[nfbmi-talk] Inaccessible Michigan benefits website

joe harcz Comcast joeharcz at comcast.net
Fri Nov 5 15:13:20 UTC 2010


And they and DELEG knew of these issues and more. Check this out:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:dAJKIMjKUTcJ:www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/Sec._115_MCB_FY07_253903_7.pdf+commissioner+informational+packets+michigan+commission+for+the+blind&hl=en&gl=us

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

This is the html version of the file

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/Sec._115_MCB_FY07_253903_7.pdf.



Google automatically generates html versions of documents as we crawl the 
web.



Page 1

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

Description of the Bureau/Agency:

The Michigan Commission for the Blind is a state agency designed to assist 
persons who are blind to achieve personal, social, and economic

independence emphasizing jobs in the competitive labor market.

Vision Statement: If a person is going to be blind, she/he could not be in a 
better place than Michigan.

Mission Statement:

To provide opportunities to individuals who are blind or have visual 
impairments to achieve employability and/or function independently in

society.

Main Components of the Bureau:

The Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program

The Vocational Rehabilitation Program is a partnership of the federal and 
state government to provide VR services to blind individuals

throughout the State of Michigan. Some of the services provided are: 
Evaluations, counseling, job development, vocational training, college and

technical training, low vision aids and follow-up services.

Independent Living Program

The Independent Living Program provides services to older blind individuals 
so they can remain independent in their own homes.

MCB Training Center

The Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center is a residential 
facility. The primary focus for the Center is assisting blind persons in

developing more positive attitudes toward blindness and to help them attain 
the necessary skills to function independently.

Business Enterprise Program

Michigan Commission for the Blind's (MCB) Business Enterprise Program (BEP) 
provides opportunities for blind persons operating vending

stands and cafeterias in federal and state buildings as well as highway rest 
stops and visitor centers.

Youth Low Vision Program

The Youth Low Vision Program provides low vision evaluations and devices to 
visually impaired school age children throughout the state.



Page 2

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 2 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

Deaf Blind Services

The DeafBlind Unit of the Michigan Commission for the Blind provides 
statewide Vocational Rehabilitation services and/or Independent Living

consultations to adults and high school students who are legally blind and 
have moderate to profound hearing loss.

Values in addition to DLEG's to which MCB subscribes:

We value people who are blind, skills of blindness and statewide activities 
that include, empower and enable individuals to make their own

choices.

We value comprehensive and coordinated statewide vocational rehabilitation 
services producing employment outcomes in integrated settings.

We value comprehensive and coordinated statewide independent living services 
helping older blind individuals remain independent.

We value individual choice and individualized services in developing and 
implementing rehabilitation planning.

We value all agency staff and other agencies and organizations that serve 
people with vision and physical disabilities.

We value enabling technology that helps integrate consumers.

A description of how the Bureau/Agency align with the vision and major goals 
of DLEG:

The mission of the agency aligns with the DLEG goals/strategies of 1) 
integrate visions and values into DLEG; 2) create new investments/ job

opportunities; 3) protect Michigan consumers; 4) provide excellent customer 
service; 5) provide rehabilitation and career development

resources; 6) promote excellent labor-management relations; 7) provide 
access to affordable technology; 8) Human Capital - encourage an

adaptive workforce; 9) Communities - foster cool cities.

Direct or indirect alignment of MCB with DLEG's four Strategic Roadway 
initiatives:

MCB is aligned to the following Roadways:

Entrepreneurship

. MCB continues to provide small business training and food service 
employment opportunities to visually impaired individuals.



Page 3

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 3 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

Retain and Grow

. MCB's main focus is to train blind individuals in many areas of employment 
so that they will be able to meet demand of tomorrows job force.

. MCB Business Enterprise Program has been designing, implementing, and 
updating food services throughout the State of Michigan in

conjunction with DMB. These locations are being aesthetically and 
efficiently designed to enhance food services to the residents and visitors

of the State of Michigan.

Workforce

. MCB is committed to enhancing partnerships to maximize employment 
opportunities, increase public awareness and promote the

independence of visually impaired individuals throughout the state.

