[Nfb-science] intro biology lab accessibility

[David Evans]

Dear Aleeha,

I think that I would start by pinning down your instructors who say you can 
not do these things.
Many times, defining the issue can lead to its solution.
Make them be specific.  The more specific they are the more likely you will 
be able to come up with a alternative method to do the job.  Have them 
explain, step by step just what is done and how it is done.
They think as a sighted person thinks and likely dismiss non-visual methods 
out of hand.
There is more than one way to skin a cat and that holds true for many other 
things as well.
Find out what their objections are and then see if there is another way to 
do it , as a Blind person.
Take the procedures, one step at a time, the way they do it, and break it 
down, step by step, as to how you would do it using your own methods and 
then refine them to make them better, faster and more accurate.
As my old engineering firm's slogan use to say, "The difficult we do 
immediately, the impossible just takes a little longer."
Let me know what they say. You have thousands of brothers and sisters out 
here who want to see you succeed.  It is okay to lean on us a little.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
Retired Blind Nuclear/Aerospace Materials Engineer
Builder of the Lunar Rovers and the F-117 Stealth Fighter
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Aleeha Dudley" <blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com>
To: <nfb-science at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 9:14 AM
Subject: [Nfb-science] intro biology lab accessibility


> Hi all,
>  I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for this issue.  I am 
> currently a college freshman and am taking an intro biology course.  I am 
> a zoology major and want to go to veterinary school, so this issue is very 
> important to me.  I feel as if I am not being included in the lab.  The 
> instructors have said that I cannot do a gram stain and that I cannot work 
> with bacteria.  In my opinion, I can do these things, but is there a way 
> to help my instructors see this fact? Is there anything that others have 
> done in lab courses such as this to help with the inclusion problem?
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Aleeha Dudley
>
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