[Nfb-science] The Definition of a Qualified Reader?

[Elizabeth Mohnke]

Hello Robert,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my message. I agree with your answer. However, it appears as though my college does not agree with this answer. Do you know of any credible authoritative sources that would agree with this definition of a qualified reader? I do not believe simply saying that other blind people agree with me is going to work well for me when advocating for myself with the people in the disabilities office at my college. 

Thanks,
Elizabeth



-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-science [mailto:nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of rjaquiss via Nfb-science
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2017 2:11 PM
To: 'NFB Science and Engineering Division List' <nfb-science at nfbnet.org>
Cc: rjaquiss <rjaquiss at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [Nfb-science] The Definition of a Qualified Reader?

Hello Elizageth:

     In my opinion, a qualified reader would be someone knowledgeable in the subject area for which you need reading. Since you are needing help with math, a qualified reader would be someone who knows math. In your case, I would think you would want a upper class math major or someone who is becoming a math teacher. At the very least, the reader needs to have very good skills with the type of material you are studying. When it comes to graphs and charts, I would suggest that these need to be rendered tactually using either capsule paper or a a ViewPlus Technologies embosser. I can't imagine trying to understand a graph or chart without a hard copy representation. Hope this helps.

Regards,

Robert


-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-science [mailto:nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Mohnke via Nfb-science
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2017 10:33 AM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list; NFB Science and Engineering Division List; NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
Cc: Elizabeth Mohnke
Subject: [Nfb-science] The Definition of a Qualified Reader?

Hello All,

This past semester I was not able to receive the accommodations I needed for a math class. Since I do not know Braille very well, or know how to make a screen reader on a computer read the various math symbols, graphs, and charts, I find that using a human reader is the best way for me to gain equal access to the course materials required for my math classes.

However, it appears as though my college and I do not agree on what constitutes as a qualified reader. I have tried searching online to see if I can find a legal definition of a qualified reader, or any recent settlement cases involving the use of a reader to see if this might help provide some clarification as to what constitutes as a qualified reader. However, I have not been able to find anything that I believe would help me. It seems as though all the definitions I have found regarding the definition of a qualified reader are rather vague and could be interpreted in different ways by different people.

I am currently trying to write a complaint using the complaint process within my college regarding the lack of accommodations I received for my math class this semester. I am not completely sure how to write this complaint, but I believe having a clear definition of what constitutes a qualified reader would be helpful for this complaint as well as advocating for myself as a blind student with an additional disability. If anyone has a good clear definition of what constitutes as a qualified reader, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks,
Elizabeth
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