[blindlaw] Handling Quoted Materials in Class?

Tue Sep 12 21:19:22 CDT 2006

How are your professors calling on you?  Do you know what day you will be
called?  If so, your task is much easier.  My experience was that professors
did not so much necessarily need word for word holdings, but a correct
restatement of them.  Some of my professors wanted correct recitations of
facts and holdings, others wanted pretty precise holdings.  For the first
group I would get the Lexis or Westlaw version of the case and copy the
summary, and read off the summary.  For the second group, I would copy and
paste the actual holdings.  

If it is really an issue with a professor needing the exact language of a
random part of the case, then I would talk to the professor outside of class
and explain your issue.  

If you really feel like you need the whole case brailled out, ask the
professor to assign you a specific case to be ready for.  I had an issue
with one of my professors, and I just said look, give me a heads up before
class about which case you want me to be ready to quote. At that time I was
using a screen enlarger, but swapping between the professor's power point,
my notes, the book, and my interpreter (not to mention giving my
interpreters a heads up about language), I couldn't search for something in
the case fast enough. The prof far preferred to give me info in advance than
have the pace slow down.  That class was the exception, rather than the
rule.  I think you will find as the year goes on, this will be less and less
an issue.  The class where I had the issue was a 1st year property class
that I was taking in my final semester (as an evening division student, I
had the freedom to do that with a couple of 1st year classes.)  

Carrie Ann Lucas
Attorney/Equal Justice Works Fellow
Center for Rights of Parents with Disabilities
Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition
655 Broadway, Suite 775
Denver, CO 80203
303.839.1775 (voice
303.839.0015 (TTY and CapTel)
303.839.1782 (facsimile)
800.817.1435 (voice)
877.267.1621(TTY and CapTel)
www.ccdconline.org  

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Rod Alcidonis
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 7:53 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Handling Quoted Materials in Class?

I have a Braille light; however, I think it would present some difficulties
using the Braille light, with a laptop, and at the same time trying to
navigate Braille pages. I find it more efficient for me to have the hard
copy of the Braille, as suppose to reading it from a device. I wouldn't have
a problem if the Braille Light was the only device I was using, but it's
not. I like taking notes on a laptop because it allows me to cut and pace
more easily than the Braille light, and that way I have more control over my
writing.

I unfortunately cannot use the Braille Display option on the Braille Light
by connecting it to my laptop, because there isn't enough room on the desk,
and the ergonomic design of the Braille Light makes it impractical. I
explored that option, and it didn't work. That's when I decided to appeal to
users of the list.

Rod Alcidonis
Visit my website at:
http://www.rodalcidonis.com
Cell Phone: (718) 704-4651
Home Phone: (401) 824-8685
 E-mail: roddj12 at comcast.net

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of denise avant
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:38 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Handling Quoted Materials in Class?

Rod,
You obviously know braille which is very very important. Do you have a
notetaker such as the braillenote, pacmate or braille cense? If you don't
maybe you want to think about one as you could load the material into it and
use the find command to get what you want. Are your text books in electronic
format?

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Rod Alcidonis
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 5:01 PM
To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
Subject: [blindlaw] Handling Quoted Materials in Class?

I would appreciate it please if current or former law students can share
their strategy in dealing with the following issue in class.

Currently, I believe that am at a major disadvantage in class, because I
cannot directly read from the book to answer the professor's question, and
professors are sometimes looking for the specific language of the court in a
particular case. Normally, if it is something I intend to argue about a
case, such as a section in the restatement, or a specific ruling of the
court, I would have it brailed-out, but when it is something that comes up
during discussion, it is a problem. 

I now have my briefs and the supplemental materials for class all
brailed-out, but sometimes the professor jumps around a lot in the material,
and I found that I would need to navigate too many Braille pages if I were
to Braille the whole case for class.

? Any suggestions please?

Rod Alcidonis 

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