[nfbwatlk] Question about Testing Procedures

[Lauren Merryfield]

Hi,
I didn't have any special office to deal with either when I was in college
and I used my own readers.  Sometimes my Mom was my reader and no one said
anything.......................Way back then.And I sure wouldn't want 
someone else telling me who to have as a reader or any other type of 
accommodation.  I would think the decision should be yours.
Thanks
Lauren
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Ellen" <gabias at telus.net>
To: "'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:39 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Question about Testing Procedures


>I attended university when SSD offices were still a new idea. Electronic
> documents and word processing were still novel concepts, so I used readers
> all the time. I'm sure the reason she wants you to use a reader provided
> by
> the office is to protect against cheating. You could offer to take the
> test
> in the presence of a proctor. I often sat in the department secretary's
> office who proctored the exam for me. Other than the need to protect
> against
> cheating, I can't even imagine why anyone would care whether your reader
> was
> provided by the office or not. In fact, I would insist on providing a
> reader
> known to me. All readers are not created equal. What if the office
> provided
> a reader who was not competent to read the material in question? You
> should
> absolutely insist on having a reader whom you have worked with before
> because it would be a distinct disadvantage for you to have to train a
> reader during an exam.
> You might want to talk with Jim Marx of Montana. He runs a DSS and could
> tell you what the law says as well as suggesting procedures which would
> calm
> the nerves of your professor and the department chair.
> Isn't it interesting that it's the special ed department that's giving you
> trouble?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jedi
> Sent: January 27, 2009 9:15 PM
> To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfbwatlk] Question about Testing Procedures
>
>
>
> Fellow Federationists:
>
> I would like your advice. I have decided to opt out of the SSD office
> at my university in most cases because it's not terribly efficient in
> helping blind students succeed in a timely and convenient fashion.
> generally speaking, I have been able to arrange appropriate
> accommodations without difficulty. Most teachers have been really
> helpful in providing tests and other homework in electronic format, or
> letting me decide who to work with and under what conditions. Recently,
> i began a class in Special education. The professor uses a test program
> that apparently doesn't allow for electronic tests usable by students
> in any fashion. So, I decided that hiring a reader would be
> appropriate. At first, my teacher agreed providing that I cover myself
> by giving her proof of my blindness such as an eligibility letter for
> voc rehab services. I was fine with that. Tonight however, she sent me
> an e-mail saying that she'd never had a student opt out of using SSD
> offices, so she asked a higher-up in her department if I could indeed
> use my own reader. Apparently, according to her, I cannot. Apparently,
> I am required to use SSD provided readers for this exam. I was under
> the impression that I am allowed to hire and utilize my own readers
> and/or choose not to utilize SSD support in my classes. I can
> understand why she would prefer me to use an SSD reader so as to guard
> against possible cheating. I, however, am perfectly fine not hiring the
> reader who ordinarily reads my textbook to me. i have a few readers to
> choose from. What are my rights in this situation? What are my options?
> What would you do if you were me? Thanks very much for your help.
>
> -- 
> REspectfully,
> Jedi
>
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