[Athen] visually impaired student in a circuitry class

[Schwarte, David M.]

Hello Robert,

I occasionally do some soldering using a CCTV.  The challenge is that the CCTV does not allow for depth perception.  This is actually not quite as challenging on a circuit board since all of the solders are on the same level.  

Many years ago, when I took an Electrical Engineering class with a lab, I talked with the instructor about the requirement for identifying the colors.  The requirement was that I be able to identify resisters, capacitors etc. by their color codes.  I received an oral quiz on the correct color codes for various components.  Since we worked in pairs for the class, I would tell my lab partner the color code to pick out from the box and he/she would pick it out.  This fulfilled the requirements of the class. If I were to do this type of thing outside of class, I would have an extensive organization for the components so I would not need to read their color codes.  This class used bread boards and did not require soldering.

I used my own multimeter with a large display and a second camera on the CCTV to read the controls and displays of the oscilloscope and wave generator.  I now have a PC-based Oscilloscope that I can use with ZoomText that is much easier to use than using the second camera.  The instructor actually had no problem with me using my own multimeter.  One feature of the class was to understand the limitation of the multimeter and know when its readings were not useable.  Since there were several sections of the lab, many of us had heard information about what to expect from others.  I actually had to determine the limitations of my multimeter myself.  In other words I came closer to fulfilling the requirements of the class than many of the students in my lab section.

Just a few thoughts.
David Schwarte
 


-----Original Message-----
From: athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Beach
Sent: Friday, December 06, 2013 1:37 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network
Subject: RE: [Athen] visually impaired student in a circuitry class

This student only has periphrial vision and not much of that.  He can see some, but I'm not sure a magnifier would enlarge enough to see the parts to solder.

I'm thinking he would direct the lab assistant on what needs to be soldered and give directions on how to do this rather than actually do the work.  Although, I can ask him about a magnifier to see if he thinks that would work.

Keep the ideas coming.  I like it and it's helping me too.

Thanks.


Robert Lee Beach
Assistive Technology Specialist
Kansas City Kansas Community College
7250 State Avenue
Kansas City, KS  66112
913-288-7671
rbeach at kckcc.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Doug Hayman
Sent: Friday, December 06, 2013 12:17 PM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network
Subject: RE: [Athen] visually impaired student in a circuitry class

I'd imagine that a person who studies this then takes the skills into the real world might not have to do soldering in their job.

Perhaps using a larger blank circuit board mounted with magnifier or maybe those glasses surgeons use for detail work would show that the student learns the concepts, soldering technique.  Then if he designed circuits they'd likely get jobbed out and done with automation, right?

Too often instructors, and the general public first go to the place of "Oh my God!  What would I do if I was [blind, deaf, spinal cord injured]" and their fear overrides creative thinking along the lines of "How would I do A if I lacked this capability but still had these other capabilities?"

I know I'm preaching to the choir of others who have had to think outside of the box.  Sounds like the instructor needs to broaden his/her perspective of what people with disabilities can do.


Doug Hayman <dhayman at u.washington.edu>
Senior Computer Specialist
DO-IT Program (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, Technology) UW Technology Services Box 354842 Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 221-4165
http://www.washington.edu/doit

On Fri, 6 Dec 2013, Robert Beach wrote:


> In the first course, the student will be using bread boards.  In the second course, they will be doing soldering.  They do need to assemble items.

>

> I can send the lab outline if that would help.  I just didin't want to use too much band width. <grin>  I actually have the syllabus for both classes.

>

> I'm thinking a lab assistant such as we've used for biology labs and such may be helpful.  Any thoughts?

>

>

>

> Robert Lee Beach

> Assistive Technology Specialist

> Kansas City Kansas Community College

> 7250 State Avenue

> Kansas City, KS  66112

> 913-288-7671

> rbeach at kckcc.edu

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu 

> [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of 

> Doug Hayman

> Sent: Friday, December 06, 2013 11:11 AM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

> Subject: Re: [Athen] visually impaired student in a circuitry class

>

> What are the general requirements to take part in the class?

>

> Will be be assembling things with capacitors, resistors and such?

> Soldering or using a breadboard?

>

> My vision is getting worse [at 53] and when I dabbled a bit in that realm needed to use a magnifying lense to properly identify capacitors as those colored bands are a challenge to see. And in a recent soldering class offered through a member of the Audio Engineering Society here in the Seattle area, many  other audio geeks were using those clamps that also have magnifiers on them.

>

> Just trying to picture the required tasks and how they could be accomodated.

>

>

>

> Doug Hayman <dhayman at u.washington.edu> Senior Computer Specialist 

> DO-IT Program (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, 

> Technology) UW Technology Services Box 354842 Seattle, WA 98195

> (206) 221-4165

> http://www.washington.edu/doit

>

> On Fri, 6 Dec 2013, Robert Beach wrote:

>

>> Hi all,

>>

>> We have a visually impaired student enrolled in our audio engeneering program who needs to take two circuitry classes.  Unfortunately, the instructor is very, very, resistant to having this student in his class.  He claims it is a safety risk that puts the college at high risk of liability.  In fact, the student was enrolled and went to the first day of classes and the instructor talked him out of the class.

>>

>> Now the dean of the program is wanting to know if there is anyway we can accommodate the student so that he can finish the program.  I think most of the two classes (especially the first one) can be accommodated, but I've never had to do this before.  Has anybody dealt with such an issue?  Any pointers would be appreciated.

>>

>>

>> Robert Lee Beach

>> Assistive Technology Specialist

>> Kansas City Kansas Community College

>> 7250 State Avenue

>> Kansas City, KS  66112

>> 913-288-7671

>> rbeach at kckcc.edu

>>

>>

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