Reader Service Criticism Unfair

As the Coordinator of the Lamont Reader Service of the Student Disability Resource Center, I wish to reply to your article about Jack Chen (news feature, Feb. 10).

For Harvard Students with visual or learning disabilities who need all their course materials recorded, it is always necessary for them to research course materials well in advance of the term and obtain syllabi and other course materials to provide the Reader Service with adequate time to complete assignments using qualified readers in conjunction with course deadlines.

This is particularly important to avoid the "crunch" at the beginning of the term when all Reader Service clients need material at the same time. Many course materials are known well in advance and can be borrowed for recording purposes from a department if they are not yet available for purchase. All the student needs to do is ask.

It is unfortunate that Jack Chen is so dissatisfied with our service as stated in your article since he has almost never done the requisite "leg work" to get course materials to us in a timely manner, despite repeated requests to do what other students with similar needs seem to be able to do for themselves. In Jack's case, the materials were known and available months ago.

Not only are Jack's remarks insulting to the students who get their own needs met, but the many volunteer readers, including myself, who have worked for him for many nights and weekends are angry about his inaccurate portrayal of our availability and service to him. Leah Sparks '95   Coordinator Lamont Reader Service