From: nmcb@dante.nmsu.edu (Yolanda Thompson)
Subject: Re: Talking Books, Electronic Text Books, etc.
Keywords: Study Aids
Organization: New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 21:51:24 GMT

In article <1992Dec27.160129.8905@panix.com> patth@panix.com (Patt Bromberger) writes:
>Just wondering, for those who are attending classes, which textbooks
>you are using, how do you get them translated into braille or
>electronic text (scanner?) or do you use a human reader instead.
>
>Is anyone using a closed circuit television set to magnify text in
>regular text books?
>
>Does anyone have any experience ordering textbooks from Recording For
>The Blind in Princeton, New Jersey or any of their other offices?
>
>Any information appreciated.
>
>Thank you.
>
> 
>
>
>-- 
>Patricia Ann Bromberger                            patth@panix.com
>This quote borrowed from: Gary.Petraccaro@f12.n2610.z1.fidonet.org 
>... "It matters not so much what you sing, but why..." J.S. Bach

  Well, being a rehabilitation counselor, I can answer yes to all of
the questions...I have students using CCTV's, students using RFB, and
students using readers...Here's a little we've discovered about each..

  CCTV's are wonderful for those who can use them, and work well for
such sciences as Math, Chem, etc.  However, they are very slow, and
are not necessarily used at a competitive rate for studying...Plus,
eyes get tired, and it is nice to have an alternative media to fall
back on...The difficulty comes with someone who is "newly"
blinded...It is very, very difficult for them to make the transition
from learning  to absorb things visually to being able to absorb them
audibly...It is much easier to look at the equation 2x-3y/6 = "?" than
it is to have someone interpret that verbally...So, CCTV's prove good
for assisting in that transition...They are also wonderful for maps,
diagrams, etc.

  RFB...Well, it is much better than it was in its beginnings...If a
student can find their textbooks already recorded RFB is
fabulous..Often times, you can find your textbook or an earlier
copyright that means some of the text was simply cut and pasted in
different places...If RFB doesnt' have the book, it becomes time
consuming and "ify."  In order to have a textbook recorded by RFB, you
need to purchase 2 copies of your textbook in print and send to
them..This is for excellent reasons...They take 1 copy and tear it
into sections, and have different readers work on different sections,
they keep the other copy of your text in tact to proofread what has
been taped thus far...You get the "in tact" copy of your textbook
back...But, when we last checked with RFB (in December of this year),
they were estimating a 6-month lead time in order to begin your
textbook...Well, there isn't a way for my students here to predict 6
months in advance (and obtain the book) what text they are going to
need...Professors change their mind frequently, and use the latest
copyrights...So, this ruled out RFB..WE went to Disabled Student
Services with the texts, and they are beginning taping the books right
now, so that by the time the student begins her classes in January she
may have enough information to get her work done.

  Readers are possibly the most efficient way to get yoru textbooks
done, however finding a good reader is difficult...Being a reader for
someone is very different than reading for yourself, simply because
when you read for yourself, you read what you feel is important, often
scanning the areas that you know arent' crucial...But, when you read
for a blind student you need to read all the information that is
there, and they'll decide what needs to be skimmed over...I've been
working with my secretary for 3 years, and still occasionally when I'm
installing software and don't have access to speech, I have to remind
her to read "the whole" screen to me....It just takes training, and
usually the money in it isn't significant enough to keep good
readers...

  Braille textbooks..There aren't any...They stop with Braille
textbooks in highschools, if they even have them there...Many states
are working on a "Braille Bill" which mandates that elementary and
secondary schools make textbooks available in Braille for their
students...But, at college level I've never found a Braille text...

  Hope this helps...