[nfbmi-talk] one blind students plea

[joe harcz Comcast]

>From another list but goes to the Teach Act and is something most of us can do to help.

Joe

----- Original Message -----

From: "Jamie Principado via Change.org" <

mail at change.org>

 

To: <

carjar82 at gmail.com>

 

Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 5:31 AM

Subject: I'm a blind student, and I need your help

 

As a blind high schooler, I couldn't just apply to my top colleges -- I had

to make sure that classes were going to be made accessible for me, and I was

excited to attend Florida State University because they had a great program

for training teachers of the blind.

 

But when I started classes at FSU, I quickly found out that the school

didn't have the accessible tools I needed to learn and complete all my work.

My online classes weren't compatible with my screen reader and I couldn't

access materials in any of my math or biology classes. I struggled for three

years, and eventually decided to change schools.

 

I sued FSU for failing to meet state and federal disability laws, but I

don't want other blind students like me to experience what I had to go

through. I started a petition on Change.org asking Congress to pass the

TEACH Act to make sure that all students with disabilities have equal access

to learning. Click here to sign my petition.

 

https://www.change.org/petitions/pass-teach-act-equal-access-to-educational-materials-for-students-with-disabilities?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=47365&alert_id=RkCCbPkptw_WHMjjilKub

 

When I approached the administration at FSU about the inaccessible

materials, they suggested I try an "easier" major instead of trying to help

me and other students with disabilities. I felt like the school was

punishing me instead of trying to help me learn.

 

That's why I believe in the TEACH Act. While federal laws require colleges

to only deploy accessible materials, they were written before technology

became part of the classroom, so schools like FSU have no direction for how

the laws apply to students like me. The TEACH Act creates much-needed

guidelines illustrating how schools can provide instructional technology

that is usable for students with disabilities.

 

I believe that public support of the TEACH Act through my petition will show

members of Congress that constituents around the country believe there is an

urgent need for this. But they won't do it without you.

 

Sign my petition demanding that Congress pass the TEACH Act, creating

guidelines for schools to protect equal access in the classroom for blind

students.

 

https://www.change.org/petitions/pass-teach-act-equal-access-to-educational-materials-for-students-with-disabilities?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=47365&alert_id=RkCCbPkptw_WHMjjilKub

 

Thank you for your support.

 

Jamie Principado

 

This email was sent by Change.org to

carjar82 at gmail.com.

 

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