. MCB is committed to provide accessibility, opportunities and resources for 
individuals with visual impairments to ensure successful fair

employment prospects.

Description of how the vision and mission for the Bureau/Agency system is 
communicated to staff and customers:

The agency will provide all staff, partners, and customers with MCB's action 
plan and goals to be achieved. We will also post our goals, objectives

and outcomes on our web site. In addition, our Vision and Mission Statements 
are included in our new employee orientation packet.

MCB also has an active Vision 2020 initiative that is an integral part of 
the agency. This initiative focuses on MCB's mission and values and is

inclusive of all staff, partners and customers. This process includes 
quarterly meetings and the minutes and discussions are distributed in

accessible formats to all parties involved. Several media are used, i.e. 
email, listserv, Braille, and audiotape.

Support needed from DLEG for MCB to accomplish our goals with both internal 
and external partners:

A major issue for MCB is accessibility. It is imperative that DLEG takes a 
leadership role to ensure that all communications are conveyed to all

persons in an accessible format. In addition, it will be necessary that all 
systems used by the State of Michigan be accessible so that visually

impaired staff and customers are included and validated in all aspects of 
the state workforce and all customer services. This is demonstrated by

access deficiencies to the current E-Michigan portal, the State of Michigan 
MAIN accounting system and the fact that the current process of

purchasing hardware, software and systems are not inclusive of accessibility 
issues from the onset.

In addition, it is sound financial practice to maximize any and all 
available resources. Therefore, MCB needs DLEG's commitment to obtain

increased state funding to ensure that MCB can maximize all federal funds 
available.



Page 4

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 4 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

MCB Critical Goals for FY2006, including "SMART" objectives:

Goals:

1. Continuously improve and implement customer responsive service systems to 
provide employment opportunities to blind individuals.

. Workforce

. Entrepreneurship

. Retain and Grow Jobs in Michigan

2. Provide premier technology, training, and equipment for MCB clients and 
staff.

. Workforce

. Retain and Grow Jobs in Michigan

3. Through collaboration, partnerships and communication make Michigan a 
"cool" and inclusive place for blind people to live, learn,

work, raise a family and enjoy life.

. Cool Cities

4. Through collaboration and partnerships expand funding and resources to 
MCB to increase services to consumers.

. Workforce

. Entrepreneurship

. Retain and Grow Jobs in Michigan

Objectives:

GOAL 1 - CONTINUOSLY IMPROVE AND IMPLEMENT CUSTOMER RESPONSIVE SERVICE 
SYSTEMS

Objective 1

1.1 By 6/07 complete case file reviews on at least four offices statewide.

Status: Amber - Detroit, Gaylord and Escanaba have been completed. Lansing 
Regional Office review has been started and will be done no later

than December 2007.



Page 5

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 5 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

Objective 2

1.2

MCB will request that the Consumer Involvement Council identify and document 
existing programs and make recommendations on how MCB

can positively impact services and outcomes for blind youth in transition. 
The CIC began this work in January and will make recommendations to the

Director and Commission in December 2006.

Status: Green - Completed

Objective 3

1.3

MCB will pursue the Michigan Quality Council's Navigator award, the next 
step in its Quality Management Initiative (MCB received the

Lighthouse award in 2003), compile and submit application to MQC by 12/06 
and report results by 8/07. We are going to engage the Quality Council

on next steps.

Status: Green - The Executive Director of MQC has met with MCB staff and PAQ 
Team to discuss next steps. We will continue this item in the 2008

plan.

Objective 4

1.4

MCB in conjunction with MSU and their Project Excellence will collect and 
tabulate feedback information from a variety of customers including

VR clients, IL clients, Training Center students, YLV clients/parents and 
report results to commissioners quarterly beginning 9/07.

Status: Red - Unable to complete because of Executive Directive on 
restrictive spending. This objective will be included on the 2008 plan.

Objective 5

1.5

MCB will request that the Elected Operators Committee develop a satisfaction 
survey for BEP Operators and Trainees to measure the quality

of training and support beginning January 06 and report to Commission Board 
by 9/07.

Status: Green - The information was presented to the EOC and approved by 
them. It will be presented to the Commission Board in December, 2007.

