Category: Cram Session
I enjoy public school -- but it has it's problems. At school I am often so concerned with "Getting the materials I need" than actually doing the work. I'm in honors classes, and I make straight A's for the most part. But Life would be a lot easier If my work was just handed to me -- rather than me hunting for it.
The other kids recieve their work; it's passed out in class. Ther'es not accesibility problems, and all the pretty pictures in colors in their textbook's don't bother them. But geting what I need is like it's own job for me. I'm constantly wondering "how" I'm going to get that worksheet (Most of my work is attached through e-mail,) "If" jaws will read the worksheet when I download it from my e-mail. If it's in columns and rows -- or If it's a powerpoint or some other crap that jaws screws up with. If the e-mail system works at all, If the on-line textbook that we use will be read by my screen reader. Most textbook's are online now, and most of them are full of pictures and images. If it's in braille, will it be brailled in time? If not, will I have enough time to do it? ETC ETC.
It gives me so much trouble. Instead of worying about "doing" the work, I'm always wondering "If" I can do the work given to me. Anyone else face similar problems in public school?
Brice
Hi Brice, I don't have problems like this, but i know of plenty of people who do. I would talk to your parents or teachers and see if they can't get some system set into place to help you get your materials faster. Just tell them the problem you're having and I'm sure they'll try to help you. You shouldn't have to worry about stuff like that. As you say, your sighted peers don't have to so why should you? One godo thing about all thsi though is that it's making you a biger person, and you'll be a good advocate for yourself when you're older. Knowing how to find things and do things yourself is essential, you know. Anyway, sorry i can't be of more help. Good luck. :D
Caitlin
yes and unfortunately, not a wholelot you can do about it, but suck it up and do your best. You might like cait said, talk to someone see if something a little more efficient could be worked out, but when instructors don't have set lesson plans or worksheets, things are often only thought up the night before, thus limiting your time to get it in accessible format in time
I suppose it wouldn't be so hard If the educational system didn't insist that everything be so visual for sighted kids. Like the spanish books is practically a picture book, only so that sighted kids don't have to read as much, so they can just look at the pictures. It' supposed to keep their concentration levels higher, I guess. Sad, I know.
Thanks for the advice. Maybe as the year goes on thing's'll wind down a bit. School administration doesn't seem to help when I need something -- for some reason a school system that continously gets rated as one of the best in the country can't do anything for it's students. Teachers work with me, so it's not a huge deal I suppose. Thanks.
Brice
I wasn't in public school (full-time), but was at a university, where I had as many readers as I needed. Some were found with help from the school's department that handles tutoring. I found others by making a request at the beginning of the semester, in each of my classes. Classmates and people who took classes before me made decent readers, for the most part. My programming classes were mostly handled online. Regarding text books, how much lead-time can you get? If your reader is a classmate, you can share hers/his.
Good Luck,
Dave
If your in the US, the teachers, and yes school, are required to work with you from what I understand. One thing a few of my teachers did was gave me homework out of the book when they did handouts with the class, and do you have a braille teacher? Someone who is responsible for making sure you get what you need and as on time as possible? That also might help, and the school, as far as I understand, is required to pay for such an individual. I had little to know problems in school do to the fact that my Mom was always certain to make sure I got all, or most of, what I needed. Also, if your in the US, have you checked into RFB&D; Recording for the Blind and Dislexic, or NLS; National Library Service?
As for the Spanish books, have a fellow student describe the illustrations to you, or have the teacher. Or have the teacher send descriptions to the braillists or what she wants you to get outo f the pictures...Hang in there man.
Caitlin
Wow. The whole "Writing Maps" thing sounds really complicated.
I hear what you're going through in public school, though. I went to a public school, and I felt like I was always scrambling. More often than not, I had a lot less time to do things than the other students because the materials never got to me in time. That was back in the mid-90's, so we didn't rely so heavily on the Internet. I remember one year, we were reading a book in English class. They ordered the book in Braille, and it came in one volume at a time. Of course, the first volume took over a month to get to me, so I had to have a friend read the book aloud. As soon as we'd finish a certain chapter, that's when the Braille volume of that same chapter would arrive.
You need to stop complaining, get up, and start being aggressive. If you are not assertive with your teachers, you won't get what you want, that's ust the way it is. So get off your ass and go smash those peoples' heads in.
Johny
Yeah, I think you're doing the right thing. I know what it's like to not have things in braille, but fortunately I have totally awesome vision teachers. I think that if teachers don't have a proposed way to get your assignments in braille, you should ask them how they expect you to do them. From what you're talking about though, you are doing the right thing, and you seem extremely motivated and ready to do whatever it takes, and that's the most important thing. Keep that up!
When I first started High School, the teachers had a bit of a problem getting assignments to me on time. However, by my Sophomore year they became very accomodating and gave me or my TVI the assignments well in advance. It is also helpful if at the beginning of the year or semester you gave all your teachers an intro letter. In it you explain all the accommodations you need, and this should help quite a bit.
Good luck,
Sandra
I get most of my stuff in braille or read aloud. (I'm in high school) When I go to college though, I intend to get a victor reader or a scanner or something. Boy I'd love for my teachers to e-mail me my worksheets. Even if I had to copy and paste it into word or something, I'd take that over all the braille any day.
Math is hard, and I do have a problem getting the books I need on time. I have a braillest and she does the puff paint thing for some math stuff, but we use the book for others.
Violence isn’t the answer, and never will. Sometimes it might take manipulation and persuasion, but you got to tempt them.
Jaws doesn’t screw up power points, try the JAWS cursor if necessary, and if you are having trouble with PDFs like I did you would need to use that scanner program (curswelld, I believe that’s how you spell it) to help you change from a pdf format to a readable format.
However with school things, make sure they do, get people involved and tell them how it will benefit everyone if they would do it in time for you.
You haven’t learnt how those maps and things or flow charts goes? I just usually write out an outline like this:
Confucius:
Both:
Daoism
Or for flow charts and all
First:
Second:
Third:
Fourth:
Fifth:
Sixth:
So those maps is adoptable. Instead of maps and charts, just write it out. That’s what I do with timelines.