By Dalen Lewin
Lamp Staff
Being visually impaired, I have always been a bit annoyed when I am reminded to write an accommodation letter to my professors. Often this occurs before the semester has even started.
But after sitting down with several professionals who work with people with accommodations, I now have a greater appreciation for why they prod us to start early.
They have to get them as soon as possible because time is essential. All of that paperwork and money would be nothing without being on time. The key word being “time.” The accommodations have to be given at a certain time or the students will be left in the dark. If the letters are not sent to the coordinator on time, it will be too late to receive the accommodations.
Everyone that I spoke with said that, while they love their jobs, they hate the paperwork. They have to write Individualized Education Plans for students on a daily basis, which can be about 60 pages.
While you might think that scrolling through emails with accommodation requests, doing the necessary paperwork, and calling the necessary people would be boring and redundant, that is not the case, according to Kim Eddings, the Lincoln Land Community College accessibility services coordinator.
“There is never a same day,” Eddings said. “I love talking to different people with different accommodations, hearing about their strengths and weaknesses.”
Eddings enjoys socializing, which is the main focus of the job. She was warm and friendly throughout the interview. She loves her job and it does not sound like she has plans to leave her current position any time soon.
Sara Wells is the Assistive Technology Teacher at Illinois School for the Visually Impaired . She was a former Lincoln Land liaison, which means she helped the visually impaired with their college work. I call her the assistant liaison, because she still helps out either when the other worker has her hands full, or is not available. As an Assistive Technology teacher, she decided to become a liaison, because, as she puts it, “I help Lincoln Land students with their technology, so they go hand in hand.”
As for how much she likes her job, she had this to say: “I have been in the field of vision for 16 years and I absolutely love it! I love working with the students and watching them grow and learn, especially the college students, to see them take that next step.”
Jasmine Wells is the current Lincoln Land Liaison, or as she describes it, the current Coordinating Assessment Educator. She helps accommodate the visually impaired for their college classes. She also writes, plans, and attends IEP meetings for the students. On top of that, she helps the lead teachers that are new to helping the visually impaired. This is her second year on the job. Like the others, she loves her job. “I love my job. I love helping students figure out what they need to do to take that next big step of going to college.”
Dalen Lewin can be reached at [email protected]
