<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Courier New";
color:windowtext;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Good morning, Tampa chapter. I couldn’t sleep so I decided to jump onto my computer to get some things accomplished. First of all, I downloaded the Hart Plus application and reviewed it to determine what exactly is contained within the document and how easy/frustrating it might be to fill out over the phone with a HART Plus worker since up until now that is the only accessibility option that they offer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>First and foremost, I was astounded that the PDF document which is available as a download to fill out wasn’t even made accessible for sighted individuals in that there are no editable fields within the document for someone to activate with a mouse to fill in their information. Likewise, all of the questions which require an applicant to check off a box for an option that concerns his/her personal condition are not clickable elements. THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT IS MENT TO BE PRINTED OUT AND FILLED IN BY HAND! What is even funnier is that it states very clearly towards the beginning of the document that HART will “not accept </span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>copies, faxes or scans. If any sections are faxed or left blank, then the application will not be processed.” I find this absolutely ridiculous because in order for any visually impaired person to fill out this application independently we would have to OCR this document and then paste it into Word in order to fill it out and from the text on the application it sounds like such an application might be dismissed out of hand. In addition, how much easier would it be for all applicants and HART to make this document an accessible PDF file which can be filled out on a computer and then submitted over a computer directly to a HART email address? There is also another section in the application that literally questions who helped an applicant fill out the application; “was it a friend, relative, or a professional?” From this it seems like they know their form is not accessible and they don’t really care. In truth the reason why this statement is present is more likely due to the fact that persons with cognitive disabilities have the right to use this service and such persons may not be capable of filling out such an application independently. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> As I continued to read through the document it seems to me that most of what they are asking for is simple enough but also concerns a person’s private information. Of course, the person who approves submitted applications will be reading your information, but it seems like a betrayal of a person’s privacy to force them to tell a stranger from HART all about their physical/psychological conditions in order to fill in all the required information that they are requesting. For some people talking about their condition as someone with a disability is not an agreeable task and by forcing someone with a visual impairment to fill out this form with a stranger from HART, if they don’t have a friend, relative, or professional to help them out, is quite an imposition. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>It may be within the letter of the law to make this document accessible by making sure someone from HART will assist in filling out this application, but it certainly isn’t within the spirit of the ADA to help people with disabilities live their lives independently with as much privacy as they desire. I know that I pride myself on being as independent as possible, and this means managing all of my affairs on my own with all the technology that gives me the freedom to do so, so especially when it comes to filling out forms related to applications for service or medical forms, I’m adamant about doing such things alone. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>I hope my assessment of the HART Plus application has been helpful to you and that you take the opportunity to show up on Feb 15 to stand with Marion and the NFB to champion our right to live independently with pride in ourselves and our right to privacy. Just in case any of you want to review the HART Plus application and make your own judgement on what information they are requesting a stranger to help you fill out I’ve attached it to this message for your review. Lance and I will hopefully see you on the 15<sup>th</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Scott Greenblatt <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>8134601606 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'>Sgreenblatt76@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><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><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> NFBF-Tampa <nfbf-tampa-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Marion Gwizdala via NFBF-Tampa<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 30, 2024 2:14 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List' <nfbf-tampa@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> marion.gwizdala@verizon.net<br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBF-Tampa] HART ADA Advisory Committee Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Tampa Bay Chapter Members & Supporters,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> As we discussed during our chapter meeting on Saturday, HART has very poor performance when it comes to accessibility of its fixed route services, as well as their para transit services. One important issue is the inaccessibility of HART’s para transit application which is currently inaccessible to screen reading software. I spoke with Kemly Green this morning and she promises an accessible application “is coming soon”! What is “soon” and why has it taken thirty-three years, especially when they were told ten years ago and again five years ago? As you know, HART has many other challenges when it comes to accessibility and you are invited to be a part of the solution<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> On Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., the HART ADA Advisory Committee will meet. We are encouraging as many of you as possible to don your yellow Tampa Bay Chapter polos and attend this meeting in solidarity to tell HART and this committee we will no longer stand for their practice of disregard toward their disabled patrons. I sit on this committee and will wear my shirt! If you do not have a yellow chapter shirt, wear any yellow shirt in union with us! Here are the details for the meeting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHAT: HART ADA Advisory Committee Meeting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHEN: Thursday, February 15, 2024<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>TIME: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WHERE: HART Board Room<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> 1301 East 7<sup>th</sup> Avenue in Ybor City<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Tampa, Florida<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fraternally yours<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><Marion<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>