[Job-Discussions] Equal Employment?

Wed Sep 14 03:08:29 UTC 2022


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> On Sep 13, 2022, at 8:24 PM, Rhonda PartainRhonda via Job-Discussions <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hello, whenever I have been presented with an inaccessible assessment I send an email to the HR department titled ADA accommodations request. That usually gets me an answer.
> Rhonda Partain
>  
> From: Job-Discussions <job-discussions-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Michael Walker via Job-Discussions
> Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2022 9:17 PM
> To: Job Discussions internet Mailing List <job-discussions at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Michael Walker <michael.walker199014 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Job-Discussions] Equal Employment?
>  
> Hi Richard,
>  
> This is a very interesting discussion. What happens in a situation like this if you contact your counselor through your states vocational rehabilitation agency?
>  
> Also, if material on the job is not accessible, how can you advocate for internal company resources to be accessible? if parts of the job application are not accessible, how likely is it that internal company resources won’t be accessible? What websites can help blind people locate companies that are proactive in accessibility?
>  
> Thank you,
> Mike
> 
> 
> On Sep 13, 2022, at 5:52 PM, Richard Davis via Job-Discussions <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Michael,
>  
> Welcome back! We split the Jobs listserv into two separate ones a few years ago. In response to your question, we see this problem quite often. Diversity and Inclusion departments often don't focus on blind people very much, and some of the systems they use for recruitment are not accessible. Making things accessible is their problem, not yours. I say that because some employers think it is the responsibility of job applicants to figure out how to use their systems. We can talk more about this, but here are some basic suggestions:
>  
> Communicate with them, preferably in writing, telling them that their assessment site is not accessible and requesting "reasonable accommodations for testing."  I use that term because it activates the ADA. You have a right to reasonable accommodations in the job application process. Ask them to respond within a week, telling you what accommodations they are going to make.
>  
> If they are uncooperative, contact Valerie Yingling, who runs our legal program, at vyingling at nfb.org. She can talk to the employer and remind them of their responsibilities. She can help you prepare a legal complaint if they do not. Since I don't know what their name is, I cannot tell you what laws might cover them, but I do know that the application process has to be accessible. Valerie is the real expert on legal stuff.
>  
> That's all for now.
>  
> Best wishes,
> Dick Davis
>  
> On Tue, Sep 13, 2022 at 5:31 PM Michael Baldwin via Job-Discussions <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Thank you to those that responded to my earlier question on employment gaps.]
> I now have a question about EEO and applying for a job.
> I applied for a job that requires an assessment.
> The assessment, which they host on their own website is not accessible with Jaws.
> I contacted HR through their Twitter account. This was the only way listed on their website. And explained in general terms that their assessment was not accessible. Their response was that I should use Chrome and it would work. So, I replied giving much more detail, including disclosing my blindness. I have not heard anything back from them.
> The ironic part, they have a whole department dedicated to Diversity and Inclusion.
> Does EEO and other employment laws extend to assessments that are required for applying for the job?
> This is a large corporation that I would think would be up to date on all the employment laws.
>  
> Thanks,
> Michael
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