Dear colleagues
I am very impressed by the quality of contributions and indeed also by
the variety of work we do these days.
I think that the question of reasonable accommodations for blind
students is better resolved where a teaching institution has a
properly equipped resource centre. The aim would be not so much to
attach a person to the student on a fulltime basis but rather to
provide support on the basis of need. However, as I said, each
student's needs have to be assessed and accommodated accordingly.
We do need to discuss the question of accommodations, but we should do
it in a manner inclusive of all disabilities, since responses would be
better dealt with that way.
What exactly does Serem propose? Is there a link I should look at?
The question of accommodations in private enterprises should be of
great concern. I do not know if any of the disabled employees hired by
Safaricom are still working there? As I understood it, line managers
put those employees under such pressure that many of them left. Do
private businesses even know they may claim tax waivers when they have
disabled employees?
Finally, for those of us who are employed, let me play devil's
advocate: you do already receive some tax exemption. Is that the money
you should be using for purposes of subsidizing an aide?
Lawrence
On 4/18/16, Victor Kamau <citrov.amuka@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Laura:
My name is Victor Kamau. I understand what you are saying, in fact I am
amazed you are sticking to maths and finance. I wish you a lot of success in
your studies and in general.
Kind regards
Victor
-----Original Message-----
From: sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Laura Etori
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2016 2:10 PM
To: sopvid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sopvid] Re: Discussion on guides and personal assistants for the
VI
hi again,
dr. Samuel
sorry I forgot to mention this, for me I recently got blind so for
exams like math and finance when I need someone to write my
calculations I use a scribe, since I am not proficient in nemith code.
yes, the accommodation to type my own exam is given, but in this case
when I do any exam that requires graphing, calculations and the like I
write my work on a scrap paper, since I remember to use normal
handwriting and explain to my scribe how to arrange the work neatly
for the sake of organization and just in case he made any mistake I
always hand in my scrap paper for the professor to re-check if it is
in order with what I was doing.
other students who can use nemith code and braille do so.
the scribe's function is also like a note taker, for instance in class
I prefer to listen to my lectures other than listen to my computer as
I type while listening to the professor, as there is a lot of
destruction. normally the scribe would take down the notes and the
professor will take a look at them before they send them to me for
use. also the scribe helps me in case we have course work especially
for math, econ, finance that is on an online website that is not
accessible. such websites that have not put into consideration that
they need to eliminate unlabeled buttons, or outline some math
formulars in alternate text. most of these websites that are used to
give assignments especially math are usually in accessible and
sometimes need you to draw some things and some of these functions
need one to use a mouse....
and thanks for acknowledging my input...
On 4/18/16, George Kimani <george99kimani@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Let me jump into the discussion with my 50 cents opinion.
We require reasonable assistance us blind folks is not in doubt or up for
debate. The crux of the matter is to what extent the government, private
sector or for that matter our educational institutions' are ready to
accommodate.
In my work as research officer of the Transition Authority I personally
lobbyed, and/or sometimes pushed the human resource through the CEO to
provide for me a guide/assistant for my effective carrying out of my
work.
This was occasioned by the fact that there is no policy. After numerous
discussions we circumvented this by employing an office assistant who
was
attached to me.
This suffered some initial problems because the assistants who were
employed
might have been good guide but not good for me and my work. This was
solved
by getting someone who understood me as a blind person and had
qualifications
to effectively assist me in my job. Sadly, all my efforts, energy and
time
went down the drain with the institutional memory once the TA lapsed.
We need to approach the relevant institutions especially the SRC, NCPWD,
NGEC KePSA and other stakeholders in earnest. In my short period as a VI
I
quickly understood if you never voice your own issue/challenge nobody
will
do it for you. Let us put pressure to ensure that we have a policy to
operationalise this and give ourselves timelines.
-----Original Message-----
From: sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Samuel Kabue
Sent: 18 April, 2016 09:53 AM
To: sopvid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sopvid] Re: Discussion on guides and personal assistants for
the
VI
Thanks for this reminder. I agree that students also need assistance and
advocacy should be done with the University on this. One thing however
struck me. You have said that you need an assistant to " scribe my
exams".
This reminded me that someone said that University students are
writing
their exams in braille and then other people scribe them. I wonder where
this tradition began because as one of the early blind students in the
University of Nairobi, we always typed our exams on the traditional type
writer even though we could not see what we were typing or even go back
to
correct once you have made a Mistake. I personally felt that this was
much
better because as an A-level student in Thika High School, I wrote my
exam
in braille with the consequent that some of my paper alongside with those
of
two other students who were with me there were misplaced and it took ages
to
locate them and to have them transcribed and then marked. We nearly
missed
the University intake because our exam result were delayed compared with
those of our classmates and hence the believe that turning in my exam
alongside with other students is much better. I did this through my first
degree and all subsiquetn studies. As we speak of reasonable
accommodation,
things have improved much and with the use of computers, it should be
much
easier for one to write his own exam and not to have to subject it to
another person before it goes to the one who will mark it. This is because
I
believe in any process of this type, other mistakes that are not yours
will
be introduced in to your exam and will be associated with you. Lines or
words or even punctuations which change meaning of what you want to say
may
be dropped orintroduced and thiscould make all the difference. I wonder
whether this practice of writing exams in braille is only in one
University
or in all of them. It is a practice I would suggest need to be addressed.
