Summary

In this conversation, Evan and Kelvin discuss technology and accommodations for visually impaired students in K-12 and college. They highlight the importance of advocating for accommodations and familiarizing oneself with disability support services. They also discuss the challenges of obtaining textbooks and recommend getting book lists early. Overall, they emphasize the need for preparation and self-advocacy in order to succeed in school. The conversation explores the accessibility of textbooks and navigating in-person and online classes for students with visual impairments. It emphasizes the importance of having legal copies of accessible textbooks and the need to advocate for accessibility in online platforms. The hosts share their experiences with finding classes and accommodations, including using guide dogs and working with disability services. They discuss the challenges of taking tests and the importance of advocating for accessible testing options. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the future of accessibility in education.

Takeaways

Advocacy is crucial for visually impaired students to obtain necessary accommodations in school.

Knowing the disability support services at your school and how they work is important for accessing accommodations.

Transitioning from high school to college can be challenging, and it is important to be prepared and familiar with the support services available.

Obtaining accessible textbooks can be a challenge, and it is recommended to get book lists early and communicate with professors and disability services.

Preparation and self-advocacy are key to success in school for visually impaired students. Having legal copies of accessible textbooks is important to comply with copyright law.

Building a good relationship with disability services can lead to better accommodations.

Training guide dogs to navigate campus can help with finding classes.

Advocacy is necessary to ensure accessibility in online platforms and testing options.

The future of accessibility in education should involve easily accessible textbooks and online platforms.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

06:39 Navigating Technology and Accommodations for Visually Impaired Students

11:45 The Importance of Advocacy in Obtaining Accommodations

15:12 Transitioning from High School to College: Challenges and Preparation

19:40 Challenges of Obtaining Accessible Textbooks

21:39 Preparation and Self-Advocacy for Success in School

25:38 Finding Classes and Accommodations

27:34 Navigating Campus with Guide Dogs

30:17 Advocating for Accessibility in Online Platforms

42:10 The Future of Accessibility in Education

Thank you for listening to this episode of BLT. If you have nay questions, please let us know by giving us a phone call at (720) 712-8856, or you can email us at [email protected]. Have a great week.