The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, October 17, 1997, Image 3
Friday • October 17, 1997 Lifestyles I find support in ASM programs iti "My darkness has been filled with the light of intelligence, and ehold, the outer lay-lit world was stumbling and groping in social blindness." — Helen Keller Makis, cause 11 andersti entsgo: ho cant, ty liked; List like; a asks© :times, r i •eattherj cingotl t. the pi; lebodye aairedl M'/'Ma l % of tlt| it. i tenet! ot afraid I stude: todotl not ask; ngood continued from Page 2 - Jt fS “They're very in tune with facial expression and net body language,” Reber said. “It’s just as communica tive to them as tone of voice is for us.” gestud*® More often than not, their disability does not keep By Brandi Ballard Staff writer B lindness is something people are aware of, yet it only affects a small portion of the student body at Texas A&M. In addition, some A&M students suffer from other visual impairments be sides legal blindness. David Sweeney, the coordinator for Adaptive Technology Service, said the real problem lies with those who have low vi sion, a visual acuity problem or a field of vi sion deficiency. Low vision is typical poor eyesight from which many people suffer. Visual acuity is a person’s ability to see clearly. And field of vision is the extent of someone’s peripher al vision. Most people define blindness as the complete inability to see. But someone who can see light but not objects may be considered blind. Legal Blindness is defined as vision not greater than 20/200 in the better eye with correction, or a field not subtending an an gle greater than 20 degrees. Gia Alexander, a technical editor in the department of nuclear engineering, said two people with the same visual acuity can have different eye conditions and see things differently. “I am nearsighted, but I can maintain do ing very close work for a longer period of time than someone with 20/20 vision,” Alexander said. “They experience eye fa tigue a lot sooner than I do.” Ann Reeber, the interim coordinator for the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), said it is difficult to determine the percentage of students at Texas A&M who have visual disabilities. “Since we are a voluntary service, stu dents with troubles that can function on their own do not come in to see us,” Reeber said. Last spring, 16 students at Texas A&M asked for assistance from the SSD. This year, there is only one legally blind studenta. “These are students who come to us for help,” Sweeney said. “Some of them have a problem with seeing clearly or do not have a good field division.” There are many causes for different eye problems. People with multiple sclerosis lose their peripheral or central vision. Glau coma, a condition that causes a fluid buildup in the eye, places higher pressure inside the eyeball. Traumatic injuries can also affect vision. “You don’t necessarily have to be hit in the eye for it to affect your vision,” Sweeny said. “A blow to the head or a concussion can damage your sight.” Besides low vision, acuity and field of vi sion, there are many more vision problems. Erlen’s Syndrome affects the way in which the eye receives color. To remedy this, students are given col ored glasses or film to place over their read ing materials. Macular degeneration occurs when the retina and optic nerve tears. This usually leads to permanent sight loss. Before the Handicap Services can help a student, they first must decide if the student has a defined disability. “Whether or not it qualifies as a disabili ty depends on if it hinders their learning,” Sweeney said. Some cases are accommodated by placing the student near the front of the class or getting copies of the lecture out lines and notes. Other cases require a little more work to be done. The University offers a variety of services to help students with vision problems “Technology has been the great equaliz er for those of us with sight problems,” Alexander said. The University has screen enlargers and closed-circuit television (CCTV). “We can magnify books for students with our technology,” Sweeney said. He said quite a few students use text-to- speech software. Their books are put on tape and then played to the visually impaired. There is also a Braille printer that uses Mylar raised line paper to accommodate those with vision problems. It prints Braille and raises line graphics. Last semester, over 120 books were scanned or imprinted. When it comes to tests, students are sometimes given extended time. Other times, the font size is increased or printed in Braille. Readers are available to read the test aloud to students and write down their answers, but Sweeney said this is rare. Professors sometimes elect to give verbal tests. The accommodations do not enhance or change the course curriculum in any way. “Our accommodations give equal access to the courses,” Sweeney said. I EARING jaired. ues lizefe le for rew aired si dp then them from doing anything that others do. Both Getten pd Maki played musical instruments in school and jmction well in a college classroom setting. “I don’t feel like I’m prevented from doing any- ling,” Getten said. “For example, if it came to fighting i»r my country I would gladly do that. I might be do ing something else, but there’s nothing I feel I can’t do.” Texas A&M offers help to hearing impaired students on a case-by-case basis. Translators, technology and housing with specialized features are all offered as ways to make life easier. A&M offers a technological option for hearing im paired students called the Comtec system. It is a mi crophone worn by the professor that amplifies his lec ture into an earpiece worn by the student. Just like any personality quirk or physical feature, sometimes hearing impaired students can have an un expected dose of humor pop into their lives. “You knowhowyou can make a microphone squeal sometimes?” Getten said. “Sometimes my hearing aid would do that and it would be too high for me to hear, but it was loud. I don’t know if that had any effect on me, but oh well.” Maki likes to play a practical joke on guys who try to pick her up when she is with friends. In the joke, she plays a European whose father came to America and invented the futon. “My roommate can’t be in the same room as me play ing this joke,” Maki said. “ She can’t keep from laughing.” “I keep it up until they start asking me for my phone number. Then I know the charade is up and it’s time to leave.” Reber, Getten and Maki agree that being hearing impaired should not be considered a disability, but just another aspect of life. “I see it as just being another facet of who I am,” Maki said. “It’s not a handicap.” Getten shares her sentiment and sheds a positive light on his hearing impairment. “Actually, I think it’s been better for me. I just feel that because of my hearing I’m more complete as a person. Because I just can’t hear all of what somebody’s telling me, I have to think more. I think that translates to other things like friendships; I think about them more and don’t just accept things at face value.” TEXAS HALL OF FAME PRESENTS CONCERT & DANCE FRIDAY, OCT. 17 TICKETS $10 ADVANCE AT THE HALL 10 AM - 1PM DAILY OR CAVENDERS BOOT CITY $12 AT THE DOOR • COLLEGE STUDENT/FACULTY/STAFF ID $2 OFF @D00R PHI SIGMA EPSILON 42 DOMINO TOURNAMENT $30 TEAM/S20 INDIVIDUAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 th TOURNEY BEGINS AT 11 A.M. FOR INFO CALL COURTNEY AT 693-5974 ALSO COMING HALLOWEEN CONTEST AT THE HALL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31 st $250 CASH & PRIZES FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL THE TEXAS HALL OF FAME 822-2222 m&m ' mm a . - ' - msm ********* isst® Stop for one moment and think about something. Last year, through your generous donations, more than 90,000 people were helped in our community by the Brazos Food Bank. Join TCA Cable TV and the Brazos Food Bank for the 6th Annual “Together We Can” Food Drive October 6th - 17th. Help us help the Brazos Valley. Bring in 12 or more non-perishable food items to TCA Cable TV October 6th-17th. You can benefit too! If you wish to subscribe to TCA Cable TV or upgrade your current service, you will receive free activation with your donation of 12 or more non-perishable food items. Together we can STOP the HUNGER in our area. Together we can make a difference. Together We Can! CABLETV 846-2229 Some restrictions may apply. Service may not be available in some areas. Call TCA Cable TV for complete details.