[Pibe-division] SAT Prep Class district support

Mon May 19 01:54:13 UTC 2014

Hi Vejas,

This is certainly an interesting inquiry. Are you taking this class during the summer? Splitting hairs in terms of technicalities, the district is probably correct that you have chosen to take a class outside the bounds of what they are obliged to provide. It is, however, unfortunate that they are approaching it from this mindset because taking this class will seemingly make you that much more prepared to take the ACT.

Sadly, this hearkens back to the "Cadillac of services" argument postulated by districts nationwide. Essentially, the law says that districts much provide FAPE-a free and appropriate public education for all students. However, the law does not say that said services need to be the highest quality-merely appropriate. Districts site this continually.

I welcome the opinions and observations of others. I'm not sure there's much you can do about this since it is not a district-provided service. Perhaps California rehabilitation services would be willing to assist? Below, please find information for a gentleman who might also be able to help. Depending on the timeframe and funding, perhaps he can contract for your materials to be brailled.

Jonn Paris-Salb
 Administrator
 Clearinghouse for Specialized Media and Translation
 1430 N Street Ste 3207
 Sacramento, CA 95814
 Phone: (916) 323-2202
 Fax: (916) 323-9732
 Email:
jparissalb at cde.ca.gov

All the best to you!

EG

Eric Guillory, Director of Youth Services
Louisiana Center for the Blind
101 South Trenton Street
Ruston, LA 71270
Voice: 800-234-4166 (extension 3009)
Fax: 318-251-0109
Skype: brllovingdad

"Together, we are changing what it means to be blind."

-----Original Message-----
From: Pibe-division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vejas via Pibe-division
Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2014 5:15 PM
To: pibe-division at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Pibe-division] SAT Prep Class district support

Hi All,
  I am a junior in high school & am taking the SAT in 3 weeks, 
and to help me
get ready, I have opted to take an SAT Prep Class.
  - Our local VI program has chosen to view the SAT Prep Class as
"extracurricular" & as such is unwilling to provide me with 
transcriber
support.
  I am wondering how you approach such situations with your high 
school
students.
  - How did you get Prep Class materials in an accessible format 
for your
students?
  - Did the school or VI program help with the brailling of text 
& embossing
of diagrams, or do your students need to hire readers and do it 
verbally
(which is clearly not ideal since then there is a lost 
opportunity for
hands on learning with the diagrams)?
  - Do your students end up needing to find a non-district 
transcriber to
braille the test and emboss the diagrams?
  I would really appreciate your input & look forward to any 
insights or
suggestions you might have.
  Sincerely,
  Vejas

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