[humanser] Comments on Accessibility Issues Involving Software

Mon Sep 2 01:33:04 UTC 2013

Hi, JD,
         So reverent am I of real-life accounts of a 1st phase of our 
Struggle for civil and human rights which in case you weren't sure is 
not in any way shape or form,  over since today, there is no such 
thing as a real living wage proportional to a the economy in which 
someone lives; universal health care remains but a piped dream and 
voting rights remain as adulterated as they always have been. they 
Only thing that's moped, in my view, is its not being politically 
corect to voice one's toxic, deviant beliefs. Nowadays, the age of 
the PC construct has forced that stuff underground to where now, they 
can, rather than being up front about their   hatred, they can now 
exercise their racist, classist feelings where it counts, via policy 
decisions. and wealth distribution, or undistribution as a case may be.

My name is Carly and I am pursuing a human services certificate here, 
at Berkeley city College in Berkeley, California.
How far are you in your career and, are you a total?

>To: Mary Ann Robinson ; Human Services Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [humanser] Comments on Accessibility Issues Involving Software
>
>I agree with those words to that freedom song too.
>Which song is this?
>
>Not working yet, but I have experienced barriers in my federal internships.
>The government does not follow its own section 508 guidelines and I've seen
>inaccessible software and training materials online.
>
>Yes, do speak up. I just hope work arounds can be found so you can do your
>job until it becomes accessible.
>
>-----Original Message----- From: Mary Ann Robinson
>Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2013 3:58 PM
>To: JD Townsend
>Cc: Human Services Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [humanser] Comments on Accessibility Issues Involving Software
>
>I sure do like and agree with the words to the song about freedom.  It is so
>sad
>that things are so often done when there is a threat of litigation instead
>of for the right reasons.  Changing attitudes and misconceptions are also
>critical to removing barriers and locking doors for us.
>
>Mary Ann
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "JD Townsend" <43210 at Bellsouth.net>
>To: "Mary Ann Robinson" <brightsmile1953 at comcast.net>; "Human Services
>Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Saturday, August 31, 2013 2:54 PM
>Subject: Re: [humanser] Comments on Accessibility Issues Involving Software
>
>
>>
>>Ahhh ... I am not alone.
>>
>>After much advocacy my hospital's electronic records are becoming, 
>>grudgingly, accessable.
>>
>>The newest document to go on-line is our psychosocial.  Wonder of 
>>wonders they are asking me to review it prior to bringing it 
>>on-line for all workers.  Of course it was totally not with 
>>Window-Eyes or with JFW, so with the assistance of the state's 
>>blind services and their sub-contractor who programs JFW the work 
>>to bringing it into full access is being completed. The programming 
>>is complex and taking days due to the lack of built-in access 
>>features.  Had I not contact an attorney last year this 
>>understanding by the hospital would not be.  They are more worried 
>>with legal suit than with providing access to all, how about that?
>>
>>As the song goes:
>>Freedom doesn't come like a bird on the wing,
>>Freedom doesn't come like the evening rain,
>>You've got to fight for it,
>>Day and night for it,
>>And, every generation has got to win it again.
>>
>>Together we can force this issue.
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>
>>JD
>>From: Mary Ann Robinson
>>Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 10:04 PM
>>To: Human Services Mailing List
>>Subject: [humanser] Comments on Accessibility Issues Involving Software
>>
>>Hello Federation Colleagues,
>>
>>The agency with whom my employer contracts, began
>>implementing a new electronic medical record in the fall of 2011.  I
>>attended introductory trainings regarding the EMR.  Early in 2012, 
>>I expressed
>>concerns about accessibility issues.
>>As quality manager, one of my job duties would be to conduct medical record
>>reviews.  I've been unable to do so independently because a number of
>>documents were hand written and unable to be scanned.
>>In the new EMR, there are many check boxes in all of the forms.  I can read
>>the text entered by clinicians, but none of the many items that are checked
>>are identified by my screen reader , Window-Eyes.
>>My employer wanted no part of the accessibility discussion ; and I was told
>>I would have to discuss concerns with
>>the agency implementing the software and its manufacturer PCE, on my own.
>>I consulted with GW Micro who manufactures my screen reader.  There were
>>several meetings that included GW micro, the agency implementing the EMR,
>>PCE and myself.
>>Several recommendations were made by the GW Micro representative in
>>September of 2012,that if implemented,
>>would result in increased accessibility for me. In the spring of this year,
>>I was informed that changes would be made to the assessment form to make it
>>accessible.  The changes went into effect on August 1st.  Lo and behold,
>>they didn't work.
>>It appears as though the software developers made a change different than
>>the one recommended by GW Micro.  So I am  back to square one.
>>If I were still a clinician,as I was until 2005,  I wouldn't be 
>>able to use the software at all
>>to complete paperwork.  What a nightmare that would be.  When issues like
>>these arise, I believe we as blind employees need to speak out appropriately
>>and assertively.  We shouldn't remain silent.  If we do, we will be "left in
>>the dust" so to speak as technology advances.
>>We may be able to remain employed in a private practice.  However, those of
>>us who work in agencies are apt to find that our jobs are in jeopardy if
>>software isn't  accessible as more and more agencies become paperless.
>>When the agencies that employ us are considering implementing new software,
>>we should request that the software developers take web content
>>accessibility guidelines into consideration.  I've been informed that these
>>can be found at w3.org on the web.  It is my understanding, that if these
>>guidelines are followed by developers, software will be accessible to people
>>with disabilities worldwide.
>>Thank you for reading this long winded post. If we don't speak up 
>>and/or take other appropriate action, I believe
>>that employment options for us may become worse not better.
>>Mary Ann Robinson, LMSW, ACSW, CAADC
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>>
>>JD Townsend LCSW
>>Helping the light dependent to see.
>>Daytona Beach, Earth, Sol System
>>
>>
>>-----
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>
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>JD Townsend LCSW
>Helping the light dependent to see.
>Daytona Beach, Earth, Sol System
>
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