[blindlaw] ADA question

[Scott C. LaBarre]

Susan, please contact me off line about this at slabarre at labarrelaw.com
and/or 303 504-5979.

Thanks,
Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Susan Kelly
via blindlaw
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2014 9:08 AM
To: Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: [blindlaw] ADA question

I am employed by a local (county public defender) government agency.  Over
the years, my direct supervisor and I have battled with our bosses and the
county over the provision of adequate computers and related accommodations
to allow me to continue to be effective in my position, which I have held
since before becoming blind.  We have repeatedly been put off and promised
that eventually things would be stabilized; in the meantime, I am expected
to continue to work at the same pace as before I lost my vision.  As a
result, my family and I have scrimped and saved in order to expend our own
money in an effort to procure tools to assist me in my work, which the
office has refused to compensate in any way.

The latest issue that has arisen is due to a re-design of the appellate
court web-site that has rendered it largely inaccessible.  This, in turn,
has required even more after hours work by myself and my assistant, who
verbally records all disclosure and transcripts which cannot be read or made
intelligible by JAWS, as well as doing all of the work necessary in the
wholly inaccessible electronic file management system which was purchased by
our main office.  At this point, I would estimate that each of us puts in
roughly 10 to 12 hours per day, plus an additional 5 or 6 hours on the
weekends, just to keep up with the expected workload.  Of course, we are
only paid based upon a 40 hour / week basis.  We have just learned that the
main office has absolutely no intention of upgrading or replacing my
equipment, and believes that the appellate court issue is not their problem.
The appellate court appears to have a similar attitude, despite the recent
settlement agreement in another state.

I appreciate the fact that I at least have a paying job, and do not wish to
risk that.  However, if anyone has any suggestions as to how we might
encourage my office to actually provide a reasonable accommodation?
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