Dear Stephen I am not aware of any software that will do this but in the UK at least the Examining Authority and College would be expected to make *reasonable adjustment* to enable a visually impaired student to access an examination under the Disability discrimination Act.
This would typically allow for sighted assistance and the allocation of extra time to use this sighted assistance. Exams in this case would take place in a separate location with a separate invigilator overseeing arrangements. The sighted assistance can only read and describe and cannot provide any technical advice although it is possible to dictate answers for them to write down. This is precisely the arrangement I had earlier this year when I had to undertake an Employment Law exam which included a large bundled contract and which allowed access to a Statute Book. I was allocated 50% extra time because it was recognised that reading the long contract aloud would be a slower process for a visually impaired student. I typed all my answers on a PC so did not use the facility to dictate answers. I am not sure of which legal jurisdiction you are in but many countries have anti discrimination laws. In the UK virtually all large academic institutions have a specialist disability support service which should support disabled students through their course ands which is responsible for organising special exam arrangement. I have just checked my own disability service website and they for example also give guidance to lecturers to provide tactile representation of diagrams where this is necessary. This may be extended to maps? I would suggest that your friend needs a proper supported assessment. Whatever arrangements come out of this assessment she should insist on the ability to test these arrangements through a mock exam. Often it is only at this stage that problems emerge which need to be resolved. may be worth; 1. Checking whether such support is available locally 2. Pointing out that even if local arrangements are not in place that better practice is available internationally and asking them to replicate this. Perhaps show this email. I am happy to discuss this further if you need further description of services in Uk available to disabled students and employees. Regards David Griffith Hope this helps. David Griffith -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of stephen Sent: Wednesday, 14 November 2007 09:26 To: [email protected] Subject: [Blind-Computing] a map query hello list. i have a blind friend who is coming to her final exam for her law course. she has told me that it is a possibility that the questions on the final paper could be to do with a map. my question is this. does anyone know of any software or hardware that can give a blind person a good idea of what is detailed on the map? i assume it will detail boundaries and where pipes etc. lie in relationship to buildings. any help on this matter would be gratefully appreciated. regards. stephen Visit the Blind Computing List home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following form in order to contact the management team http://www.jaws-users.com/BlindComputing.php If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the Blind Computing List home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following form in order to contact the management team http://www.jaws-users.com/BlindComputing.php If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
