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Final Preparations for Transitioning to Higher Education
Submit documentation to Learning Support Services (LSS)
Submit Request for Accommodation form to LSS
Review your own documentation. Think about your strengths and weaknesses. Practice explaining what works for you in the classroom.
Purchase a daily/weekly planner. This can be electronic or paper, but you want to use 1 planner consistently. You will need this to keep track of your classes, long-term assignments, and your activities.
Get comfortable with your computer. Consider looking at software that might help you with your work load. Some possibilities:
  1. Inspiration – This is software that allows you to map your ideas. Great if you are a visual learner. Check it out at http://www.inspiration.com
  2. Kurzweil 3000 – Displays an on-screen version of scanned or typed material while it reads it aloud to you. The user can increase reading speed and comprehension with the Kurzweil multisensory approach to reading. Check it out at: http://www.kurzweiledu.com
  3. ReadPlease – This is a FREE program that you can download to your computer. This program will allow you to have scanned or typed material read aloud to you. Check it out at: http://readplease.com
  4. Dragon Naturally Speaking – This software allows you to dictate instead of typing on a keyboard. It does take several hours to train the software to recognize your voice. Check this out at: http://www.scansoft.com/naturallyspeaking/
How are you as a notetaker? If this is not a strength, then consider purchasing a digital recorder to take to class as a back-up for your own notes. You can then download the digital recording to your computer and save it as an audio file. When it is time to review your class notes, just play it back and look at your own notes at the same time. This multi-modal approach will assist with your retaining the material. It will also allow you to go back and listen to areas that were confusing or when you were not particularly focused in class. Recorders are available at all the computer stores by various venders such as: Olympus, Sony, Sanyo, etc. Consider one that has enough recording time to last the entire day of classes so that you only need to download to your computer at the end of the day. The audio files can also be converted to MP3 files and you could actually listen to your lectures while you walk around campus! If notetaking is a weakness then this is a much better option than relying on your own notes or even those of a peer notetaker. You can still refer to a peer’s notes for comparison, but this gives you greater control. Obtaining the permission of the professor to record is appropriate. If this is a needed accommodation it will be listed in your accommodation letter to your professors.
Recorded texts. If you have used Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic in the past and hope to continue, please bring your recorder and/or software with you to campus. Communicate with LSS as soon as possible for guidance in ordering text books. Villanova has an institutional membership to RFB&D and/or individual memberships for eligible students. The only cost to the student that is eligible for this service is the cost of a personal playback device, software, or a special CD player. Information about this organization or for information about the various formats and equipment is available at 800-221-4792 or on their website at http://www.rfbd.org/