Your rights

[Guest guest]

Hi Lee,

I went through a lot of the same things when I was in college getting

my degree in Occupational Therapy Assisting. Mind you OT is a REHAB

career, so you'd think they'd have a *clue* about helping people.

Had one chemistry teacher leave a lesson on tape in the library.

Audio tape. So I asked how I was supposed to understand that since I was

reading lips, and couldn't do that from audio. He told me that "

will be more than happy to take notes for you. " So I said, " You know,

that's real nice of to take notes for me, but it's not her job to do

that. It is YOUR job to provide me with a transcript of the lesson. You

knew from the first day that I am deaf, and had these requirements. "

Oops. Then it was " Nobody can transcribe the medical terminology " So my

reply was, " Get a medical transcriptionist " Because the bottom line is

if I cannot understand what is being said, I cannot be TESTED on it

either.

I always started out very nice, but I never gave up until I got the

accomodations I needed. As I reminded every one of my teachers, " I may

be the first deaf student you've ever had. But I can guarantee you I

will NOT be the LAST " . We are everywhere. Learn to cope.

The Equal Opportunity in Education Act came before the ADA, and it

guarantees equal access to educational settings. THAT is your basis for

accomodatioins.

BTW, I graduated Summa Cum Laude. And all the movies and tapes we had

as part of Occupational Therapy are now transcribed for those who come

after me.

Nucleus Volunteer

Thank you. The advocate said most likely, because they are so used to

deaf

accepting anything that was offered, they are not used to have a vocal

one

(me) standing up for what I need.

Lee

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