[blindlaw] Inaccessible Government PDF Forms

[Tai Blas]

Thanks for the tip, Ronza!  I will report back to the list after I
make contact with someone at CRCL.

On 9/21/11, AZNOR99 at aol.com <AZNOR99 at aol.com> wrote:
> 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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