Schools of all levels, even non-specialized ones, offer many resources to blind or visually impaired students to help them study. From assistive technologies to homework facilities, there are many options that ensure your academic success. Talk to your teacher and the school office for disabled students for help taking notes and learning tools such as books with audio recordings. Follow the path to success by keeping your study materials in order and managing your time effectively.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Taking Notes in Class
Step 1. Ask your teacher to help you prepare all the lessons
Talk to him at the beginning of the year and find ways to get the most out of each lesson. If possible, introduce yourself to class in advance so that you can get a preview of the day's topics.
- Tell him, "It would be helpful if we could meet 15 minutes before class starts so that we know the main topics in advance. It is easier for me to take and organize notes if I know the purpose of the lesson."
- Ask if the teacher has a schedule for his lessons and if he can give it to you too.
Step 2. Tell the teacher if you are using a tape recorder
If you are recording lessons, talk to your teacher so he can help you. Test the device before it starts explaining, so you can be sure the audio is perfect.
Be sure to ask the teacher to repeat aloud everything he writes on the board or on the visual aids he uses. You can also remind him that if he moves too much or talks with his back to the class, the audio will be worse
Step 3. Get help taking notes
Ask your school's disabled student office to assign you a person to take notes for you. Usually another student will be in charge of doing this, and will receive a special notebook with charcoal paper, so that he can easily create copies of his notes.
It is usually easier to study using already summarized notes that contain the most important elements of a lesson. Recordings of explanations are great for receiving complete descriptions, but it takes time to rework them into short summaries suitable for study
Step 4. Try to understand the material
It can be tempting to memorize notes and recordings. However, you will be more successful if you try to really understand the topics instead of memorizing them. Listen to the recording, pause it, repeat it aloud and write down any questions you need to ask the teacher or your private tutor.
Step 5. Participate in all in-depth courses and study groups
Do your best to be present at the additional educational activities offered by teachers and your classmates. This way you will have more chances to ask questions than in a normal lesson. You can read your notes or listen to a recording, identify the topics where you need clarification, then elaborate on them in study groups.
Step 6. Meet the teacher at reception
If your professor receives students at certain scheduled times, try your best to visit him regularly. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive clarification on the topics that are bothering you. You can also ask which are the most important sections to study, in order to sort and rework your notes.
Part 2 of 3: Always Be Tidy
Step 1. Create a comfortable space to study
Choose a comfortable chair and an area with enough space for your tools, books and notebooks. Keep equipment (such as a reading device or computer) and bookshelves close at hand. Make sure that all the items you use, from tape recorders to computer sockets, have an assigned place, so you can find them easily and not waste too much time.
Step 2. Catalog your notes well
If you take them on paper, organize them by subject and by date. Write the labels of the various sections with a touch pen, so you can easily recognize them. If you write to the computer instead, name the files and folders by specifying the course title, date and a brief description of the content.
Step 3. Manage your time effectively
Create a study plan at the beginning of the week and stick to it. Write down all the tasks for the week and divide the work into the various days. For example, if you know you have a test on Friday, spend an hour each evening studying the test topics.
Remember not to overdo it and take breaks so you don't get too tired. It is not easy to convert texts and use the technological interfaces, especially if you have to read a lot of pages
Step 4. Reward yourself when you complete your study goals
Invent small incentives to help you reach the goals you have set for yourself. You could eat a snack or a dessert, give yourself some time for leisure or for your favorite activity. Don't reward yourself if you don't stick to your schedule, but avoid punishing yourself.
Part 3 of 3: Using Resources and Technology
Step 1. Go to the student assistance office for disabled students as soon as possible
Develop a good relationship with the team of people who need to help you before the school year begins. They will take care of informing teachers of the special attention you need and will help you find audio recordings of your textbooks. They can also teach you to use the technological tools that can assist you in your study.
Step 2. Make sure you get help with class rehearsals
When tackling a class assignment, make sure you have access to the appropriate facilities. You may need reading tools, writing tools, word processing programs, text magnifiers, and more time to complete the task.
The student assistance office for disabled students will help you receive the necessary facilities. Additionally, you may have the option to take tests in a separate, quiet classroom
Step 3. Use mobile apps to convert text to speech
Assistant applications make it much easier to study notes and books, especially for materials that don't have an audio part. You can download programs such as TapTapSee (https://taptapseeapp.com/) or KNFB Reader (https://www.knfbreader.com/) on iOS or Android devices.
