<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">If he's a Braille reader and is proficient, and this is is communication of choice, consider the purchase of a portable refreshable braille display that can be checked out to him on loan for a semester (or term or academic year) at a time. Suggest he follow through with VR ANYWAY, regardless of how much of a PIA it is. It's a necessary tool to invest in his future and worth every small PIA it takes to get the equipment. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">You/he can also check with the state liaison for the AFB or school for the blind and ask about AT resources for the student(s).</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">If your state has a TAP (technology access project) program, it's possible they also offer low interest technology loans for students to purchase their own tech.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">If it were me, I'd push for VR's help. They are amazing, even with limited resources, and any blind student going in has a great potential of being funded for the technology. In my experience, anyway.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br>My thoughts...</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Wink Harner</div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div>Wink Harner<br></div>Accessibility Consultant/Alternative Text Production<br></div>The Foreign Type<br><br></div></div>Portland OR<br><a href="mailto:foreigntype@gmail.com" target="_blank">foreigntype@gmail.com</a><br>480-984-0034<br><br></div><div>This email was dictated using Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Please forgive quirks, misrecognitions, or errata .<br></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 2:02 PM Deborah Armstrong <<a href="mailto:armstrongdeborah@fhda.edu">armstrongdeborah@fhda.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal">We got a new blind student whose high school IEP includes a Braille display as one of his requirements.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He isn’t hard of hearing and he’s fairly good with technology.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I love Braille displays but they are so expensive, so fragile and have such a steep learning curve, I hesitate to ask my dean for the funding to purchase one. I get a Braille reader maybe once every two years, if that. And our IT guys will
have lots of fun figuring out how to configure it. Plus there’s the concern it could be stolen.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The logical solution is to have rehab purchase it, but the student has already stated he doesn’t want to go through rehab because it’s a hassle. It really can be at least in California where you need long justifications and lots of tedious
meetings to accomplish anything.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I feel a little like a hypocrite as I use mine extensively every day. But I’m thinking about the college and the best ways to use limited funds.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I spoke with the student I was careful to talk only about speech; he may not know what it says in his IEP. Am I short-changing him, or is it wise to not try to get one unless he really needs it?<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">--Debee<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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