The Other Side of Disabilities
The Office for Students with Disabilities
Newsletter
Division of Student Affairs
Volume VII, Issue 2 April 2006 Editor: James Walborn
OSD VOLUNTEER BANQUET
On April 27th the OSD held our Volunteer Banquet with a
Chinese New Years theme to thank the 349 volunteers who assisted
students with disabilities in the past academic year, and for
those students who may consider volunteering in the future. Most
of the volunteers are notetakers who have provided copies of
their own class notes to students whose disabilities do not allow
them to accurately take their own notes. Other volunteers provide
numerous tasks for the office.
Speakers included Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr.
Newsome, two thankful OSD students, and a volunteer who wished to
share some thoughts. FAU Professor Yajiong Xue introduced the
entertainment, Lee Koon Hung Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu Association who
are a Chinese troupe of traditional dancers who demonstrated the
Chinese New Years line dance. The dance symbolically encourages
good fortune, friendship, and good will. Many giveaways and
raffle items were provided and traditional Chinese fare was
furnished by Chartwells. All of us give special thanks to the SGA
for funding this event.
CLARIFICATION
There has been some
concern from individuals within the FAU community regarding the
approval of certain classroom accommodations for students with
disabilities. Often this involves the audio recording of classes.
Some professors fear that this violates their copyright rights to
their material which they may be preparing for publication, while
others fear that what they say in class might turn up in a
lawsuit against them. Professors with the first concern will be
gratified to know that the student can sign a waiver declaring
that they will only use the audio recordings for study purposes,
which will be destroyed at the end of the semester. Those with
the second concern who refuse the audio recording of their class
are in violation of Federal law. They are far more likely to be
sued for discrimination than what they discuss in the classroom.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 specifically cites
the recording of classes as an example of an accommodation which
cannot be refused.
The OSD Counselors at FAU have the expertise to determine
what support services are required to ensure that reasonable
accommodations are provided to allow this population an equal
opportunity to learn in the classroom setting. Professors with
concerns are encouraged to contact the OSD for advice and
clarification.
DAVIE PREPARING
STUDENTS
OSD Associate Director, Amy Schwartz Parker collaborated with the CDC on the Davie Campus for three workshops on March 22nd, March 27th, and April 4th for students with disabilities, as well as any other interested students. Topics were Resume Writing, Interviewing Techniques, and Job Search.
LEARNING THROUGH
LISTENING
Recordings for the
Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D), an agency whose volunteers record
textbooks in an audio format for print-disabled students, has
opened a new recording studio at FAU within the last year. The 40
to 60 volunteers at the new studio produce textbooks in a digital
format, on CD’s. The disc may hold up to 45 hours of spoken
text and, by using a specialized player, the student has almost
instant access to any page, chapter, or paragraph on the disc.
Often RFB&D staff will hold a "Learning Through
Listening Hour," in which new volunteers are able to meet each
other, meet the staff, and meet guests who use RFB&D
textbooks. At the March "Learning Through Listening Hour," the
special guests who shared their stories were OSD staff members
James Walborn and Jill Brondolo. They are both legally blind and
required the use of RFB&D textbooks to assist them in earning
their Master’s Degrees from FAU.
LEARNING SPECIALIST
The OSD Counselors
refer students who may benefit from acquiring study strategies to
Learning Specialist, Jill Brondolo. Jill helps students learn
time management, organizational skills, improve their reading
comprehension or writing skills, or show them memory techniques.
"I meet with the students and try to find out what works and what
does not work for them. Some learn best by auditory processing
(listening) while others may learn best by visual processing
(reading)."
Occasionally she sees students to help them organize their
writing projects, while she meets with others on a more regular
basis. Jill notes, "Sometimes just knowing that they will be
meeting with someone motivates them to be more organized, hence
creating an accountability factor."
Jill also helps train students who require assistive
technology or who utilize RFB&D audio textbooks. "I really
enjoy working with students," Jill confides. She earned her
Master’s Degree in Education from FAU in 1995 and has been
an OSD employee for 2 ½ years.
CONGRATULATIONS
GRADUATES
The OSD would like to
congratulate all students graduating this May including those who
have disabilities. We thought that you might be interested in
some of their stories.
Ashley Skellenger, who has been blind from birth, will
earn her BS in Social Work. Graduating FAU brings her full circle
as President Brogan was also her elementary school principal. She
hopes to earn her MSW degree from FSU and work with children. "I
don’t consider my blindness as a disability. I’ve
learned alternative techniques like traveling with a cane,
reading braille, and using screen reading software." When not
pursuing her hobbies of pottery and the violin, Ashley volunteers
for many causes including raising money for hurricane relief and
educating others about disability by assisting with OSD
presentations.
Joshua Bratt will receive his BS Degree in Biological
Science. Despite having problems with short-term memory
functions, memorization, severe headaches, and other
complications caused by Lyme Disease, he was the Speaker of the
SGA Senate on the Boca Raton Campus. "I have learned so much from
being here and I know for a fact that all of these lessons will
help me in the "real world" to come after graduation." He is
applying to dental schools around the country.
Ivy Berry, who is profoundly deaf, will earn her BA in
Anthropology. "I like to educate ‘hearing people’
about deafness," Ivy explains. She currently teaches American
Sign Language at Jupiter High School. "Teaching is my passion."
Her husband, an architect, and their son are also deaf. "We want
to show that we are capable of everything like everyone
else."
NEW OMBUDSMAN
Patty Singer is the new
FAU Ombudsman. She has worked for FAU for 20 years in a wide
variety of positions. "Being an Ombudsman is to be someone who is
totally objective that can make sure that there’s fair
practices going on," Patty states, thoughtfully. "You always have
to have an open mind because there may be some stone that was
left unturned that you can work with, and turn it into a win
situation for the University as well as for that person."
Likes? "I like to play tennis, practice yoga; I do a lot
of crafts and reading - I really enjoy nature. I almost have too
many hobbies."
Dislikes? "Sometimes people don’t treat each other
with as much respect that I think people should have. No matter
what the issue is, respect should always be there."
Anything unusual in the refrigerator? "Oh, not too many
people will have this. I’ve been going to school as
I’ve been working, and I will graduate in spring
commencement. The night before last my daughter made me a pizza
in the shape of a commencement cap - the mortarboard, tassel, and
the whole deal." Yumm!
________________________________________
We want to encourage
comments and contributions from our readers. Please address any
comments to jwalborn@fau.edu. Feel free to share this newsletter
with friends and colleagues. Current and past issues are
available on the web at www.fau.edu/osd.
This newsletter is available in alternate format upon
request from the Office for Students with Disabilities. Boca
Campus: SU 133; phone (561) 297-3880, TTY (561) 297-0358. Davie
Campus: MD I, Room 104; phone (954) 236-1222, TTY (954) 236-1146.
