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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Hello Jen,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The NFB has been working with our representatives in Washington DC to try and remedy inaccessible websites such as the one from DSS that you are dealing with. No one person will be able to take care of this problem. You most definitely should not need sighted assistance to be able to use any website. Like many things for the blind equality is a continuous battle. Your issue has been brought to the attention of the NFB National office. Once I hear back from then I will email you privately and let you know what you can do to help your cause.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Maryanne Melley<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>860-212-5549<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>maryanne.melley@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Together with love, hope, and determination, we transform dreams into reality<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",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> CT-NFB <ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jen via CT-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, November 1, 2022 9:32 PM<br><b>To:</b> ct-nfb@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Jen <spiderweb1@sbcglobal.net><br><b>Subject:</b> [CT-NFB] Fw: Department of Social Services Website Inaccessible for Blind Clients<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>I meant to send this reply to the whole list. Sorry!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div><div id="ydp8968177eyahoo_quoted_7528243003"><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>----- Forwarded Message -----<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'> Jen <<a href="mailto:spiderweb1@sbcglobal.net">spiderweb1@sbcglobal.net</a>><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>To:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'> Phillip A. Magalnick <<a href="mailto:philmag@optonline.net">philmag@optonline.net</a>><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Sent:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'> Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 09:30:35 PM EDT<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Subject:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'> Re: [CT-NFB] Department of Social Services Website Inaccessible for Blind Clients<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><div id=ydp8968177eyiv3316512073><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>I can procure sighted assistance, and my assistant writes the info on paper and mails it in. But I do not believe blind clients should have to do this.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div id=ydp8968177eyiv3316512073yqt66015><div id="ydp8968177eyiv3316512073yahoo_quoted_7947930419"><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>On Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at 08:27:48 PM EDT, Phillip A. Magalnick <<a href="mailto:philmag@optonline.net">philmag@optonline.net</a>> wrote: <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><div id=ydp8968177eyiv3316512073><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>I am very sorry to hear this.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>If you are unable to find anyone to assist you, please contact me and perhaps I could help.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Phil<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Phillip A. Magalnick,JP<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Mobile 203–912-5783<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Justice of the Peace,CT<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Certified, Connecticut ADA Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Chairman, Connecticut State Rehabilitation Council,DOADS-BESB<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Chairman, City of Stamford ADA Advisory Council<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Member, Stamford Vision Zero Community Advisory Committee<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Founding member, Member, City Of Stamford IDEASS Council <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id=ydp8968177eyiv3316512073ms-outlook-mobile-signature><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Get <a href="https://aka.ms/o0ukef" target="_blank">Outlook for iOS</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><hr size=2 width="98%" align=center></span></div><div id=ydp8968177eyiv3316512073divRplyFwdMsg><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#26282A'> CT-NFB <<a href="mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> on behalf of Jen via CT-NFB <<a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, November 1, 2022 3:19 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a> <<a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Jen <<a href="mailto:spiderweb1@sbcglobal.net">spiderweb1@sbcglobal.net</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [CT-NFB] Department of Social Services Website Inaccessible for Blind Clients</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>I would like to bring up a matter of great concern to me because I need your help on how to proceed.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>I am a client of the Department of Social Services (DSS), and their site is inaccessible. One issue has been resolved for me but not others. One issue remains unresolved.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>First, they have a CAPTCHA to create an account which has no accessible alternative. I could only have a DSS worker create an account for me when I brought up the fact CAPTCHA inaccessibility is a violation of the ADA. Before that, I was told by IT the CAPTCHA design was just the way their site was and to get sighted assistance. I refused. I do not believe blind clients should have to rely on sighted assistance to creat their own accounts, especially when accessible account creation and CAPTCHAs are possible. I have seen both and told DSS this.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Now to the second, unresolved issue. Their benefit renewal forms are designed so a blind person can't press on the "Next" button with a screen reader after filling out their basic information. When you press the "Next" button, nothing happens. I tested it with Narrator but to no avail. So I have to get sighted assisntace every three months to renew my benefits on paper.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>I'm sure I'm not the only blind DSS client in the state.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#26282A'>Thank you for your assistance.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>