Accommodations At A Technical College

HappinessCounts said:
I found out that they know about VR funding for a new FM System, so now they are hanging on to that. They want me to try that and see how it goes for a few weeks. Nothing was mentioned about the speech-to-text software that they said they were working on. Nothing was mentioned regarding the note taker according to the teacher. I believe I will be dropping out due to lack of proper accommodations, and I don't want to owe money if for some reason it's not working later because I am using grants. If I decide to return later, obviously I will have to formally complain. I will think about it. I tried to solve this as quickly as I could. They were at fault for not responding to me before the start of school.
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Man I really feel for you , I was hoping for a better outcome for you.
 
HappinessCounts said:
You don't have to officially have this written on paper? Colleges have a formal accommodations paper for students to sign and give to instructors. This technical school had nothing. I spoke to the director. They don't have an official person that handles disability needs.
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I don't see why you would have to do anything formal if a classmate is willing to let you have a copy of their notes. The story I told above about a classmate of mine borrowing my notes from the previous year was something that she just asked me about. I don't know who, if anyone else knew about it. It was common back then (1960's) to borrow notes from someone else especially if you happened to miss a class or knew they kept up better about something presented fast, etc.
 
Yeah, I know but that's different borrowing notes from missed class etc. This is something I do understand and your personal choice to have given your notes to your classmate for next class.

This is someone with hearing issue and you want someone assigned to take notes of anything important. This school wanted me to rely on FM System and you never know what you could miss knowing you are a lipreader. Even lipreading and FM system, I can miss words I totally don't understand even with repetition. They wanted teacher to repeat back what students said. Teacher had to get used to it. I think the school is placing a burden on the teacher to be responsible for my understanding of the class lectures and discussions.
 
HappinessCounts said:
Yeah, I know but that's different borrowing notes from missed class etc. This is something I do understand and your personal choice to have given your notes to your classmate for next class.

This is someone with hearing issue and you want someone assigned to take notes of anything important. This school wanted me to rely on FM System and you never know what you could miss knowing you are a lipreader. Even lipreading and FM system, I can miss words I totally don't understand even with repetition. They wanted teacher to repeat back what students said. Teacher had to get used to it. I think the school is placing a burden on the teacher to be responsible for my understanding of the class lectures and discussions.
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That going to awkward having the teacher repeat a student and the teacher may not repeat everything that was said . If the student stood up while talking would help you be able to try and read their lips ? This sound like some that would happen when I was going to school in the 60's you would think schools would be more advance today !
 
I know! I find that students are hard to understand. I don't know why? I think they just don't speak as clear as the instructors and everyone's reacting and I was feeling so left out :( It's an awful feeling. There's no way the teacher can repeat back everything. Makes me so angry that even if I explained this they don't care. They want to accommodate free of charge as possible with VR paying my FM system. F em all! I am so irritated today.:mad2:
 
HappinessCounts said:
Yeah, I know but that's different borrowing notes from missed class etc. This is something I do understand and your personal choice to have given your notes to your classmate for next class.

This is someone with hearing issue and you want someone assigned to take notes of anything important. This school wanted me to rely on FM System and you never know what you could miss knowing you are a lipreader. Even lipreading and FM system, I can miss words I totally don't understand even with repetition. They wanted teacher to repeat back what students said. Teacher had to get used to it. I think the school is placing a burden on the teacher to be responsible for my understanding of the class lectures and discussions.
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I went to a business school for my computer programming diploma... I wound up using my FM system- over the course I had 3 teachers (2 taught multiple courses over the 7 months period)... 2 of them were more than happy to help and sometimes did repeat back what the students asked or said. Once in a while 1 teacher would even forget he was wearing it.. 'overheard' a conversation between him and a student outside of the classroom lol. Bonus was I could still hear the lecture when i had to visit the little boys room lol.

anyway.. some info..
http://www.accreditedschoolsonline....leges-schools-for-students-with-disabilities/

http://www.pacer.org/publications/adaqa/504.asp

according to the second link vocational schools (Technical college- not sure exactly what school it is)...DOES fall under the ADA law. The school doesn't have to have a 'dedicated' person for it but you may have to speak with either the HR or Admissions office to get some headway. In a way I wish I had gone for interpreters but at the time FM system was good enough for me plus lots of reading (and sometimes we spent more time working on the computer than lectures anyway).
 
whatdidyousay! said:
That going to awkward having the teacher repeat a student and the teacher may not repeat everything that was said . If the student stood up while talking would help you be able to try and read their lips ? This sound like some that would happen when I was going to school in the 60's you would think schools would be more advance today !
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Awkward? How? Some teachers may be more willing and happy to. At least 2 of mine would and sometimes did.
I don't think asking the student to stand up would not do a damn thing to be honest. Lipreading three rows away is a giant challenge and would not work very well (especially if the deaf/HOH person is NOT skilled). I don't think the idea would go over well either. Last time anyone had to stand up in class to give an answer was what... 2nd grade?

HappinessCounts said:
I know! I find that students are hard to understand. I don't know why?
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I had the same issue-- my theory is because of how the classroom is set up- traditional teacher in front rows of students... in that situation you are going to not be able to hear students on the other end of the room. I always had that problem (and the voice didn't carry to the mic :P). Doesn't help if the size of the classroom is BIG or if the acoustics (sound) is HORRIBLE (older rooms are like that).
 
