[nabs-l] One can live without disability services and others

rbacchus228 at gmail.com rbacchus228 at gmail.com
Wed Dec 17 15:18:57 UTC 2014 

Hi Joshua I also gave these sheets to my professors  when I was attending the cokmunity college. N my professors get my accommodation letters via email before the semester begins. I also send an introduction email to them notifying them that I will be in their class. 

Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 15, 2014, at 11:46 PM, Joshua Hendrickson via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Ashley.  I know about the acomidation sheets you mentioned.  I gave
> them to my instructors in college all the time.  But, I had to get
> them from my DSS office like you also mentioned.  As I progressed
> through college, I became better at asking teachers for the help I
> needed.  In the beginning some of the teachers would ask me how they
> could best help me, but later on, I'd aproach a teacher either before,
> or after class, and speak to them, if I had a problem or a question.
> No blind person should be afraid to ask for the help they need.  I
> remember one of my teachers for a history class substituted me calling
> her on the phone and talking to her instead of a face to face office
> visit which was one of the requirements for her class.  Overall I'd
> say my instructors were very acomidating and gave me the help I need.
> The one teacher who didn't want me in his science class, I was able to
> take an alternative online class which worked out very well for me.
> These discussions are always very interesting.
> 
>> On 12/15/14, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Joshua,
>> 
>> I agree. While I never had issues ordering recorded texts,
>> since my TVI taught me that, I did rely on dss for accessible handouts at
>> the beginning.
>> As I got more comfortable with technology and scanners, I relied less on
>> them for that.
>> 
>> I think DSS should be used in moderation as lilly said.
>> I also feel its in the amount of inaccessible things. For instance, I think
>> 
>> a blind student can and should scan small handouts themselves if they are
>> not accessible already via the professor's emailing them.
>> But if its major readings like 20 plus pages, I think it may be reasonable
>> for dss to do it. I say this because its time consuming to scan and scan and
>> 
>> if you let dss do it, they can edit for you.
>> So, its all an individual thing.
>> 
>> Ashley
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Joshua Hendrickson via nabs-l
>> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 10:14 PM
>> To: Lillie Pennington ; National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] One can live without disability services and others
>> 
>> Lily. I agree with you.  When I was first in college, I really didn't
>> know all that much, about getting textbooks and the best way to get
>> handouts.  At first, I visited my DSS office quite frequently to get
>> handouts, or textbooks on mp3 cd.  But as the years went on, I learned
>> how to use the computer better, and how to get some books from
>> learning ally which meant I didn't have to use the DSS office as
>> often.  I always felt that my DSS office did a very nice job helping
>> me in my early college years.  I'm very greatful my college had a
>> tutoring center where I could go to get tutoring in classes especially
>> math.  Math is the reason why it took me so long to get my associates
>> degree.  Geometry was not fun.  It took me four hours to complete the
>> geometry final.  Good luck all in your persuing of your high school,
>> or college careers.  I wish more blind people would go to college.  I
>> know a couple people who don't go to college.
>> 
>>> On 12/15/14, Lillie Pennington via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> I personally would not trust myself to honestly to do a take-home exam.
>>> Also, as has been pointed out previously, family support is not as
>>> accessible in some cases, for example, where there is a complete lack of
>>> support, or if a student lives farther away from home, like I am
>>> planning.
>>> While I agree that disability services should not hold her hands for us
>>> and
>>> do everything, I do not think that they should be completely dismissed. I
>>> think, if used in moderation, and effectively, the DSS office can be a
>>> valuable tool for success.
>>> Granted, I do not have experience with disability services offices
>>> directly
>>> because I am a junior in high school still. However, from stories I have
>>> heard on here, and other stories I have heard through friends, I have
>>> formed
>>> my own opinion.
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Dec 15, 2014, at 8:45 PM, Karl Martin Adam via nabs-l
>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> As someone who is going to become a college professor, I would never
>>>> allow
>>>> a student to take a test unproctored.  I've had professors offer to let
>>>> me
>>>> do that, and once or twice I have just out of convenience, but I have
>>>> too
>>>> many blind friends who use their blindness as an excuse to take tests on
>>>> their notetakers or worse yet at home so they can cheat by looking at
>>>> the
>>>> book and their notes.  The level of cheating that goes on in DSS offices
>>>> is horrifying (I know, I've worked there) without even getting into
>>>> giving
>>>> blind people the chance to take in class exams as takehomes.
>>>> 
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: Michael D Ausbun via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> To: Gerardo Corripio <gera1027 at gmail.com>, "National Association of
>>>> BlindStudents mailing list" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>> Date sent: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 22:28:37 +0000