I
stand corrected in case I am out of tune with the current trends.
Sam.
-----Original Message-----
From: sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Laura Etori
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2016 7:40 AM
To: sopvid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sopvid] Re: Discussion on guides and personal assistants for
the
VI
hello everyone,
I would like to add on to this matter.
speaking as a student I think we should not forget the students in
universities when talking about assistants.
in my opinion having a student assistant while in university is important
and it should be made an accommodation.
from my own experience in school I have two readers/ scribes who help me
in
my math, economics and finance classes and any other classes that might
need
someone to read out anything on the board, describe graphs or pictures
and
scribe my exams.
most of the time they are graduate students who have taken the course and
passed.
this students are paid by the school and most of them are on work study.
as we continue advancing access within disability remember we are not
only
making ourselves adapt to the mainstream world but also making the
mainstream world accessible to us -- and such accomodations from an early
time such as in school can go a long way in helping us, the young ones,
fulfill our potentials.
such accomodations as having a scribe/reader and getting good orientation
and mobility training around campus can be very helpful.
for students I would imagine having a guide can be a bit too intruding as
we
sometimes have "personal matters" to tend to and plus the mobility around
campus helps us improve our networking ability and confidence.
as we consider those in the job sector we should also remember the
students
also.
I hope what I have outlined makes sense. again as everyone has pointed out
I
do not think training is required as such but the competency matters....
yes you can criticize my input have a grhrhrhrhrrheeaat day everyone!!!!
On 4/17/16, Dr. K I Laibuta <laibuta@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Sam, you are right.
In my previous appointment, my two assistants were University
graduates, one of them being a lawyer. The nature of work demanded
just that. The guide was a driver, and the personal skills and
attributes of the guide depended on the tips I gave him as to what I
required of him. In my current office, I require no less of a Diploma
holder, a person conversant with library research in addition to being a
proficient reader.
I have been in discussion with Lawrence on this matter and it would
appear that an average Form 4 certificate holder is for all practical
purposes semi-illiterate, particularly the men who could double up as
a driver. While basic training helps in very general terms, I can
assure you that the rest depends on you, the caliber of the person you
get and your specific needs.You can train someone to be a good guide
in a couple of hours, but you can't train them to be good readers or
task
executors otherwise than on job.
Those are my personal views, which might not necessarily match those
of others.
Dr. K I Laibuta
Advocate of the High Court of Kenya
Chartered Arbitrator and Mediator
P.O.Box 6455-00300
NAIROBI
Cell:0722521708; 0788344111
Email:kilaibuta@xxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Samuel Kabue
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2016 9:31 PM
To: sopvid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [sopvid] Re: Discussion on guides and personal assistants for
the VI
Dear Stanley and all,
I agree with you that the personal assistant one has will either
hinder
or enhance the performance of a person with visual impairment.
However, I do not think that training is the key issue as this kind of
work very much
depends on both the attitude and the qualification of the
individual
personal assistant. Attitude may be changed on the job where possible
but
the other factor is what needs attendtion. Every job calls for
specific qualification and the type and level of the job held by the
person who needs assistance is a major factor in choosing the personal
assistant. If you teach in Primary school, an average form four person
with the necessary drive should be able to help you. However, If your
job entails marking scripts from the University students or making
presentation in which you need specialized computer skills like
preparing power points or excel sheets , an average form four
assistnat wil find a lot of challenges in helping you. If you are a
member of Parliament or a Commisioner in one of the constitutional
Commision, your assistant should be a person who is able to go to the
library and cary out research to enhance your knowledge base and to
keep
you abreast with your expected role. If you are a social worker or
an administrator, this research role may equally apply. At times, your
personal assistant may play other roles like driving in addition to
the
professional roles if there is no room for such. This bring to
question the Sarah Selem level of remuneration for personal
assistnats which does not make this ddistinction. She seem to have
taken the role of guiding as the most important but my argument is
that the professional level of the assistnat need to be such that
consideration is made for the other roles at professional level such
an assistnat will be required to play. As for the training, each
principal should be able to train their personal assistnat in
accordance with their expectation. These are my views but I am open to
challenges and criticism.
Sam.
-----Original Message-----
From: sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sopvid-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Stan Mutuma
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2016 3:49 PM
To: sopvid <sopvid@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [sopvid] Discussion on guides and personal assistants for the
VI
Dear SOPVID fraternity,
I trust you have been well and Our Dear Lord has kept you in good
health and spirits Kindly find the attached on going discussion
regarding the issue of
guides and personal assistants for the VI.
Kindly go through the attached document and give your input.
With kind regards and best wishes,
Stan
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for it is Him who works in us, and works through us, and makes everything
beautiful and marvelous in His time and splendour.
Kind regards
Laura Etori
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for it is Him who works in us, and works through us, and makes
everything beautiful and marvelous in His time and splendour.
Kind regards
Laura Etori
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