[Blind-Gov] The accessibility of soft phones?

Thu Jun 15 13:17:25 UTC 2023

So I learned that lots of Federal agencies don't know there is a Fed Ramp authorized version of Zoom called Zoom for Government.  That should get approved on most Federal and state agency systems because it's a high degree of security and many of the concerning features like third-party recording are disabled.  The DOD agencies might have more hoops to jum through, but I've actually seen it on a few of them, so might be worth asking.

Zoom Phone is a part of Zoom for Government, and it's fantastic.  Essentially, we've migrated many of us to this application instead of a physical desktop phone.  I can call out, and my desk number shows up.  I can receive calls to my desk phone that forward to my laptop Zoom client.  I can even use a number pad on my computer to dial people not using Zoom - so I can call to landlines and cell phones and all the rest.  The caller ID function is fabulous, and the missed call log is perfect with Jaws.

I'm hearing that people don't know about Zoom Phone as a soft phone option, but I'd encourage you all to ask for it either as a reasonable accommodation or for an outright switch.  It really is a game-changer.

Ronza M. Othman (she/her/hers), Director, EEO Compliance Group, Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – 7500 Security Blvd, N3-22-16, Baltimore, MD 21244 - 410-786-3274 (o); 443-380-5044 (f)

CMS aspires to create: a culture that values and recognizes our employees’ unique identities and perspectives; an environment that provides all employees with equitable access to opportunities for growth and development; and a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-Gov <blind-gov-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Annette Carr via Blind-Gov
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2023 9:02 AM
To: 'List for blind government employees' <blind-gov at nfbnet.org>
Cc: amcarr1 at verizon.net
Subject: Re: [Blind-Gov] The accessibility of soft phones?

Hi Graham,

I agree with you, the web-based MS-Teams is difficult to use with JAWS, as is the web-based 365 applications.

Prior to my agencies use of MS-Teams, we used Skype for Business.  I found this to be impossible to use with JAWS.  I finally got help to put a message up on my Skype profile that said "Due to the lack of Section 508 compliance with Skype for Business I am unable to respond to your communication.  Please reach out to me by..."  Eventually, I had to ask for a reasonable accommodation to have it removed from the list of programs that automatically launched because it would grab the JAWS focus constantly.  This might have been an agency setting, and not exactly a function with Skype.

Just for reference, Zoom is not approved for use at my agency, so I resort to either dialing in to Zoom based sessions, or use my personal computer.

HTH,
Annette

-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-Gov <blind-gov-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of graham via Blind-Gov
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 7:54 PM
To: 'List for blind government employees' <blind-gov at nfbnet.org>
Cc: blind at trailstone.com
Subject: Re: [Blind-Gov] The accessibility of soft phones?

Hi all,
I asked around at my federal agency. A number of people have moved to soft phones.
However, the tool we currently using is Microsoft Lync version 2016. Some also call it skype.
However, many blind employees have found soft phone functionality inaccessible when using JAWS.
My agency is planning to move to M365, so MS Teams will replace skype. I find the client version of MS Teams would be accessible in regards to soft phone calls to use, but there are other MS teams functionality I find inaccessible. Especially the web version. The unfortunate part is M365 will not be deployed to my agency's main computer network until late 2024 if not later.

Graham
blind at trailstone.com
NFB Central Maryland Chapter, Board Member NFB of Maryland Website and Technology Committee, Member LCB graduate, 2016

-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-Gov <blind-gov-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Annette Carr via Blind-Gov
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2023 5:56 PM
To: 'List for blind government employees' <blind-gov at nfbnet.org>
Cc: amcarr1 at verizon.net
Subject: Re: [Blind-Gov] The accessibility of soft phones?

Interesting, I did not consider Team's calling feature to be a Softphone, but Dave you are right, it is.  I agree, it works fairly well.  I have not tried to call someone other than those on my network.  I have no idea if and/or how to call someone by their phone number.  Once you make the call, it feels pretty much like a meeting.  I do not know what version of Teams we are using, but I am using JAWS 2022 without the scripts.  They will not approve the use of the scripts.

HTH,
Annette

-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-Gov <blind-gov-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of David Andrews via Blind-Gov
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2023 5:03 PM
To: List for blind government employees <blind-gov at nfbnet.org>
Cc: David Andrews <dandrews920 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Blind-Gov] The accessibility of soft phones?

We use the softphone in Microsoft Teams and I find it to be accessible.  I have had more of a mixed experience with Jabber.

Dave

At 07:58 PM 6/9/2023, you wrote:
>Good evening, I work for the veterans health administration at the
>Truman VA hospital in Columbia, Missouri, several of our staff are
>getting prepared to do periodic telework a couple of days a month. And
>everybody is transitioning to laptops, so that when they either
>telework or rotate from one station to another they donâ€™t have to
>reload everything and they just take their computer. Thereâ€™s also
>include starting the use of soft phones.
>Does anyone use soft phones and if so, are there any ones that are
>particularly accessible? Speci Specifically for someone who is an
>exclusive jaws user? And only navigates using the keyboard? Thanks,
>Dacia. Sent from my iPhone

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