[VABS] Nova

[Ashley Bramlett]

Mark,

Happy 4th of july to you too!
I'm planning to go to the fireworks later.

Nova does not spend much money on accomodations, true.
However, if you went there a few years back, much has changed.
Jaws was updated at annandale and I heard other campuses too.
I personally think Nova needs an OCR program for students to use such as 
Openbook.
They have a new accessibility coordinator who is much more responsive about 
converting inaccessible pdfs into accessible ones.

You can also take exams on the pc and write your answers on a word file if 
you want to.
Jaws should be in all testing centers. It needs to be so blind students can 
use the pcs.
At annandale, jaws always worked for me at the testing center.
Nova policy does not allow you to bring your own
equipment into the testing centers. You have to use their pcs.

I totally agree with you that pcs with assistive technology should not be 
separate!
You should not be an outcast!
However that is the case at a large university nearby.
To anyone needing jaws at GMU, I warn of this.
GMU has a separate assistive technology lab in the libraries on the main 
campus. I cannot speak to other campuses. On the fairfax campus wich is the 
main one, the labs are separate.
So, you have to be segregated from everyone else.
I hang around GMU sometimes to see friends or go to their library since I 
can get into music databases Nova does not have. I've looked up some things 
for my own knowledge and for my volunteer projects on GMU's computers.
As a public school, the public can come in to the library. Nova students can 
also check out a limited number of GMU books. So, Niam, if you have a reader 
and are working on a paper, you can check out GMU books with your Nova ID 
card. Then read them with someone in a study room.
To access GMU computers, anyone else from the public can get on any public 
computer; no questions asked; no requests needed.
But for me, I have to be asked and escorted to the assistive tech lab where 
sometimes jaws is a demo version. Sometimes IT did not install it right so 
mix ups happen.
I wish I could get on the regular university computers to do research like 
anyone else. But at least I do get some access as a guest to the library, 
albeit a separate place.
For GMU students, they can get into the lab via a code they are given. But 
it is still a separate locked place and a  segregated place.

GMU is george mason university in case anyone did not know.

Thanks for the info on the surface pro. I'll look at one sometime.
Very helpful to know it runs like a laptop.

Ashley


-----Original Message----- 
From: Marc Canamaso
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2017 8:40 AM
To: Virginia Association of Blind Students list
Cc: Marc Canamaso ; Ashley Bramlett
Subject: Re: [VABS] Nova

Morning Ya’ll!!

Happy 4th to all VABS members. I hope that you all enjoy every second of it.

Ashley,

To answer your question about JAWS at the Manassas campus I will say the 
most difficult part is finding a justification in updating the software to a 
more up to date version. From my expense NOVA fails to do any form of 
accommodating if there isn’t a huge pay off on their part. Please note, this 
is just my experience. NOVA is a wonderful school and highly encourage those 
to attend if they wish save money and unsure of their career goals. Also, 
another alarming fact that I have come across when visiting the campus 
library was that the only JAWS computer they had at the time was held in a 
small room cut off from the rest of the other computers. It was indeed a 
disappointment and shock to see that a student who needs JAWS has to be 
treated as an outcast or singled out. Again, this was about 2 years ago from 
the last time I was at NOVA. I will check again this coming Fall when I 
start classes.

Also, just as Naim had said before the Surface Pro can and will allow full 
access to Microsoft applications for all computer needs. Although it is a 
tablet, when it is in Laptop mode the Surface can compete as a high 
functioning computer. Before you buy the Surface Pro please know the 
operating system may be Windows 10. This is important because the latest 
version of JAWS does not work so smoothly. I believe my surface pro is 
running JAWS 16 or 17 which works much easier with some minor complaints. If 
ya’ll haven’t figured things out yet  I’m kinda of a nerd when it comes to 
computers. Computers and people are my hobbies.

Thanks again,
Marc A. Canamaso =