[nabs-l] Need some help college issues

[Ashley Bramlett]

Bridgit,

Good luck getting this resolved. As advocacy takes a long time, I suggest 
you withdraw from the art class rather than getting a bad grade or pass/fail 
grade. For your other issues, continue speaking to your ds office and 
suggest alternatives.
For instance the math tests should be read by a competent reader familiar 
with math or brailled for you.
For the inaccessible software of google sites and MY Math Lab, you can 
either use a reader or work around that access by accessing info another 
way.
I gave more examples in my last email of how I handled my Math lab issue and 
the googld docs assignment I had in english.

I also think you should go up the chain of command. If that fails,  go file 
a complaint. Also remember to document everything and keep hard copy records 
of email corespondence. You need it in writing that they denied you 
accomodations.

I hope you get it resolved!
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Bridget Walker
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 12:26 AM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] Need some help college issues

Hi everyone,
I have reached a point where I need all the help I can get. First it helps 
to have some background. My primary disability is blindness due to a TBI. I 
have another component to my condition which is spastic CP.
So I am now a junior, an education major, and think I have it all. At least 
that's how the semester starts.
I need to know what do I do if due to my secondary disabilities that are not 
blindness professors either refuse to accommodate me all together or focus 
on one disability and not the other?
My next question is in the area of equal access. I am all for advocating for 
yourself in this area and using whatever you have to get the job done.
One of my professors uses google sites and although I made her along with DS 
aware of the accessibility problem I am still required to use the site. I 
sent everyone the letter Sean sent the list with my explanation but they 
don't care.
Now we move on to art. I'm taking a sculpture class nice and tactile. The 
professor refuses to grade me because I'm blind and have CP. I can't see and 
can't move my hands the way other people do. She said I receive a pass fail 
for the class and am required to do everything but not for an actual letter 
grade. She told me at the start I can see powerpoints. Ok no if I read 
Braille, have a guide dog, and get migraines when I use my eyes I don't 
think I can see. DS didn't even back me up I had to bring my eye report to 
the head of the art department to prove my disability. Let's add in the part 
there is already documentation about my disability at DS.
Finally we get to math. Let me say I knew math was going to be a challenge. 
My book is I not accessible on my math lab with jaws 15. The college wanted 
me to downgrade my screen reader and my IE version so my math lab might 
work. I tested it with an older version of jaws and windows seven it is not 
compatible as far spas I know. Bigger point I should not be downgrading my 
technology for a book.
Then to have them say what is the big deal?
We have an embosser on campus. We are lucky. I have Braille as an 
accommodation but, we need someone to Braille my tests because I can't 
that's not ok and DS is not trained. DS has brailled before and did well 
they just won't do it I guess a confidence thing. So I have to take my tests 
with jaws. Jaws and math are not a good combo.
I just want to know what do people think of all of this?
I have met with as many resources on campus to reach a common ground and I 
get nowhere.
I have a year and a half left. I don't want it to be like this.
I feel like I take five steps forward and ten steps back.
Thanks
Bridget


Sent from my iPad
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