and
> so on. There is a big part of my lab that is based on microscopes, and
that
> is something I’m trying to find a solution for and is something you
should
> check with your college about. 
> 
> Hoped this helps and I will send any other ideas I may have forgotten if
I
> think of them.
> 
> Kevin 		
> 
> On Thu, 12 May 2011 11:14:29 -0500, Kevin Chao <kevinchao89 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>> I'm a student who is majoring in computer science. 
>> 
>> I will be taking a Biology 101 course this summer.
>> 
>> I'm in discussions with vice chancellor, dean, professor, and disabled
>> student services.
>> 
>> I would like to know what types of accommodations would be
>> needed/appropriate for course and lab. I would think that there are
> various
>> aspects of course, which are extremely visual, which will require some
> sort
>> of assistance of some kind, allowing me to have access to said info,
take
>> the info, and analyze/report on it. 
>> 
>> given, that there will be lots of these situations in Biology 101, and
>> other sciences.
>> 
>> I would like to know what types of things should I be requesting
>> accommodation for. Given those accommodations, what would be best
> approahc
>> in fulfilling those accommodations?
>> 
>> I look forward to lots of ideas/suggestions in this area.
>> 
>> Thanks!!!  
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
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