She Might Want To Reconsider Her Position

For reference, I’m blind. Partly because this high school is rather fearful of a lawsuit, and partly because I’m unable to navigate without assistance (for several medical reasons), I’m required to have someone take me from class to class. The usual person who does this goes on lunch at a rather poor time, right before a class, and so someone else comes in to fill in for her.

This interaction happens a week or so into school. I’m in the room several instructors use, where I make up work, etc. There are several devices on a table.

Aide: “What’s this?”

Me: “What?”

Aide: “This thing sitting on a desk?”

Me: “Umm… Describe it, please?”

Aide: “It’s black.”

Me: “Black? But… what does it look like?”

Aide: “It… looks like a black suitcase?”

Me: “Umm, is it a device? It might be the notetaker I use for braille?”

Aide: “I guess?”

She walked over to me with the item. It was, in fact, the notetaker. It doesn’t resemble a suitcase in the slightest; picture a tablet with a braille pad that slides up to reveal a visual screen.

I’ll never understand how, after ages working with various teachers and aides, it’s so difficult to describe an item to me.

There was also the time she walked me smack into some form of metal structure, didn’t tell me, and caused me to knock it over and send lunchroom decorations all over the place. Guess what? She couldn’t describe that to me, either