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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>Jim Said:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'>“So you say
there is a risk. In your opinion, what exactly is that risk? I am
genuinely interested in your saying more about the motivational factors
involved. I am especially interested in your saying more about the
perceived disconnect between the risk and the access.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>My comments:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Risks: Things we want to avoid. Like lawsuits, OCR
complaints, and the local consumer reporter showing up on our campus to grill
us about why we aren’t providing equal access. I never once took
the attitude that “I can’t” or “we can’t”
when it came to adaptive technology. I didn’t need to wait for
advocacy from a student/parent/counselor to get the lab up and running. I
just took it upon myself to do it right to begin with. When I say that
advocacy had nothing to do with it, I mean in a literal sense. I didn’t
wait to be told/asked/cajoled/forced. I just came in and did it to begin
with. There is, in my opinion, absolutely no excuse for saying no when it
comes to adaptive technology. A few hundred dollars for a piece of
software or hardware beats a hundred thousand dollars for an OCR complaint defense.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>What motivated me to do what I did when I came here? I
have three disabled children. One has a learning disability, one has
seizure disorder, and all three have some form of ADD/ADHD. I have a ton
of friends who are disabled, both online friends and real life friends.
When one of my blind friends found out I was coming to work here, he sat me
down and explained to me his biggest issues. He worked for, at the time,
Blazie Engineering, and I picked his brain until we were both bloody. It
was worth every minute, because I came here knowing what needed to be done,
despite the fact that I’d never worked in adaptive technology or disability
services. I took one look at the sad state of this computer lab, and
accommodations being offered, and rolled up my sleeves. I have never
looked back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>My background is in corporate training and management. I
use many of those skills here to assess risk and find solutions to problems
that may not even exist yet. For me, being ahead of the curve is a whole
lot better than being run over by the freight train that is barreling down the
tracks behind me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>One distinct advantage for me is that I do not have a background
that was cramped by budget considerations or can’t-do attitudes. I
do hear this quite a bit when I’m at conferences and even on my own
campus. “We don’t have that in our budget,” or “How
do you find the money?” My answer always is that the money is
there. Don’t be afraid to ask. Don’t be afraid to push
the issue. Under no circumstances should you go begging, hat in hand, to
a dean or vice president or CIO for money. Stand up, be firm, make a
demand, not a request. Be ready to list the risks of not meeting the demand,
but ONLY if you are asked. Do not make excuses or explanations or apologies.
If you act like a second-class citizen, you will be treated like one. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>I realize that for some of our colleagues, this attitude is a
radical shift from how they do business. Their campus culture has inured
them to an attitude of subservience and meekness. I refuse to have that
attitude; I’ve been here almost eight years and have still not bought
into that campus culture. This doesn’t mean I don’t treat
campus management with respect; on the contrary, I’m extremely respectful,
but I am not meek. I state our needs clearly and with an attitude that
they can’t say no. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>When I die, inscribed on my tombstone will be my boss’
favorite phrase regarding me. “I have never won an argument with this
woman.” I consider that a compliment. I do not accept
the word “no” when it comes to accommodating our students. None
of us should.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Susan
Kelmer</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Adaptive
Technology Specialist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Coordinator,
Campus Labs and Classrooms/IAL<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Technology
and Educational Support Services/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Campus
Technology Support Services</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:
"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>St.
Louis Community College at Meramec</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>314/984-7951</span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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