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

Fri Jun 14 16:41:15 UTC 2024

Wow, I just did not have any of these issues. I did happen to notice that
after each question, there are radio buttons for the  choices, and then the
choices such as strongly agree, agree,  neither agree or  disagree or agree
were written out without buttons. While that is odd and one has to arrow
through it,  I did not find it inaccessible. My agency specific questions
were choices with radio buttons just like the rest of the survey. I wonder
then, since there have been issues among other agency employees if the
tests/surveys differ drastically from agency to agency. 

Interesting for sure.

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 9:14 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

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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