I am not sure it's because of the set up. Some people are just really hard to understand because of how they talk. You have better hearing than I do, and I feel the school thinks my hearing's not bad if I read lip them so well. One time the teacher asked everyone to face me to say their names. I didn't catch most people's names. Names are hard to understand. I just nodded. I just cannot understand them. What am I supposed to do? They just don't seem understanding at all. I felt the school protected the school than me at all. It was a nightmare.
 
ah.. my hearing is actually in the profound range- 90db+ these days. Just one of those "oral success stories" people love to go on about...to the point people don't believe me when I say I'm deaf. It was challenging yes. I have trouble with names and it took a lot of repetition to get their names. Thankfully our class was small by they time we graduated. I still don't know half the class' names when we first started- to give you an idea- started with about 28 people. Ended with 14.
 
HappinessCounts said:
I am not sure it's because of the set up. Some people are just really hard to understand because of how they talk. You have better hearing than I do, and I feel the school thinks my hearing's not bad if I read lip them so well. One time the teacher asked everyone to face me to say their names. I didn't catch most people's names. Names are hard to understand. I just nodded. I just cannot understand them. What am I supposed to do? They just don't seem understanding at all. I felt the school protected the school than me at all. It was a nightmare.
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What state is the school in , it sound it's behind in time. It's too bad you couldn't get a friend or someone from your family to take note for you. I agree , hearing people just don't get it . :(
 
HappinessCounts said:
I am not sure it's because of the set up. Some people are just really hard to understand because of how they talk. You have better hearing than I do, and I feel the school thinks my hearing's not bad if I read lip them so well. One time the teacher asked everyone to face me to say their names. I didn't catch most people's names. Names are hard to understand. I just nodded. I just cannot understand them. What am I supposed to do? They just don't seem understanding at all. I felt the school protected the school than me at all. It was a nightmare.
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Setup another meeting, maybe with your teachers and the director. Show them, with like a video or so. Be straight about just how little you get with the current equipment and really offer them to find solutions together.

There are other people here better suited to advice you on how to exactly express your feeling on this.

The only thing I really want to add persistance is the key, keep trying, forcing them to think about it. Or escalate, there is always another level.

But do it in mutual respect and with a positive attitude
 
Even though I explained to them, they wanted me to try it because they say technology changes. I have tried the FM Phonak. It doesn't really change much other than get smaller and wireless. I spoke with her and explained to her already, but she's set in her ways. It's like talking to someone who is in denial. It really bugs me that she's telling me what's best for me. I feel treated like a child at this school. They wanted me to try it and see what happens in a few weeks, but I felt they are just leading me on. A few weeks and then a few weeks and then..???????????? I don't trust that they will work with me. I don't want to try the FM System while I start a program because if it doesn't work out, and I have to leave the program, I am stuck with the bill of an incomplete program.

Isn't VR supposed to advocate for you?
 
In that case maybe VR could help-- explain the whole situation to them and see what they say. Don't know where you are from but there might also be disability advocate organizations other than VR that might be able to help as well (including lawyers).
 
I did mention it to my VR counselor and asked her to call them about it. She basically just repeated the same thing the school told me. Counselor said they can buy me an FM system and that the school say they cannot afford it. Did nothing to advocate for me. I have just now changed to a counselor that works with deaf people but I haven't met him yet. I do plan to ask him for a second opinion. I want to know if the other counselor should have done more for me.
 
You may want to try contacting the National Disability Rights Network. They may be able to provide you and advocate without fee to help get you the accommodations you need. I have never used them so I can't say from experience but it sounds like they may need an attorney to tell them they are violating your rights at this point.

http://www.ndrn.org/en/ndrn-member-agencies.html
 
Thank you. I am going to look into it. Right now, I am in between and trying to figure out whether I want to return to that school or find another job that will train me in the workplace. I dislike this in between mode. :( I'd like to complain :smash: even if I never return to that school. I had left a p/t job a little in advance to go to that school due to hours conflict. I thought everything would go fine until first day of orientation they call me after too late to talk about it. They may be afraid to be sued or something.
 
I think it would be good to complain even if you don't go back to the school . It just might made them think twice about doing this to another deaf or hoh student .
 
The technical college for which I interpreted had a department for student with disabilities, staffed with specialized counselors. The procedure was that prior to the beginning of each semester the student would meet with a counselor and discuss what accommodations would be needed and could be provided. Each student's needs were different. After determining which accommodations would be used (including terp services, if needed), then the counselor listed all those things in an email that was sent to each of the student's instructors. The instructors were required to follow those accommodations, no more, no less. It was optional if the instructor wanted to go above and beyond the listed accommodations. For example, some of them did that by providing their notes on-line and/or in advance to the student and terp.
 
This technical school only have one counselor. What you mention is exactly what I expected to follow through but there was no paperwork. What you describe is what is done at a college level school. Everything at this school was verbal. According to them they were giving me accommodation by having the teacher face me and me use the FM System VR would provide and have the teacher repeat after students according to their hearing impaired specialist for the school area. They trust their expert on what's best for me. I remember they had a hearing impaired specialist of some kind at public schools, and they treat you like an underage person. Really bothered me. No one called me to go over accommodation before school. I told them and had to inquire because I was not hearing back from them, then my email was ignored until last minute.
 
I found out (not through the school) that the school did not provide me an accommodations request form that I was talking about. I saw the actual form. Wonder why they skipped giving me this form? Had I had this form, it could have prevented the run around or late response. Wonder why they did not give me the form when I mentioned my need for accommodations? I did ask for a form. Isn't this some sort of negligence?

Here's an interesting article from Rachel Chaikof on "Choosing a College that is Right for You." Her experience with disability services has been similar to mine. It was an eye opener reading this article because I just cannot believe that a college will resist in accommodating you.
 
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