[NFBMI-Talk] Opportunity to Foster Positive Change At WMU

Wed Oct 28 01:06:12 UTC 2020

We have identified a number of areas that are leaving something to be desired with Western Michigan’s adjustment to the online learning environment. Lisa, as we already discussed, you and all other Western students are welcome to help shape the resolution as it goes through committee and is hopefully adopted at next week’s state convention.  As you and I discussed, there should not certainly be an expectation that a user comes in being an expert operator of every platform, but certainly we can expect there to be knowledgeable access technology staff who are able to trouble-shoot, support and provide accurate basic resources and guide an average screen reader user to be able to use software that has been tested and approved for use at the university.  Speaking for my current roles on the chapter and student division boards, we want to put up a united message of what is acceptable in the current situation, and point out where changes need to be made, all while supporting you to be the best student you can be. The Federation has resources it can bring to bear when knowledgeable experts in the federation address areas of student challenges, unclear or non-existant policies and the support that the university is providing to its students to enable their learning.  We look forward to your input as a valuable part of this as we strive to fix the problems through dialogue and perhaps, only if met with resistance, further pressure, as  supported by the state and national levels of our organization if needed.

Victor

> On Oct 27, 2020, at 8:34 PM, Robert Earl Parsons via NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Good Evening Lisa
> 
> First, I'd like to commend your enthusiasm and initiative in assuring that students at WMU are being provided accessibility in the virtual setting. I am, however, a bit perplexed about the issues you are facing with Microsoft Teams and the course you are in. As a rehabilitation counseling student, my clinical practicum was in Microsoft Teams and I did not have a problem this summer working with it. I've also spoken with two students that are currently enrolled in the same VRT course and they have not experienced problems with the platform or joining the classroom activities. 
> As we are still deeply involved in assuring change at WMU, I think it may be helpful that you attend our next Kalamazoo chapter meeting. At our October meeting, we had an enthusiastic conversation with a WMU undergraduate student that expressed difficulty with instructors that were not providing reasonable accommodations. During that discussion, I outlined the process in which the Federation affects change. Generally, we attempt to work on things at the local level, providing amicable feedback about impediments to accessibility. If these requests remain unresolved, we work on this within the chapter and affiliate, providing an united front when conversing with the other party. For this reason, the Kalamazoo chapter submitted a resolution that hopes to inform the state of the organization's knowledge of its shortcomings in the area of accessibility and accommodation provision. Such starts the process of change, whether willingly or through facilitated means. All of these items were included in the minutes which our chapter secretary, Monet Payne, submitted to our Kalamazoo chapter list serve. 
> Though I appreciate your dedication to bringing attention to perceived accessibility barriers, this method, in my opinion, is not the most productive. First, sending such a request to the state list serve invites people who are not students at Western or students in general to complete a task that does not directly involve or effect them. This email address is one that is connected to an administrator at a state facility and though I know that the members of this affiliate would never mishandle a request, it just is not a good move to encourage non-students to send testimonials at this moment because then the potency of the argument is lost. An university administrator will only be interested in the students of the university bringing this issue to the table first and unfortunately I don't think that this is the case right now. 
> Finally, I think that we have to be careful when we declare something inaccessible. Like every identity (race, gender, ability status, etc.), blind people are not monolithic and come with varying abilities and skill levels. What makes a reasonable accommodation reasonable is that it is perceived to be utilitarian in its service provision. This means that it not only provides the greatest good for the greatest amount of people who want it, but that it does that for the greatest amount of people  who need it. With less than 10% of the blind VRT cohort  at the moment experiencing this problem while using this platform, the department would not consider this an accessibility barrier and it would be a bit presumptive of them to create a completely different pathway to the course's completion. Things like this, I believe, lowers expectations which is something we never want because that makes it difficult for the next blind student to come in the program and thrive, despite already having the skills to complete the task or platform we would be petitioning to get rid of. As always, I invite you to attend our meeting on November 10, a date which will hopefully see our resolution being supported by this wonderful affiliate and the process moving forward. I would also encourage you to converse with a few of the VRT students that are blind. Rachel and Osman have both used teams in the same class and though I am not sure what the dilemma was for you, I'm sure that they would be willing to share some of the key commands for teams with you. 
> 
> Blessings
> 
> Robert E. Parsons, Jr.
> President| Kalamazoo Chapter
> Vice President| Michigan Association of Blind Students
> Board Member| National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
> Board Member| National Association of Blind Students
> Masters Student| Rehabilitation Counseling and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy
> Western Michigan University '21
> Pronouns: He, Him, His
> P: 804.801.7674
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Lisa Irving via NFBMI-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 6:30 PM
> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Lisa Irving <bernieslife at icloud.com>
> Subject: [NFBMI-Talk] Opportunity to Foster Positive Change At WMU
> 
> Hello, 
> 
> 
> 
> This morning, I met via phone with Jayne Fraley-Burgett, Director for WMU Student Disability Services to discuss MS Teams access barriers for JAWS users. 
> 
> 
> 
> The Director is receiving conflicting information. For instance, a Sighted WMU employee and a liaison for the Bureau of Blindness Services reports that blind individuals are not experiencing access barriers. Conversely, I and another WMU student report access barriers when using this university-approved meeting platform.  Additionally within Microsoft Disability Assistance Help, there is a varying degree of opinions about what works and how to make things work. 
> 
> 
> 
> The Director expressed interest in hearing first-hand accounts from other screen reader users and your experience using MS Teams. I urge you to please take three minutes, and in a couple of sentences share your experience and Email  the Director at: jayne.fraley at wmich.edu <mailto:jayne.fraley at wmich.edu> 
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you. 
> 
> 
> 
> Warmly,
> 
> 
> 
> Lisa M. Irving
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> 
> 
> From,
> 
> Lisa M. Irving 
> 
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