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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=843592218-16042008><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Very cool, Susan! Thanks!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><!-- Converted from text/plain format --><BR><BR>
<P><FONT size=2>Jim Marks<BR>Director of Disability Services<BR>University of
Montana<BR>jim.marks@umontana.edu<BR><A
href="http://www.umt.edu/dss/">http://www.umt.edu/dss/</A><BR> </FONT> </P>
<DIV> </DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> athen-bounces@athenpro.org
[mailto:athen-bounces@athenpro.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Kelmer, Susan
M.<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, April 16, 2008 7:44 AM<BR><B>To:</B> Access
Technologists in Higher Education Network<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Athen] Screen
readers/other software<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Jim Said:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">“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: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">My
comments:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">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: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">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: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">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: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">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: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">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: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">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 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Susan
Kelmer</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Adaptive
Technology Specialist<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Coordinator,
Campus Labs and Classrooms/IAL<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Technology
and Educational Support Services/<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Campus
Technology Support Services</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">St.
Louis Community College at Meramec</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">314/984-7951</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>