[nabs-l] Question for blind students

Fri Apr 20 01:40:11 UTC 2012

Hi Osmond,
Good question. I think in general when giving these presentations,
it's important to try and be balanced and share both good experiences
we have in school and challenging experiences we would like to ask
faculty and administrators to help us make easier for all. Sometimes
the people who request presentations about disability want to focus on
the challenges, but that really only gives half the picture.
I can share one particular positive experience I had with an
instructor. This was in my biology undergrad program when I took
organic chemistry. All students were required to buy and use
three-dimensional modeling sets to model molecules. However, my
professor went above and beyond by meeting with me during his office
hours to show me 3-D models of the 2-D pictures he was showing in his
lecture slides. He even gave me exams with 3-D models instead of
pictures; handing me a model and asking me to name the molecule, for
example. Because of this simple accommodation and my prof's
willingness to work with me a little bit outside of class, I earned an
A- in the course and actually enjoyed it. It was such a simple
accommodation and something many professors could implement on their
own. I would talk about things like that, and for negative things,
just pick one or two that the faculty can work with you to improve.
I'd be most inclined to complain about course website inaccessibility
if that's an issue, because instructors do have power to choose what
course platforms they use and to boycott inaccessible ones. Some other
simple things might be providing emailed handouts when requested and
installing or fixing Braille signage in classroom buildings. Tricky
campus layouts and construction, though irritating, are much harder
for a campus to fix, and unfortunately these things are kind of just
part of life.
Best,
Arielle

On 4/19/12, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
> It's going great!
> I'm glad finals will be over, and I get to be home, instead of
> constantly leaving for school!
> I've finally won a huge victory with my Rehab, which was the only
> problem I was having in college, (putting this message back on topic.)
> I'll have my books in Braille, and I'll also have a notetaker, so some
> of my challenges will be alleviated.
> Blessings, Joshua
>
> On 4/19/12, Gloria G <gloria.graves at gmail.com> wrote:
>> hows it going?
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Joshua Lester" <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu>
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 5:00 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Question for blind students
>>
>>
>>> Faculty and staff have never given me problems, at my college.
>>> The layout, and the fact that the Braille on the signs, for each
>>> class, isn't informative enough, have been my main problems.
>>> The rooms are labeled, "Classroom," and "Office," but the room number
>>> is labeled, in Print.
>>> Why not label the room numbers, in Braille?
>>> This makes my traveling on campus, difficult!
>>> Blessings, Joshua
>>>
>>> On 4/19/12, Osmond Kwan <osmond81 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Thanks to those who have responded so far.
>>>>
>>>> My presentation is tomorrow morning during the 9:00 hour. Other
>>>> disabilities are also represented.
>>>>
>>>> It is primarily a personal sharing about our experiences, but I want
>>>> to also get some feedback from the list.
>>>>
>>>> I agree with the campus layout being somewhat hard to navigate and
>>>> challenges with handouts and online material.
>>>>
>>>> I meant to ask this in my original e-mail, but has anyone had positive
>>>> experiences with faculty, staff, classroom and campus?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Osmond
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 4/19/12, Nicole B. Torcolini at Home <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>> When are you giving the presentation?
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Osmond Kwan" <osmond81 at gmail.com>
>>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 10:36 AM
>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Question for blind students
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Dear All,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I was just invited to give a ten minute presentation to an audience of
>>>>>> faculty and administrators about the challenges sight impaired
>>>>>> individuals face in the classroom and on campus. I am the only sight
>>>>>> impaired student represented. I wanted to ask those on the list if you
>>>>>> could share some challenges you face on campus and in the classroom
>>>>>> that faculty and administrators should know.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>> Osmond
>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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