[nabs] Fw: Accessibility Questions for MML+

Wed Aug 3 01:54:18 EDT 2011

Hi, Ashley, and others,

Once material reaches paper it is rendered inaccessible to us, so 
even if one procures a note taker the DSPS people have to make it 
accessible, anyway. Therefore, So often it just makes the most sense 
simply to  take your own notes. This way they could stay in the 
medium of your choice.
for today,
car:45 PM
>To: Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students.
>Subject: Re: [nabs] Fw: Accessibility Questions for MML+
>
>Ashley:
>Getting another student to assist me in the class don't appeal to me. I have
>done this in the past (both with and without pay) and the results were
>great. In all situations, I was left holding the bag, phone calls were not
>returned, I was avoided most of the time and it seems that it became a chore
>to the student. With the student I had paid, I didn't go after her after she
>took my money, I just told her that she just showed me that the $50 I paid
>her was worth more to her than her character and morals. In other words, I
>charged it to the game. So, because of my past experiences, I am not willing
>to take that course of action. For the most part, I will take the class by
>jumping in head first and wading through the rough spots as they come along.
>As far as making a complaint, I will do just that because while the results
>probably will not help me, it can help the next blind student that comes
>along and still make a name for myself to other professors that I will
>advocate for my rights. Because I sit on various student clubs and
>organizations, I am hoping that the little clout that I do have will assist
>me in this venture. I am also a member of student government and student
>cabinet at my college. Hopefully, this will assist me and still get the
>point across. :-)
>Netta
>"Just because you are blind, does not mean you lack vision"-Stevie Wonder
>----- Original Message ----- From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>To: "Discussion list for NABS,National Alliance of Blind Students."
><nabs at acb.org>
>Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2011 11:43 PM
>Subject: Re: [nabs] Fw: Accessibility Questions for MML+
>
>
>>Birkir,
>>I think she has to take it now.  While complaining is good in 
>>theory, I think complaining takes  very long and meanwhile nothing gets done.
>>A complaint with our government takes years to resolve. It still 
>>may be a good idea so it helps later students, but by the time its 
>>solved, she will have long passed the class and moved to a different school.
>>If you have to get through the class, sometimes you have to make 
>>your own accomodations because the school does not do their part. 
>>Remember though that schools only have to provide accessible texts 
>>and notetakers in class. Outside class, you are on your own.  As I 
>>said, some schools provide tutors for students and pay them hourly; 
>>Marymount did this.
>>So if Neta needs a tutor, I think she has to find it 
>>herself.  Studying with a classmate may help too.  Asking 
>>department heads or contacting a math honor society, if there is one,
>>are ways to get a math tutor.
>>You may need a reader to describe and make tactile charts. Rehab 
>>should cover reader expenses. The book may also be semi accessible 
>>if you contact the publisher and get a Word version of the book.
>>I took grammar when I started a writing certificate at nova, 
>>community college.
>>I did not have an accessible grammar book. The professor taught a 
>>little visually as part of her teaching style with color coding
>>and underlining words. I struggled to follow it; not to mention 
>>grammar was hard for everyone, not just me.
>>I got a reader for the book  and worked with the instructor outside class.
>>I also gave her suggestions to explain things more verbally and 
>>requested she read what she wrote on the board or her worksheets on 
>>the projector. We had worksheets to fill in the blank or pick the right answer.
>>She got a little better. But I worked with her a lot toward the end 
>>of the semester so I could understand the concepts before the final.
>>She did not intentially exclude me, but she just had not had a 
>>blind student before.
>>I did not drop the class.  I think staying in it not only gave me 
>>the knowledge, but gave me the practice of advocacy,
>>developing alternative nonvisual ways of learning, and working 
>>through tough, ambiguous concepts too.
>>Grammar is hard because the same words have different meanings and 
>>parts of speech depending on their use in sentences.
>>
>>Good luck with your classes.
>>I am finishing my internship so will not go to school in the fall; 
>>actually finished undergrad; my time at nova is continuing education.
>>
>>Ashley
>>She explained things auditorily then and we went over examples together.
>>
>>-----Original Message----- From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
>>Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2011 10:19 PM
>>To: nabs at acb.org
>>Subject: Re: [nabs] Fw: Accessibility Questions for MML+
>>
>>Netta
>>
>>It sounds like your school is denying you equal access to education,
>>which they have to supply under Section 504.
>>You can file a case against them through the Department of Education
>>Office of Civil Rights (OCR).
>>First it is recommended you find, and contact, your local ADA center
>>for help and advice on how to proceed
>>Find it at: http://www.adata.org/Static/ContactUs.aspx
>>
>>I can't see how you can get access to the math content if you do not
>>have a reader, do not have an accessible eBook (the math is 99.9%
>>unlikely to be accessible in current eBook formats, only Daisy 3.0
>>book produced by using MathML has a shot at being accessible). So
>>bsically you have no chance in the math class due to the school's
>>failure to provide support and insistance on using inaccessible
>>software platform.
>>Go follow up, you may have to purchse the book and file the receipt
>>with the dsiabilities office, you also should get their denial for
>>reader or other accessible services in writing, but you can contact
>>your local ADA center for a chat even if you haven't done that.
>>Don't let them get way with this, go after your right. You'll be doing
>>all of us a favor by not backing down.
>>Good luck.
>>-Birkir
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