[Nfbc-info] problem solving about online job applications

Wed Mar 9 08:53:05 UTC 2016

the bottom line is that you do whatever it takes to get interviewed and 
hired and the reality is that we live in a sighted world and with all of the 
laws there are still going to be barriers. I'm showing my age here but when 
I first started working there were no laws regarding reasonable 
accommodation or accessibility and the only way I got hired was to cut 
through all the barriers selling myself and my abilities in the process.
Chuck

-----Original Message----- 
From: Justin Harford via Nfbc-info
Sent: Saturday, March 5, 2016 8:08 PM
To: NFB of California List
Cc: Justin Harford
Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] problem solving about online job applications

I would not want a sighted friend to spend time helping me apply to an 
employer who clearly does not want me to apply.

> On Mar 5, 2016, at 7:39 PM, Chela Robles via Nfbc-info 
> <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Well said Chuck because I know when looking for a job there are bound to 
> be some online job applications not screen reader friendly at all and I've 
> had sighted people I know and fully trust to help me when it comes to for 
> example drop down lists in which you must select a state and country and 
> county and the app doesn't have a combo box, just an inaccessible drop 
> down menu where JAWS can read the items but once you select them, it says 
> for example California clickable doesn't even say whether or not it is 
> selected, or worse, they will have a hash-tag symbol or a # and say it is 
> a link but when clicking on it, it doesn't work in order to select the 
> item in question.
> When in doubt see about scheduling a time to have sighted assistance or at 
> least if you are able to do so, have someone remotely access your computer 
> and have them help you that way as you are talking to them.
>
> --
> You can live the life you want. your disability is not what holds you 
> back. Use your disability to break down common barriers and 
> misconceptions. You can do this!
> --
> Chela Robles
> E-mail: cdrobles693 at gmail.com
> Skype: jazzytrumpet
> I volunteer for Bookshare, to find out more and to volunteer with 
> us,visit: http://www.bookshare.org/
> Need more space, come join dropbox and start with two gigs of free space 
> and 500 Megabytes as is this is my referral link to you: 
> http://db.tt/XpUTe0E
> --
>
>> On 3/5/2016 6:56 PM, Charles Krugman via Nfbc-info wrote:
>> Hi Lisa and all. I understand what you are trying to do here to bring 
>> about improvements in accessibility of on line applications for 
>> employment. While I haven't experienced this with an on line application 
>> there have been a couple of times I have experienced accessibility or 
>> confusion when purchasing a product or registering on a site. As I was 
>> concerned about spending as little time possible dealing with the issue I 
>> resorted on one occasion to having a sighted person who I knew complete a 
>> purchase to join an organization as there was an accessibility issue. 
>> This involved giving him my information and having him complete the 
>> process for me using his computer. Some times the most expedient way is 
>> to revert to sighted help to complete a task in a timely manner and save 
>> the problem solving for after the immediate situation is resolved.
>> Chuck
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Lisa Irving via Nfbc-info
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 1, 2016 1:44 PM
>> To: 'NFB of California List'
>> Cc: Lisa Irving
>> Subject: [Nfbc-info] problem solving about online job applications
>>
>> Hello Federation Family,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I would like to begin a discussion about problem solving at multiple 
>> levels
>> when it comes to web access barriers and online job applications. I will 
>> now
>> share why I am writing this message. Basically, I encountered a semi
>> accessible online job application. Now, I'll try to succinctly describe 
>> my
>> efforts to problem solve and some of those results. Finally, I will open 
>> a
>> secondary discussion about what can we do collectively to change things
>> within the State of California.
>>
>>
>>
>> To begin with, an acquaintance urged me to apply for a position where he
>> works. The agency is in essence a satellite office. It's headquarters are
>> out of state. Uploading my tailored resume wasn't a problem, however, the
>> organization's online job application is not tagged in various areas and
>> parts of it could be laid out differently. When I discovered that current
>> online form wouldn't interface with JAWS I tried another approach. I 
>> pressed
>> my nose to the screen using a magnifier and managed, after six hours, to
>> complete probably 3/4ths of the form, however, all of that work went into
>> cyber space. There's more to this story.
>>
>>
>>
>> Over the past three days I contacted a couple of sighted friends to see 
>> if
>> they could help me; they can't, at least not now. I sent a short email to
>> the person who encouraged me to apply for the position. This person had 
>> good
>> intentions when he sent my message to headquarters. Someone from
>> headquarters sent me an email. She forwarded my resume to the Hiring
>> Manager; a free pass to the head of the line that I would prefer not to
>> have. I asked Sweetman Systems to go online with me to look at the form;
>> they did. They agree that there's room for improvement. I contacted  Mike
>> Hingson and followed through with his suggestions to contact local 
>> agencies
>> providing services to blind persons; I did. Here's where I'm at.
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm working with my DOR counselor. There's additional lag time, in part,
>> because her office isn't in the area. I left a message for the Director 
>> of
>> Client Services at the local Center for the Blind and I contacted the 
>> local
>> Braille Institute Volunteer Coordinator. The volunteer coordinator 
>> brought
>> up some points I had not thought about. Her volunteers cannot help blind
>> clients with paperwork which requires disclosure of personal information.
>> This is to protect both individuals. Additionally, she worried that her
>> volunteers would be liable if they made an error on the application. She
>> made some suggestions that weren't particular useful for me. I was 
>> invited
>> to use screen magnification equipment and she suggested that I work with
>> their technology instructor. The last suggestion would have been great 
>> had I
>> not already worked with highly qualified adaptive technology trainers. 
>> For
>> now, I'm stuck at pretty near square one. This brings me to the last part 
>> of
>> my message.
>>
>>
>>
>> I think it's safe to say that most of us want to drastically reduce the 
>> rate
>> of unemployment for blind individuals. I think it's also safe to say that
>> some of us would agree that even with the Department of Rehabilitation's
>> addition of team case management and designated job developers the system 
>> is
>> substantially flawed. I ask the question that some of you may be asking.
>> Collectively, what can the NFBC do to evoke change; preferably, to
>> completely separate DOR services for the blind and visually impaired from
>> other DOR services. Also, what can we collectively do to create employer
>> incentives to make online environments universally inclusive? It goes
>> without saying, none of this happens overnight. But, things need to 
>> change
>> and I would like to see the affiliate act on Brian Bashan's resolution 
>> which
>> was adopted two years ago. Your thoughts and suggestions?
>>
>>
>>
>> Warmly,
>>
>>
>>
>> Lisa Irving
>>
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>
>
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