[nfbcs] A+ Certification

[David Andrews]

You are right that this is a generational thing, to a great extent. 
Those of us who are older came of age using readers. It was often the 
only solution we had.

As others have pointed out, using a reader can be a viable solution, 
and with a good reader, and a user who is comfortable utilizing that 
reader, it can be as quick, or quicker than a screen reader.

Access has come a long way, there are often multiple approaches to 
something.  Younger people have gotten used to doing stuff on their 
own, which is good.  However, there will be occasions when other 
alternatives may need to be considered, or used.

I would urge younger people to learn to use all tools available to 
them, and be flexible in their approach.

Dave



As At 02:38 PM 4/27/2017, you wrote:
>There are many reasons why a human reader is not the same as using a screen
>reader.  If you need to review a question multiple times, who feels
>comfortable asking a reader to do this?  Plus, a screen reader is much
>faster.  How is someone supposed to pass an exam with two minutes per
>question with a human reader?  Maybe I'm just being a product of my
>generation and I have different expectations for accommodations than all of
>you who got through college with human readers.  I admire you for this, but
>technology is such now that I should not have to accept this any more as a
>solution.  And I won't.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jim Barbour via
>nfbcs
>Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2017 3:29 PM
>To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>Cc: Jim Barbour <jbar at barcore.com>; Bryan Schulz <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
>Subject: Re: [nfbcs] A+ Certification
>
>Who supplies the reader? I went through college for my  computer science
>degree using nothing but human readers. Why is A human reader not equal
>access The exam?
>
>Jim
>
>Written While on the Move
>
> > On Apr 27, 2017, at 11:46 AM, Bryan Schulz via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > I explained it before and you still don't understand what a time limit is.
> > Even with being allowed double time, you won't be able to complete
> > both exams because of the interface even if allowed to install jaws
> > which isn't an option.
> > Depending on how much you study, both exams can be passed with only
> > normal time and a reader.
> > What type of jobs do you hope to apply for?
> > Obtaining a+ didn't help one bit to obtain a help desk position.
> > Bryan
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert
> > Spangler via nfbcs
> > Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2017 12:38 PM
> > To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List'
> > Cc: Robert Spangler; 'NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List'
> > Subject: [nfbcs] A+ Certification
> >
> > Hello everyone:
> >
> > I will be applying to take the A+ certification exam.  I know I asked
> > about this a while back.  Someone responded and told me that the only
> > accommodation that they will offer for this exam is a human reader,
> > which to me is not acceptable.  I would prefer to take the exam on a
> > computer with JAWS/NVDA.  I know this same issue was brought up with
> > the BAR exam and it was solved through litigation.  I am prepared to
> > raise the same stink in regards to blind people receiving fair and
> > just accommodations.  I would like your opinions - is it worth it?
> > Why wasn't the decision on the BAR exam case binding on other testing
> > companies?  If I did succeed in being able to take the exam on the
> > computer with a screen reader, would the exam be accessible?  I look
> > forward to your responses.  I'm getting pretty damn fed up with the belief
>that a human reader is providing equal access.
> >
> > On the other hand, there is part of me that just wants to take the
> > exam and get it over with...
> >
> > --
> > Robert Spangler
> > Secretary, Miami Valley Chapter of the National Federation of the
> > Blind of Ohio Spangler.robert at gmail.com