[NABS-L] Accessible laboratory equipment

[Jenn Han]

Hi Erik,

Here are a couple of ideas for biological lab accommodations in general.


1. Visual assistant: this can be a peer who has taken the course before, or
someone knowledgeable about the various lab activities to be conducted.
This person is not there to do the work for you; they are there to describe
visual aspects of each experiment, help with tasks requiring sight, all for
you to gather this information and draw your own conclusions. It is worth
discussing with your professors if they are able to reach out to students
on your behalf, since they usually have listservs of students who have
completed their courses.

2. Request extended time, or outside lab time if this isn’t offered
already. This might seem like a fairly obvious one, but being able to meet
with the lab instructor prior to  the lab day helps a lot, so they can walk
you through what to expect, or for you to perform the experiment with any
added time you may need after the lab session if time permits.

3. If you own a computer, utilize your camera to zoom in, take photos, etc.
If the lab requires any sort of dissecting, consult about potentially using
a virtual software to perform the lab — it varies by school and program. In
addition, consider asking for an assistive technology assessment through
your vocational rehabilitation counselor, where specialists are able to
introduce you to current devices and tools you may use. Don’t skimp out on
the power of magnifiers! Electronic or otherwise. There are some software /
technological advancements that are compatible with Windows tablets, such
as the MagniLink TAB or RevoDuo 13. Portable CCTVs may be useful. There are
others, but you’d have to look into what’s best for your current needs.

I’m not sure how many more biological labs you’ll take for your degree, so
most of these are quick solutions. If you’d like more long term, let me
know, but just know those will take more time and investment to acquire on
your end.

I hope this is helpful. Best of luck on your future endeavors.

Regards,
Jenn Han, BSN, RN
She/her/hers
California State University Northridge | Class of 2024 | Bachelors of
Science in Nursing
University of California, Los Angeles |
Class of 2021 | B.S. Molecular, Cell, Developmental Biology


On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM R. Erik Mitchell via NABS-L <
nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Thank you for the kind suggestion! You are correct about the DSPS
> department at the college. However, they are not specifically knowledgeable
> necessarily, so I have found it helpful to do some of the legwork and point
> them in the right direction rather than have them do the research And
> possibly not come up with the right solutions. It works a bit better if I
> do the research and I tell them more or less what I need then they can
> confirm with the professor and we can move from that point otherwise
> there’s a big learning curve sometimes.t
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Feb 9, 2025, at 3:19 PM, Sami Osborne <sami.j.osborne97 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Erik,
> >
> > I know this is not exactly answering your specific question, but have
> you considered reaching out to your school's Disability Support Services
> Department to see if they can assist you? I'm not studying science, but
> from my experience with both undergrad and graduate school, I've found that
> reaching out to your school's Disability Services office is almost always
> (if not always) at least one step in the right direction in terms of
> getting everything you need for school. Also, this department is obligated
> by both the ADA and the IDEA to provide you (or any student with a
> disability) with reasonable accommodations, and I've also found that many
> people in this department are simply very kind, compassionate individuals
> who go out of their way to ensuring each student is successful in the
> classroom.
> >
> > Again, I know this isn't really related to exactly what you're looking
> for in terms of the California Department of Rehab, but I do hope you've
> found this information helpful.
> >
> > Best of luck with your science course next semester!
> >
> > All the best,
> >
> > Sami  On Feb 9, 2025 5:19 PM, "R. Erik Mitchell via NABS-L" <
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> Happy Super Bowl Sunday! In the fall semester, I have to take a
> biological anthropology lab in order to fulfill my science requirements for
> transfer. I am reaching out to the broader STEM/blind student community for
> ideas of what accessible laboratory equipment is available to me. I live in
> California, so the state of California Department of rehab as well as the
> college I go to are willing to get me the equipment I need, but I have no
> idea where to tell them to get the equipment. From my discussions and
> research I’m assuming I will need an accessible microscope at the very
> least, but have no clue beyond that what might be available. Any responses
> or suggestions would be extremely valuable! Thank you!
> >>
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