[blindlaw] Request for laptop during essay section denied

[Angie Matney]

Hi Patrick,

My comments are interspersed with yours below.


<<It sounds like they are trying to accommodate you.  It may not be
satisfactory yet, but I can assure you that they are doing better than
some public agencies in Virginia.>>

I worked for the state--for two separate agencies! (grin) Yes, I agree: They
are trying to accommodate me. But I believe the accommodation they have
offered is unsatisfactory.


<<1.  Think about doing it with a court reporter.  This is not like
dictating to someone across the desk from you.  A court reporter, is
suppose to be able to do a verbatim transcription as normal talking
speed.  It should be like taking a test where you answer the questions
orally.  Make sure that the permit you to have your answers read back so
you can make corrections and change your answers to the extent you need
to.  You may or may not need to have extra time do that.  In any case ask
for it.>>

Yes, I'm aware of this. I have never taken such an oral test. Besides. The
bar is not designed to be taken orally. For this reason, I do not believe a
court reporter is the best accommodation for the Bar exam.


<<2.  Fully document the problems you for see with the method they want you
to use and offer solutions, if you can.  This will get you much farther
than to threaten litigation right out of the gate.  After all you can
always use that option, later if you have to.>>

Thanks--this is my plan. I am going to call them on Monday to discuss
elements of the situation which might not have occurred to them. I am going
to point out that since I will have the questions in Braille, the questions
themselves will never be in the memory of my computer. I am also going to
point out that it would be possible for me to save all work to an external
flash drive or memory card. There are several other similar factors that I
believe they have not considered.

<<3.  Ask for the names and contact number of any successful blind
applicants who have taken the test as they suggest, so you can talk to
them and learn from their experience.    You never know what you might
find out, one way or the other, that will be of help later.>>

If it turns out that I *must* take the Bar with thtis method, I might do
this; however, I do not want to perpetuate the mmisconception that an
accommodation that is appropriate for one person will be the best way for
all blind ntest-takers to take the Bar exam.

<<In any case good luck and let use know how it works out.>>

Thanks very much.

Angie



Patrick H. Stiehm
Stiehm Law Office
Alexandria, VA 22309
703-360-1089 (Voice)
703-935-8266 (Fax)
 
 
On Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:53:21 -0400 "Angie Matney"
<angie.matney at gmail.com> writes:
> Hello,
> 
>  
> 
> I asked for and was granted a Braille MBE and a Braille version of 
> the ssay
> questions. My request to write my answers to the essays was denied. 
> I am
> supposed to dictate them to a court reporter. The documentation I 
> received
> from the VA bar examiners is unclear as to whether or not I will 
> first be
> able to prepare my answers in Braille and then dictate them (it 
> specifically
> says I can do this for the MBE, but not the essays), or whether I 
> have to
> simply dictate my answers. I have serious concerns about my ability 
> to
> perform effectively on the exam if it is the latter. I have never 
> taken an
> essay test via dictation--I mentioned this in my accommodations 
> request. I
> explained why the process was different for the MBE and the essay 
> portion of
> the bar, but apparently my explanation was not sufficient, not 
> understood,
> or not accepted.
> 
>  
> 
> Has anyone been granted the option to use a laptop during the 
> state-specific
> portion of the Bar exam? It is my understanding that this is fairly 
> common.
> 
>  
> 
> Virginia does have a program whereby any person taking the exam can 
> register
> to take it via laptop, but I have concerns about the accessibility 
> of the
> software they use, which disables all but some basic 
> word-processing
> functions of the computer. The software is called Exam4, and the 
> maker is
> Extegrity. Has anyone had experience with this software and a screen 
> reader?
> 
>  
> 
> Thanks,
> 
>  
> 
> Angie
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> 
 
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