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] One can live without disability services and
>>>> others
>>>> 
>>>> Hello Gerardo:
>>>>   First, I’d like to say that your experience is admirable and
>>>> definitely
>>>> worthwhile and one that ought to be heard; after all, as you pointed
>>>> out,
>>>> a large majority of blind individuals belief or seem to believe: if
>>>> there
>>>> is no disability service, then failure is inevitable.
>>>>   With that said, however, I must point out a few things which are
>>>> necessary, in order for something like your story to work successfully.
>>>> 1)    A student must have family support. In some cases, especially when
>>>> an individual is not an only child, family members may not always be
>>>> able
>>>> or willing to assist a student to the degree which is necessary (I.E.
>>>> reading papers, recording books etc.). If there is zero family support,
>>>> the chance of success is exponentially decreases, for both sited folks
>>>> and
>>>> blind.
>>>> 2)    A student must have professor(s) trust. I also have had occasions
>>>> where professors have given me the exam to take home or to do away from
>>>> my
>>>> disability center. In my case, it was either because the professor did
>>>> not
>>>> want to deal with the Disability services office or they did not trust
>>>> the
>>>> disability services office (professors are interesting creatures). In
>>>> either case, if a professor gives you the exam like this, they have to
>>>> trust that you will not cheat in some way shape or form. Many students,
>>>> if
>>>> they do not advocate well, never reach this level of trust with their
>>>> instructors.
>>>> 3)    Technology rocks, that is, if you manage to get your hands on
>>>> technology which can help you succeed, then you may not need a
>>>> disability
>>>> center; however, most students don’t have the technology, which you
>>>> stated, so most need the DSS in order to succeed in this case.
>>>> Of course, there are other ways for individuals to do things without the
>>>> disability services getting involved; for instance, I always request my
>>>> books from bookshare, so I don’t have to worry about the disability
>>>> center
>>>> not getting them to me on time. I think though, the key fact is that the
>>>> disability center provides students with a safety blanket. You don’t
>>>> have
>>>> to advocate as much nor do you have to stress as much. If you go through
>>>> 
>>>> a
>>>> disability services center, then nine times out of ten they assist you
>>>> in
>>>> shouldering your burden. This, for a lot of people, can and probably
>>>> does,
>>>> act as relief.
>>>>   I hope I addressed your concerns adequately.
>>>> Respectfully,
>>>> Michael
>>>> 
>>>> ________________________________________
>>>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Gerardo Corripio
>>>> via
>>>> nabs-l [nabs-l at nfbnet.org]
>>>> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 1:57 PM
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] One can live without disability services and others
>>>> 
>>>> HI guys
>>>> It's interesting how you've guys talked about how the world comes
>>>> crashing down when the Disability service in the college doesn't Braille
>>>> out tests, make books available etc., so I wonder how do you think I
>>>> managed in a country where disability services aren't heard of or known?
>>>> By talking with the teachers, suggesting techniques for instance at
>>>> first, they allowed me to take the tests home, and have my parents read
>>>> me the tests and i'd answer on the computer and print them out, turning
>>>> them to the teachers the next day as if it were homework; as the
>>>> semesters wore on, the teachers graduated to seeing them in the
>>>> classroom in a time when my classmates were out eating lunch or other
>>>> activities, and orally test me; another time, I installed Jaws on the
>>>> college's computer and I'd go and take the test there with the teacher
>>>> in that she'd read me the questions, and I'd type in the answers,
>>>> printing it out afterwards, generally before my classmates took the test
>>>> in the classroom, but can you believe when the tech guys did computer
>>>> maintainance, they erased my copy of Jaws?
>>>> Books and other written assignments? During the first semester or so, my
>>>> parents mostly, but also from time to time other family members,
>>>> recorded the chapters on cassettes, to which I'd listen, and take notes
>>>> on an old Toshiba Laptop running Keysoft my parents had bought while in
>>>> the States; as the second semester ended, however, I guess I was lucky
>>>> because the university donated for my use, a PC with kurzweil1000 and a
>>>> scanner, to which I afterwards put on Jaws and did all my assignments on
>>>> there; they also donated me a NoteTaker, the Braille Lite 2000 for
>>>> taking notes etc; as I say again, maybe it was luck, because I've
>>>> contacted other college students, and they only dream of having these
>>>> technologies! I guess it's one of the advantages of having gone to a
>>>> private college, and not a public university? So there you have it;
>>>> perseverance/determination, wins! Also support from family mostly, and
>>>> teachers, except for those who dinde'didn't believe in my abilities and
>>>> made the semester a nightmare! So what do you guys think? are these
>>>> experiences worthwhile?
>>>> 
>>>> --
>>>> Enviado desde mi lap
>>>> Gerardo J Corripio Flores Psicólogo, Terapéuta Reiki
>>>> Saludos desde Tampico, Tamaulipas México
>>>> RompiendoBarreras espacio de psicología/Superación Personal Sábados 10PM
>>>> México http://radiogeneral.com ¡los esperamos!
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>>> 
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