[Blind-Gov] Action Alert: Federal Employee ViewPoint SSurvey (FEVS) Accessibility Issues

Fri Jun 14 13:40:31 UTC 2024

Good morning,
I experienced the same issues with both Jaws 2022, and Jaws 2024.
Sincerely,

Carlos Montas
Bilingual Investigator
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
New Orleans Field Office
500 Poydras Street, Suite 809
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 504-635-2539
Work cell: 504-491-8702

From: Blind-Gov <blind-gov-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Othman (She/her), Ronza (CMS/OEOCR) via Blind-Gov
Sent: Friday, June 14, 2024 8:14 AM
To: List for blind government employees <blind-gov at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Othman (She/her), Ronza (CMS/OEOCR) <Ronza.Othman at cms.hhs.gov>
Subject: Re: [Blind-Gov] Action Alert: Federal Employee ViewPoint SSurvey (FEVS) Accessibility Issues

CAUTION: The sender of this message is external to the EEOC network. Please use care when clicking on links and responding with sensitive information. Forward suspicious emails to phishing at eeoc.gov<mailto:phishing at eeoc.gov>.

Hi Folks,
In addition to Nathaniel's issues as he described them, there are also some questions whose radio buttons are not associated with the text options, having been coded as separate items.  That means it appears to a screen reader user that there are two options for each item on the Lockard scale (very good, good, etc.).  In addition, several agencies have included specific questions at the end that are ranking and rating, which can only be answered by dragging and dropping using a mouse.  There is no way to answer these questions using keyboard commands.

I am using Jaws 2024 with the latest version of Chrome.  Just to be sure I wasn't having a bad technology day, I asked OPM to reset and re-open my FEVS, and I experienced the same issues the second time around as well.

Hope this helps.

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.

From: Blind-Gov <blind-gov-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:blind-gov-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of Nathanael T. Wales via Blind-Gov
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2024 8:47 PM
To: 'List for blind government employees' <blind-gov at nfbnet.org<mailto:blind-gov at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: Nathanael T. Wales <ntwales at omsoft.com<mailto:ntwales at omsoft.com>>
Subject: Re: [Blind-Gov] Action Alert: Federal Employee ViewPoint SSurvey (FEVS) Accessibility Issues

All,

I've found that the most noticeable issue with this year's FEVS is the consistency of the format of the forms with the questions and the form regarding demographics. For example, on one page with several questions a user of text-to-speech may be able to use a form control keystroke (letter "F") to move from one radial button to the next, but on another page the user must tab between questions and scroll down with the arrows to select an answer. On several of the pages that have the format requiring tabbing from one question to the next, the question is not readily read, and the user can easily lose her or his place to read questions (first, second, and third) before then tabbing through the first, second, and third question to select answers and remember the order of the questions. Also, on at least two pages the formatting can cause a screen reader to skip the last question unless the user goes backwards on the page to check. These were not problems in previous years.

As data points, both this year and last year (when there were no issues), I was using a Windows PC with JAWS 2023 and Crome. To help OPM fix this problem-if it can be motivated to, would:
--Kay: Please share which browser you used.
--Cody: Please share what browser and screen reader you were using.

Best,
Nathanael

From: Blind-Gov [mailto:blind-gov-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of CODY GREISER via Blind-Gov
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2024 8:26 PM
To: List for blind government employees
Cc: CODY GREISER
Subject: Re: [Blind-Gov] Action Alert: Federal Employee ViewPoint SSurvey (FEVS) Accessibility Issues

Hello All,

I also have completed the FEVS recently and found no accessibility issues.

Cody Greiser

From: Blind-Gov <blind-gov-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:blind-gov-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of rothmanjd--- via Blind-Gov
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2024 9:02 PM
To: blind-gov at nfbnet.org<mailto:blind-gov at nfbnet.org>
Cc: rothmanjd at gmail.com<mailto:rothmanjd at gmail.com>
Subject: [Blind-Gov] Action Alert: Federal Employee ViewPoint SSurvey (FEVS) Accessibility Issues

Folks,
Several individuals have shared concerns about the 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) in terms of lack of accessibility and 508 compliance issues.  The National Association of Blind Government Employees is asking for your help:

  1.  Please prioritize taking the FEVS as soon as you can (we understand most agencies are now in the open period, but some may be on a later schedule);
  2.  Please note any accessibility or 508 challenges you experience;
  3.  Please share those challenges with me via email to rothmanjd at gmail.com<mailto:rothmanjd at gmail.com>;
  4.  Please consider filing a 508 complaint with OPM and your employing agency (it's helpful to file in both places).  You can file with OPM using the email address FEVS at OPM.gov<mailto:FEVS at OPM.gov>.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Regards,
Ronza

Ronza Othman, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
443-426-4110
Pronouns: she, her, hers

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back

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