Blind LSAT Test Taker Unable to Diagram Logic Games--Assistance Requested Please!
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:28 pm
Dear Top Law Schools.
I am a senior at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) who wishes to take the lsat in this upcoming September, 2016; I have already taken it during February and received a 153--putting me in the 56th percentile. While studying for the test, I realized that most of the approaches are visual in nature: all of the materials I looked at, be they from PowerScore, Prinston, MCGraw-Hill, Kaplan, or even from those les known such as the LSAT Study Guide 2015 (Singhal), the LSAT For Dummies (Blackwell, Hatch, and Hatch), and Outside Lsat, rely on diagraming and other visual techniques to solve the logic games section. Although made accessible for the blind on http://www.bookshare.org, most of the tables, charts, and diagrams were not available, nor were any descriptions given, making then next to useless for studying the logic games.
My question, which was thus not address in any of the materials I read, was how does a completely blind individual, who was granted a screenreader and an electronic braille device for testing accommodations, follow the diagraming advice given in the prep materials? The diagraming approach does not work at all for me, due to the visual nature of the diagraming techniques. What other ways can a logic game be solved without diagraming, using tables (I cannot read them on the braillenote), or Microsoft Excel (impractical); are those three the only practical solutions, and if so, how can that be circumvented; and what advice can you give blind individuals for solving such questions? I seem to have more trouble with ordering/grouping games, and those with two or more variables (E.G., 3 bouquets and 5 kinds of flowers).
I tried to find answers online, but most of what I found was out-of-date: either lamenting the unfairness of the LSAT for blind test takers, advice on how to apply for accommodations (and not how to use them on the logic games section), or the suggestion to explain one's circumstances in the LSAT addendum (which seems more like a reactionary step, rather than a solution). I know of no other blind individuals who have recently taken the LSAT, and my adviser was of little help.
I sincerely wish to thank you for your invaluable aid in helping my studies, and I look forwards to your response. Truth be told, this question was the only reason I registered for this forum, and, judging by past topics and responses, I am glad I did so:)
Most sincerely,
Seif.
P.S. I am currently traveling, so I will try to respond when possible.
Thank you, again, most sincerely:)!
I am a senior at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) who wishes to take the lsat in this upcoming September, 2016; I have already taken it during February and received a 153--putting me in the 56th percentile. While studying for the test, I realized that most of the approaches are visual in nature: all of the materials I looked at, be they from PowerScore, Prinston, MCGraw-Hill, Kaplan, or even from those les known such as the LSAT Study Guide 2015 (Singhal), the LSAT For Dummies (Blackwell, Hatch, and Hatch), and Outside Lsat, rely on diagraming and other visual techniques to solve the logic games section. Although made accessible for the blind on http://www.bookshare.org, most of the tables, charts, and diagrams were not available, nor were any descriptions given, making then next to useless for studying the logic games.
My question, which was thus not address in any of the materials I read, was how does a completely blind individual, who was granted a screenreader and an electronic braille device for testing accommodations, follow the diagraming advice given in the prep materials? The diagraming approach does not work at all for me, due to the visual nature of the diagraming techniques. What other ways can a logic game be solved without diagraming, using tables (I cannot read them on the braillenote), or Microsoft Excel (impractical); are those three the only practical solutions, and if so, how can that be circumvented; and what advice can you give blind individuals for solving such questions? I seem to have more trouble with ordering/grouping games, and those with two or more variables (E.G., 3 bouquets and 5 kinds of flowers).
I tried to find answers online, but most of what I found was out-of-date: either lamenting the unfairness of the LSAT for blind test takers, advice on how to apply for accommodations (and not how to use them on the logic games section), or the suggestion to explain one's circumstances in the LSAT addendum (which seems more like a reactionary step, rather than a solution). I know of no other blind individuals who have recently taken the LSAT, and my adviser was of little help.
I sincerely wish to thank you for your invaluable aid in helping my studies, and I look forwards to your response. Truth be told, this question was the only reason I registered for this forum, and, judging by past topics and responses, I am glad I did so:)
Most sincerely,
Seif.
P.S. I am currently traveling, so I will try to respond when possible.
Thank you, again, most sincerely:)!