[blindlaw] Inaccessible Government PDF Forms

[AZNOR99 at aol.com]

Hi Tai,
I have experience with the forms to which you are referring.  The  problem 
has been that once USCIS finally gets a form to be accessible, they  release 
a newer version that is no longer so.  I suggest you contact the  DHS 
Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at _crcl at dhs.gov_ 
(mailto:crcl at dhs.gov)  - if memory serves, they were  working on helping USCIS make their forms 
508 compliant.  USCIS has a civil  rights office as well, but my experience 
is that HQ tends to do a better job of  accountability.
 
Thanks,
Ronza
 
 
In a message dated 9/21/2011 7:36:32 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
taiablas at gmail.com writes:

Rob,

Email me privately off list. I would like to talk to  you about your
experiences. Perhaps we could talk via phone. I am a 1l, but  my school
has a volunteer program. I am using forms from USCIS and they are  only
somewhat accessible.

On 9/21/11, Dittman, Robert  <rdittman at stmarytx.edu> wrote:
> Tai,
>
> Are you also  a student attorney, just asking because I am doing the same
> thing in  the civil clinic here at St. Mary's University School of Law 
here
> in  Texas.
>
> What version of jaws are you running? Jaws version 12  seems to be working
> fine on most government forms from the SSA  although it is still no pick
> nick. I will be trying out a Mac as soon  as I can get my paws on one.
> Secondly I have had good luck having the  forms converted into word form 
and
> then filling out the forms as  well.  As a third and last resort option, 
you
> can always go to  sighted assistance because some of the forms are just 
not
> rendered in  an accessible form.
>
> Good luck,
>  Rob
>
>
> Robert D. Dittman
> Student Attorney
>  St. Mary's University, Center for Legal and Social Justice (Civil  
Clinic)
> 2507 N.W. 36th Street
> San Antonio, TX   78228-3918
> Phone: (210) 431-5760  fax: (210) 431-5700
>  Email: rdittman at mail.stmarytx.edu
>
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> -----Original Message-----
>  From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]  
On
> Behalf Of Tai Blas
> Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 4:09  PM
> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [blindlaw] Inaccessible  Government PDF Forms
>
> Hi all. I am working as a volunteer with  my school's legal clinic helping
> victims of domestic violence file  immigration forms to get U-visas.
> Unfortunately, these PDF forms are  extremely inaccessible with JAWS. 
When I
> tab through them, many of the  fields are unlabeled.
> Sometimes, the checkboxes are confusing due to  the way they are labeled. 
Can
> someone please outline what steps I  should take to address this problem? 
i
> really want to assist these  clients and don't want the burden of
> form-filling to fall to my  sighted colleagues. Does anyone else have
> experience with immigration  forms?
>
> Any information is appreciated.
>
>  Thanks.
>
> Tai
>
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