A Guide to Accommodations for Blind and Visually Impaired College Students

Welcome back! I am so glad you could come visit Aries and me in our little corner of the internet!

Remember when I promised you that I would create a post about what kind of disability accommodations one can request at his or her college? Well, here it is! This is a list that I have put together of common accommodations that are requested.

Please, by no means use this as a set-in-stone list for you individually, as you know what you need and what you do not need. Use this, however, as a guide for you to get ideas and learn what would best work for you.

Alright, let's go!

Extended Time For Tests:

While this one may seem unnecessary, I have found this one to be helpful. When I first considered this one, I did not think I would need it. I tend to take quizzes and tests rather quickly. Why should I need extended time?

Well, even though I rarely, if ever used this tool, I always had it in place just incase something happened. For example, if my assistive technology was not working properly, or if there were images or graphs which took a bit of time for someone to describe to me. The extended time gave me the assurance that if something unexpected happened, I could still get through the assignment.

Reader and Scribe:

Throughout my college life, I have learned that not all quizzes and tests will be online. Even if they are, sometimes the program that is used is not accessible to someone who cannot see it. Having a reader and scribe can help in these situations.

Alternative Textbooks:

Unfortunately, there are classes with paperback books only. I have had these classes, and they are annoying. Having the alternative textbooks accommodation in place definitely helped me succeed in these classes. Usually, these will come in the form of an electronically scanned copy, or a speech synthesis audio book. If you want the books in braille, it is best to request this format several months in advance.

In-Class Visual Assistant:

I am going to draw from my experiences again.

I never thought I would need someone to go into a class with me as a visual assistant. I am so independent that I struggle with asking for help. One particular class I took, however, did not have all the materials in an accessible format to me. The class was full of worksheets that were to be filled out in class. Having someone with me to write down my answers definitely helped.

I have heard that science classes tend to be this way. You may not need the extra help, or you may be like me and find out three weeks into the class that you do need the help. Either way, this accommodation is available.

Escort:

This can be especially helpful in the first couple weeks of classes. You may have learned the routes over the summer, and you know these routes very well, but add 1500 people to the mix and it is a different story. Having someone there to help you navigate the halls until you know your way around a bit better can be a big help.

Assigned Seating:

This one is helpful if you have some usable vision. You can ask to be put near the front where you can see better. This can also be helpful if you use a cane and can get to a certain desk better than the other desks in the room. Perhapse you have assistive technology that needs to be plugged in at all times, and you cannot sit in the middle of the room where there are no outlets. There are several scenarios in which this can be a beneficial accommodation for you.

Guide/Service Dog:

This is not really an accommodation, but it is always good to let the college staff and security know that you will have a certified service dog on the campus with you. This can also be put in your accommodations letter to let your professors know that you will have a dog entering the class with you.

There you have it. I hope this has given you ideas on what kind of accommodations you can request for your individual needs. Please note, however, that not all of these will be available at all colleges. It never hurts to ask, though.

What accommodations have you requested, or heard about? Leave your thoughts in the comments! I would love to hear your comments and suggestions! While you're at it, why not subscribe to my blog so you can get notifications every time I post something new!

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That's all from Aries and me! Have a wonderful weekend, and I will catch you in the next post.