I have twice had completely blind students in an introductory college
chemistry class.  That makes it equivalent to the high school class.
The most successful one (who is now an MD) worked well in lab as we got a
"verbializer" for him.  This was an art student who was very vocally
gifted.  This helper described things as much as possible.  He had not had
chemistry so he was good about just describing and not explaining.  We (an
aide, the verbilizer, lab partners, etc) helped him to do as much hands on
as he could.  It wasn't perfect but he was highly motivated and did well in
the course.  Hope this idea helps.

Jan Hayes, Prof. Emeritus, Merced College, Merced, CA
jmhayes**At_Symbol_Here**earthlink.net

Science Is For Everyone, Spread the News


> [Original Message]
> From: 
> To: 
> Date: 4/14/2007 12:51:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Modifications for Blind Student
>
> I am forwarding this email to the ACS Division of Chemical Health and
Safety Listserv list as I think the members of DCHAS can help out.
>
> Would you please respond to chemed-L**At_Symbol_Here**mailer.uwf.edu , (or both lists) as
I think this question/situation is of interest to many.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob Belford
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Janet Burgess 
> Date: Saturday, April 14, 2007 2:35 pm
> Subject: Modifications for Blind Student
> To: CHEMED-L**At_Symbol_Here**MAILER.UWF.EDU
>
> > Dear List,
> > I was just informed that I will have a blind student in my high 
> > school 
> > Honors Chemistry class during the next school year. Unlike 
> > sight impared 
> > students that I have had before, this student is totally blind. 
> > He may or 
> > may not have an aide with him. He reads Braile, and they plan 
> > to order a 
> > book for him.
> > My major concern is safety, both of the student and the safety 
> > of all the 
> > other students in the class. I have no idea how a blind student 
> > will be 
> > able to do the labs. He can not observe what is happening, so 
> > will the 
> > burden for explaining what is going on be on his lab partners, 
> > or will I 
> > have to conduct a separate lab for him so that I can explain 
> > what he would 
> > be seeing so that he can draw conclusions since many labs 
> > require students 
> > to be able to see in order to "understand" what is going on.
> > If you have had a blind student in Chemisty Lab, I would 
> > appreciate any help 
> > that you can give me.
> > Have a great weekend,
> > Janet Burgess
> > Science Hill High School
> > Johnson City, TN 
> > 
>
> ***********************************************************
> Robert E. Belford
> Department of Chemistry
> University of Arkansas at Little Rock
> http://www.ualr.edu/rebelford
> 501-569-8824

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