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lovezebras

lovezebras

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Ok so here is the update on my first 2 weeks..
I got my loaner fm system until i get my own next week ..NONE of my teachers have ever worn one..
One of my teachers pretty much told me she didn't want to wear it..and shes Indian with the heaviest accent in the world!!! So now i have two notetakers for that class..a student one and a professional one..
Another one of my teachers is german who doesn't use deodorant..(wats with the immigrant teachers..teaching!!!) (no offense)
I think 2 out of 6 teachers have actually read my IEP!
anddddd to top it all off i have an ear infection!!! :(

sorry for the rant..i needed to tho!..
Thanks
 
If it is on record that you are to use the FM system to provide access to classroom materials, the professors cannot refuse to wear it. If they continue to refuse, speak with the director of disability services. If that does not resolve the situation, go directly to the Dean. Beingout of ADA compliance is a serious matter, and they do not want a lawsuit based on something as easily resolved as an instructor putting a damn microphone on during lecture.
 
Note her location says Ottowa, Ontario. Doubt the ADA applies. But Canada is generally even more protective of these issues in the US, so I agree that going to the top if you can't get anywhere with the teachers is the best approach.

Sheri

jillio said:
If it is on record that you are to use the FM system to provide access to classroom materials, the professors cannot refuse to wear it. If they continue to refuse, speak with the director of disability services. If that does not resolve the situation, go directly to the Dean. Beingout of ADA compliance is a serious matter, and they do not want a lawsuit based on something as easily resolved as an instructor putting a damn microphone on during lecture.
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LTHFAdvocate said:
Note her location says Ottowa, Ontario. Doubt the ADA applies. But Canada is generally even more protective of these issues in the US, so I agree that going to the top if you can't get anywhere with the teachers is the best approach.

Sheri
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Ooops! Thanks for pointing that out. :ty: I so accustomed to advocating for U.S. students that I sometimes forget to look for things like that!
 
Don't let that teacher who is refusing to wear it get away with it. It's not a lifestyle choice on her part, its a requirement of her employment. She will do it if you start making noises about having to take it up with her superiors.

I remember at uni there was one lecturer of political science who asked me if the FM system was legal LOL! Unfortunately, deafness acts like a radar for people who are a loaf short of a picnic.
 
R2D2 said:
Don't let that teacher who is refusing to wear it get away with it. It's not a lifestyle choice on her part, its a requirement of her employment. She will do it if you start making noises about having to take it up with her superiors.

I remember at uni there was one lecturer of political science who asked me if the FM system was legal LOL! Unfortunately, deafness acts like a radar for people who are a loaf short of a picnic.
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LOL! That's a good one!
 
I sympathize! I used to use FM systems in high school, and most of the teachers simply could not get used to them. They carried around the microphones awkwardly and sometimes even left them on the desk, where they would cause awful static on my end.

I think the real problem is lack of attendance at IEP meetings. There is a lack of understanding that causes the reluctance to wear the devices. Even if a teacher knows that the FM helps you hear, they might not know how it works, and thus become shy about wearing it properly.
 
Grendel said:
I sympathize! I used to use FM systems in high school, and most of the teachers simply could not get used to them. They carried around the microphones awkwardly and sometimes even left them on the desk, where they would cause awful static on my end.

I think the real problem is lack of attendance at IEP meetings. There is a lack of understanding that causes the reluctance to wear the devices. Even if a teacher knows that the FM helps you hear, they might not know how it works, and thus become shy about wearing it properly.
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I undy..had a FM system in middle school and the teachers would usually do things to it that they are not supposed to. That leaving on the desk thing causing static is what enabled me to beg my mom to write it off from my IEP. I hated them so much.

I guess it works for many people though.
 
To lilitala...I am sorry that your teachers are putting up a big fuss about using the FM system. There is obviously lack of sensitivity on their part in addition to ignorance of the importance the FM system is for u.
 
shel90 said:
I undy..had a FM system in middle school and the teachers would usually do things to it that they are not supposed to. That leaving on the desk thing causing static is what enabled me to beg my mom to write it off from my IEP. I hated them so much.

I guess it works for many people though.
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My son hated his FM system when he was mainstreamed early in elementary school. He used to take the batteries out and hide them in his desk and tell his teacher it was broken.

But on the other hand, I am working with a post lingually deafened student with a moderate loss that really loves hers. She actually requested it as an accommodation.
 
