[HumanSer] EHRs again

Mon Jul 27 16:16:33 UTC 2026

My hospital is now using EPIC.   Epic has made their patient portal accessible, but they don't seem to have much interest in makimng the employees' EMR itself fully accessible..    So they know how to do it.

Ginny
Dr. Virginia Duff
Clinical Director
West End ACT Team

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On Jul 24, 2026, at 15:05, JD Townsend via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:

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Of course, David.  That is why I am suggesting that interested division members come together to draw up a resolution for the 2027 convention to consider.  The resolution would be to move the NFB to advocate with federal programs and legally to bring electronic health and medical records into compliance, that is to become fully accessible for blind people.

-----Original Message-----
From: HumanSer <humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of David Andrews via HumanSer
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2026 7:55 PM
To: 'Human Services Division Mailing List' <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Cc: dandrews920 at comcast.net
Subject: Re: [HumanSer] EHRs again

You are not going to get the NFB to do anything by complaining on this list.

Some possible approaches:

Get NFB members involved
Write a resolution for state and national conventions Contact the NFB President Contact Jonathan Mosen, director of technology

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: HumanSer <humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Kerry Macdonald via HumanSer
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2026 4:25 PM
To: Human Services Division Mailing List <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Kerry Macdonald <kerrymac31 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [HumanSer] EHRs again

I second your opinion on this matter. The NFB should be dealing with this issue.

Kerry

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On Jul 22, 2026, at 12:51 PM, JD Townsend via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:

I have found no interest on the part of these EMR platforms to make their products accessible.  Ihave had to open a blind services case in order to have an access engineer to create JAWS scripts.

I again challenge the Human Services Division to bring the full force of the NFB to fully address this issue.

John David “JD” Townsend
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, SW3765
386 852-5177

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-----Original Message-----
From: HumanSer <humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Deborah
carter via HumanSer
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 9:02 AM
To: humanser at nfbnet.org
Cc: Deborah carter <deborahgm9958 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [HumanSer] EHRs again

Good morning. I work with a practice that has used therapy notes for the last few years. I have found it to be accessible on my iPad, but not on my computer with Windows and JAWS. I have also used simple practice and had very little hiccups with accessibility with that platform. I have also used Doxy me a little bit and so far have not had any hiccups there. Hope this is helpful. Our practice was also thinking about going to therapy links. Not sure about that one.
Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 21, 2026, at 7:42 AM, Kerry Macdonald via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Hi, this has been my experience also. My boss has been trying to deal with the company they use and they just don’t seem to care at all about accessibility.
What has anyone else’s experience been with therapy notes? We are finding it in accessible in the most important areas like writing in progress notes.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how to make these companies pay attention to their accessibility?

Kerry

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 18, 2026, at 4:25 PM, BGMusicMin : via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Hi Audrey,

Surprisingly, I have found simple practice to be very accessible. Using Windows with jaws and the chrome browser, it is very accessible and I am able to access everything. Simple practice also does have an iOS app which for the most part is accessible but does present some accessibility challenges with voiceover when starting and stopping virtual video sessions. But, on the windows platform with the chrome browser, I have not run into any accessibility issues. However, when I first tried using simple practice, I did try it with Firefox as my browser and ran into several accessibility issues. I have also been told by other blind folks that simple practice is also accessible on the Mac with voiceover also using the chrome browser. But, I don’t have any personal experience with this.

Hope this helps.
Melissa

On Jul 18, 2026, at 9:26 AM, Audrey via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Hi all,

Anyone out there using an EHR with JAWS without the need for
regular sighted assistance? I know folks have been putting out this
question to the list for perhaps the last 20 years. Anyway, I'd
like to supervise interns as part of my therapy practice, and
finding/using an EHR seems important to doing any kind of business
expansion. I haven't had any luck when reaching out to specific
companies-seems like there is very little interest in accessibility
out there. I thought I'd write to this list, just in case someone
is having a different experience. Please let me know if you have any leads/suggestions.

Thanks very much,

Audrey

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