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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">For labs, you would most likely need to review the fundamental alteration question for each lab, as each week likely has different learning objectives. University of Oregon has a good Fundamental Alteration
page with links to OCR resolutions - <a href="https://aec.uoregon.edu/fundamental-alteration-assessment-process">
Fundamental Alteration Assessment Process | UO Accessible Education Center</a>. I also like how UCLA has roles and responsibilities outlined on their fundamental alteration page -
<a href="https://cae.ucla.edu/appeals-grievances/alterations-requirements-fundamental">
Determining Essential Requirements and Fundamental Alterations | Center for Accessible Education</a>. We have one or two students a semester that have an accommodation for a lab assistant. I usually navigate safety concerns about extra people or equipment
in the lab, and my director navigates any fundamental alteration concerns. So like Robert said, this needs to get bumped up the chain.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Is the instructor creating the labs or are they using something from one of the major publishers? If the labs are from a publisher, reaching out to their accessibility department might also be useful. Natalie
Davison at Boise State University shared with me that a lot of those course packets have accessibility features that just need to be turned on. She’s also done a lot of amazing work on STEM content for blind students.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Also, just want to echo Robert’s sentiment that the student usually has more authority in these situations than staff. I’ve had a few times where nothing was happening until the student started raising a stink.
It sucks, but sometimes an OCR complaint is the only way to get anything changed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I’ve never taken an anthropology lab, so if you’re able to share the specific challenges in this lab, might be able to come up with more concrete solutions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Happy Friday everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Eric Matson | Assistant Director - Assistive Technology & Accommodation Operations
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Center for Disability Access and Resources</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Division of Student Affairs</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">The University of Idaho</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Phone: 208.885.6307 | <a href="mailto:ecmatson@uidaho.edu%7C" title="mailto:ecmatson@uidaho.edu%7C"><span style="color:#0078D4">ecmatson@uidaho.edu|</span></a> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=ecmatson@uidaho.edu"><span style="color:#0563C1">Message
me on Teams</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Bruce M. Pitman Center 127</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Fax: 208.885.9404</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Campus Zip: 4257<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Treasurer – Idaho Partnership on Higher Education and Disability </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Pronouns: He / Him / His</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> athen-list <athen-list-bounces@mailman22.u.washington.edu>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Robert Beach via athen-list<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, July 25, 2025 6:34 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Deborah Armstrong <armstrongdeborah@fhda.edu>; Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list@u.washington.edu><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Athen] Helping a blind student survive physical anthropology<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:.75pt"><span style="font-size:1.0pt;color:white">Accommodations are modifications to policies and procedures that allow a student with a disability to have equal access to our programs, services, and courses.
Unless a modification would fundamentally alter the nature of the course or program,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:.75pt"><span style="font-size:1.0pt;color:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Accommodations are modifications to policies and procedures that allow a student with a disability to have equal access to our programs, services, and courses. Unless a modification
would fundamentally alter the nature of the course or program, the instructor cannot deny the accommodation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">So, when you say, “But this professor requires students work alone believing that lab partners encourage cheating.” Your recommend of a partner is one option that would not
fundamentally alter the nature of the course or program. I doubt seriously that one of the learning outcomes of the course is to perform labs independently. So, the institution is on shaky ground to let the instructor deny this accommodation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Your other idea to allow a lab assistant is probably a better option is the student would not be leaning on another student’s work. This would keep the instructor’s idea of
students working alone but still the give student with a disability access to the labs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">You wrote, “We don’t typically hire assistants to help students; there’s nothing in our budget for that.” There is budget for it, it just needs to be found. It may not be in
disability services’ budget, but there is the entire institutional budget that has to be considered. Believe me, the cost of a lab assistant will not stand up as an undue financial burden if this goes to DOJ. A larger institutional discussion needs to happen
here. I’m sure that is above your pay grade, but it is not above somebody’s. Bump this up the line.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">You also wrote, “I told the counselor who is panicking that we also have students with sight but physical limitations that also prevent them from performing alone in science
labs and she needs to consult with the department chair for a permanent solution.” You are absolutely right. There needs to be a policy put in place for this situation with guidelines as to what the assistant is and is not expected to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Good luck! It is a tough spot you are in. Just remember, it is not your problem to fix as you do not have the authority to do so. It may take the student making a fuss to
get anything done. In some ways, the student has more authority that you do in this situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Robert Lee Beach, Assistive Technology Specialist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Kansas City Kansas Community College<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><a href="mailto:rbeach@kckcc.edu">rbeach@kckcc.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">913-288-7671<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> athen-list <<a href="mailto:athen-list-bounces@mailman22.u.washington.edu">athen-list-bounces@mailman22.u.washington.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Deborah Armstrong via athen-list<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, July 24, 2025 6:40 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'Access Technology Higher Education Network' <<a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Athen] Helping a blind student survive physical anthropology<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">When she started college she was low-vision but now my student is almost completely blind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Though she’s a liberal arts major she’s required to take at least one science course.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">We’ve had this problem forever; absolutely none of our science courses are accessible. They all have labs which sometimes involve working with computer simulations, and often
involve measuring, pouring, looking through a microscope etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">My suggestion has always been that the blind student works with a partner and operates as the note-taker and the person who researches the science, while the lab partner performs
the physical parts of the experiment. The partner can also say if a solution changes color while the blind student can be the one who knows what the color changing signifies. This seems quite reasonable to me and that’s how blind friends in the past have coped
with Anthropology, biology, geology, chemistry and even meteorology labs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">But this professor requires students work alone believing that lab partners encourage cheating. This is not the first time we’ve had this problem and I keep being asked for
another solution. We don’t typically hire assistants to help students; there’s nothing in our budget for that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">I told the counselor who is panicking that we also have students with sight but physical limitations that also prevent them from performing alone in science labs and she needs
to consult with the department chair for a permanent solution. But I’m a paraprofessional; consulting with the department chair would be a violation of my personal role at the college.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">So I’m asking the list. What have you done when this situation crops up?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">And why in the heck cannot there be at least one fully accessible science course for those who have no intent to make science a major? I keep reading about all sorts of grants
schools get to encourage participation in STEM for blind and visually impaired students but it’s always for a particular high school or community college, or worse yet a school for the blind, and it’s not applicable to anyone outside the little “test” group.
someone really needs to get a grant to create a fully online mooc-style course that any disabled student who needs to fulfill a science requirement can enroll in.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">--Debee<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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