I, as well, requested mine, I have a notetaker too as well as 2 notetakers for one of my classes..I know we have something like the ADA to complain to...just not sure what it is exactly...I have another apt with my disabilities counselor next week so I will talk to her about the IEP issue and the fm system again if my teacher is still crappy about the whole issue..one of my teachers was like "is this a microphone cuz i dont want you telling on me if i swear" he was weirded out by it...but he still wore it..
 
shel90 said:
I undy..had a FM system in middle school and the teachers would usually do things to it that they are not supposed to. That leaving on the desk thing causing static is what enabled me to beg my mom to write it off from my IEP. I hated them so much.
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Ditto! I only had a FM system for a month. I hated them since the day they gave me one. I had to carry with them everywhere on the middle school's campus. My CIs is enough for me. lol

Sorry to hear this, lilitalia89. Hearing professors with no experience with the deaf people are pain in the ass.
 
shel90 said:
I undy..had a FM system in middle school and the teachers would usually do things to it that they are not supposed to. That leaving on the desk thing causing static is what enabled me to beg my mom to write it off from my IEP. I hated them so much.
Click to expand...

Ditto! I only had a FM system for a month. I hated them since the day they gave me one. I had to carry with them everywhere on the middle school's campus. My CIs is enough for me. lol

Sorry to hear this, lilitalia89. Hearing professors with no experience with the deaf students are pretty pain in the ass....for me.
 
lilitalia89 said:
I, as well, requested mine, I have a notetaker too as well as 2 notetakers for one of my classes..I know we have something like the ADA to complain to...just not sure what it is exactly...I have another apt with my disabilities counselor next week so I will talk to her about the IEP issue and the fm system again if my teacher is still crappy about the whole issue..one of my teachers was like "is this a microphone cuz i dont want you telling on me if i swear" he was weirded out by it...but he still wore it..
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Well that was a dumb thing for himto say. Wouldn't he be worried about the hearing students telling on him if he swore? Duh! Just cuz you have an FM system doesn't mean no one else could hear him! Good luck with your meeting with your counselor.
 
jillio said:
Well that was a dumb thing for himto say. Wouldn't he be worried about the hearing students telling on him if he swore? Duh! Just cuz you have an FM system doesn't mean no one else could hear him! Good luck with your meeting with your counselor.
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He probably thought it was a recording device of some sort - I've run into that misconception before.
 
The best you can do it know your legal rights. I used an fm system for most of my college classes about 14 years ago. I found some professors were uncomfortable wearing it so I would put it on the desk so I could pick up the questions from the class. That worked out great for me. When I went back for my master's at the same college they expected it. So many professors wanted to wear the fm system. I guess they were trained in ADA. The professors went out of the way to assist me. Good luck!
 
First of all, I hate wearing FM system during HS, I have heard from my Deaf classmates about teachers did not bother using FM system. Honestly, I did not care about using FM system because I used my own hearing aids which is sufficient enough for me.

However, I understand what you want to understand the teachers in classroom...it is hard.
 
ismi said:
He probably thought it was a recording device of some sort - I've run into that misconception before.
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I agree with you. Administration really needs to do a better job of educating the professors regarding all forms of disability and accommodation. It would be a simple matter for the disability counselor to shoot an email to the professors on the deaf student's schedule and explain not only the technology they would be using, but the necessity for such. Advocacy is part of the job.
 
jillio said:
I agree with you. Administration really needs to do a better job of educating the professors regarding all forms of disability and accommodation. It would be a simple matter for the disability counselor to shoot an email to the professors on the deaf student's schedule and explain not only the technology they would be using, but the necessity for such. Advocacy is part of the job.
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My school does that, actually, and I think it's not a bad idea. They used to have students deliver this packet of very boilerplate administrative-like stuff that wasn't all that helpful (I used to pitch it as a "keep this on file, but asking me is probably easier than reading it" document, and give my profs a brief explanation of what was going on). It was convenient to have it in hand to make things "officially sanctioned", though. They've kept that, but starting this semester, before the semester begins, they send off an email to the professors saying, "You have a student in your class who is deaf or hard of hearing. He will be using [brief description of FM, CART, etc]. Please contact us or ask him with any questions". So the professors have some heads up, and it's briefer and less threatening than the packet used to be.
 
Actually.....................you know what might be just as good as FM? Request a "circle" classroom set up, so that you can see what the other students are saying. That's so much better then the "teacher at front" and kids in rows set up that's more tradtional.
Jillo, I've noticed that most dhh kids don't really find FM to be all that helpful. However postlingal folks love them. Can you believe orgs like AG Bell are pushing out of school use of them? WTF?
 
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