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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Interesting for sure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Blind-Gov <blind-gov-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Othman (She/her), Ronza (CMS/OEOCR) via Blind-Gov<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, June 14, 2024 9:14 AM<br><b>To:</b> List for blind government employees <blind-gov@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Othman (She/her), Ronza (CMS/OEOCR) <Ronza.Othman@cms.hhs.gov><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Blind-Gov] Action Alert: Federal Employee ViewPoint SSurvey (FEVS) Accessibility Issues<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Hi Folks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Hope this helps.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif;color:black'>Ronza M. Othman (she/her/hers), </span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black'>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)</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>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.</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Blind-Gov <<a href="mailto:blind-gov-bounces@nfbnet.org">blind-gov-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Nathanael T. Wales via Blind-Gov<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 13, 2024 8:47 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'List for blind government employees' <<a href="mailto:blind-gov@nfbnet.org">blind-gov@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Nathanael T. Wales <<a href="mailto:ntwales@omsoft.com">ntwales@omsoft.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Blind-Gov] Action Alert: Federal Employee ViewPoint SSurvey (FEVS) Accessibility Issues<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>All,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>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:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>--Kay: Please share which browser you used.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>--Cody: Please share what browser and screen reader you were using.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Nathanael<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif'> Blind-Gov [<a href="mailto:blind-gov-bounces@nfbnet.org">mailto:blind-gov-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>CODY GREISER via Blind-Gov<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 13, 2024 8:26 PM<br><b>To:</b> List for blind government employees<br><b>Cc:</b> CODY GREISER<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Blind-Gov] Action Alert: Federal Employee ViewPoint SSurvey (FEVS) Accessibility Issues<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I also have completed the FEVS recently and found no accessibility issues.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cody Greiser<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Blind-Gov <<a href="mailto:blind-gov-bounces@nfbnet.org">blind-gov-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>rothmanjd--- via Blind-Gov<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 12, 2024 9:02 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:blind-gov@nfbnet.org">blind-gov@nfbnet.org</a><br><b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:rothmanjd@gmail.com">rothmanjd@gmail.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [Blind-Gov] Action Alert: Federal Employee ViewPoint SSurvey (FEVS) Accessibility Issues<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Folks,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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:<o:p></o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>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);<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>Please note any accessibility or 508 challenges you experience;<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>Please share those challenges with me via email to <a href="mailto:rothmanjd@gmail.com">rothmanjd@gmail.com</a>;<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'>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 <a href="mailto:FEVS@OPM.gov">FEVS@OPM.gov</a>.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ronza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>