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>> I had a good experience working with schools
to get accommodations under Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act.
When I attended my neighborhood high school I met with a team
of teachers that included a specialist in serving students
who are deaf, general education teachers,
an administrator and my mother.
I am profoundly deaf,
which means I don't hear anything without hearing aids.
Even with hearing aids, I hear very little.
As a result, I needed to have some accommodations.
I was a good student.
In fact, I was enrolled in several college prep classes.
So it was essential that I have a skilled sign language
interpreter who could keep
up with the challenging vocabulary and help me.
I also needed someone who would take notes for me,
because I couldn't watch my interpreter
and take notes at the same time.
We also asked the school to use instructional films
that were close captioned with subtitles.
I was assigned a qualified, skilled interpreter
that worked with me one on one.
We arranged for a student in each of my classes
to give me a copy of their notes.
As time went on, more of the films had subtitles.
These accommodations were what made my school
experience successful.
By providing these supports for me, it leveled the playing field
for me as a student attending school with kids
who didn't have the special needs I had.
It required an investment of resources for the school
to provide these support services
for me under Section 504.
I was fortunate to work with educators and administrators
who understood my needs and the requirements of the law
and were willing to work with me to ensure my success.
Later, when I attended the community college,
I worked with the counselor to arrange
for these same accommodations.
However, in the college setting I had more
than one skilled interpreter in order
to cover my varied class schedules.
At this level there were usually two interpreters
with me in every class.
They would switch about every 15 minutes.
I also had note takers and other accommodations
as my needs changed.
College was a good experience for me on many levels.
They also provided interpreters for the activities, clubs,
and other events that I was involved with.
When I started working I was fortunate to work
for a large banking corporation.
At first I was hired into an entry level job.
My employer provided sign language interpreters
for my interview prior to being hired and one that met
with me during training, and interpreters were provided
for staff meetings and other staff development trainings.
I was able to communicate in a number of ways
with my supervisors and co-workers.
But sometimes I needed them to make simple accommodations,
like writing something down so I could understand.
Sometimes we used a computer to type a conversation.
My employer also provided me with a TDD telephone.
Later, as technology advanced, they provided me
with a video phone that allowed me to make
and receive telephone calls using relay services.
These are all accommodations provided as a result
of Section 504 and other laws that protect the civil rights
of individuals with disabilities.
I was successful in my employment
and had the opportunity to be advanced into several positions.
I appreciated that my employer was committed
to their responsibility under the law and recognized
that I could do the work with some supports.