Objective 6

1.6

Assess skill level development and satisfaction of clients concluding MCBTC 
training and report to commissioners quarterly beginning 6/07.

Status: Amber - The information gathering tool has been developed and steps 
have been taken to begin collecting data and have started tracking

some students to monitor progress. A new teacher reporting form has also 
been developed. This will be included in the 2008 plan.



Page 6

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 6 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

Objective 7

1.7

Begin information gathering: Tours through MCBTC, Information Packets sent 
out, and referral phone calls and report to the Director by 10/07.

Status: Amber - MCBTC is keeping track of tours. Steps have been taken to 
begin tracking phone calls and packets sent from the field offices. This

data will be reported to the Board in 2008.

Objective 8

1.8

Develop a mentoring program for clients at MCBTC by 5/07.

Status: Green - Completed

Objective 9

1.9

Develop a mechanism that will ensure transition program statewide throughout 
the year, not just for summer programs and report progress by

June 2007.

Status: Green Completed

Objective 10

1.10 Work with national employment alliances to develop contacts with 
businesses that are established in multiple states with the intent of 
looking

at how MCB can effectively provide it's clients with ways of obtaining 
employment with these firms and report to Director by June 2007.

Status: Green - Complete.

Objective 11

1.11 Career Planning class curriculum at MCBTC will be completed by April 1, 
2007 and class should begin by April 15, 2007. Subsequent classes

will be offered between May and September, 2007.

Status: Green - Completed



Page 7

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 7 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

GOAL 2 - PROVIDE PREMIER TECHNOLOGY, TRAINING, AND EQUIPMENT FOR MCB CLIENTS 
AND STAFF.

Objective 1

2.1 By 6/07 develop and implement web-based tracking capability for the BEP 
tracking system.

Status: Green - System is operational.

Objective 2

2.2 Upon receipt of official word from the federal government regarding 
Earmark funds for the Technology Center develop a plan and timeline by

1/07; begin project implementation by 2/07 and report progress to Director 
and Commissioners by 8/07.

Status: Red -No funds available - will resubmit in 2008.

Objective 3

2.3 Partner with other agencies or groups to do technology training to 
encourage the partners to do grant writing and help financially with 
training and

report progress to the Director by 9/07.

Status: Green - Steps to partner with outside agencies been initiated and 
anticipate results and benefits from it in 2008. An objective related to 
this

issue will remain on the 2008 plan.

GOAL 3 - THROUGH COLLABORATION, PARTNERSHIPS, AND COMMUNICATION MAKE 
MICHIGAN A "COOL" AND INCLUSIVE PLACE

FOR BLIND PEOPLE TO LIVE, LEARN, WORK, RAISE A FAMILY, AND ENJOY LIFE.

Objective 1

3.1

Develop new agency brochure for the Employer Services by 8/07.

Status: Green - the Business Services brochure has been printed and 
distributed to all offices.



Page 8

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 8 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

Objective 2

3.2

MCB Communications Committee meetings will be conducted bi-monthly and MCB 
will offer to present the meetings as a model to the

Department by 5/07.

Status: Green.

Objective 3

3.3

Offer four mini-adjustment programs at various locations throughout the 
state during 2007 and provide services to at least twenty individuals at

each location.

Status: Green

Objective 4

3.4

Increase opportunities to recognize performance excellence by MCB Staff by 
showcasing staff:

1.

To include staff profile in the agency bi-monthly newsletter - "MCB Insight"

2.

Identify staff to be recognized at the State of DLEG meetings held in 2007.

Status: Green -Profiles are being done and we were prepared to do this at 
the April State of DLEG meetings have been cancelled.

Objective 5

3.5

Develop a pilot project for Deaf/Blind based on 4 teams receiving training 
to prepare students for active participation in the PCP process and

utilizing it in preparation for transition to adult services by 5/07.

Status: Green

Objective 6

3.6

Collaborate with partners in the development of an interagency transition 
team to meet the needs of students by 12/07.

Status: Green



Page 9

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 9 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

Objective 7

3.7

Conduct a workshop for consumers and their families focusing on their need 
to effectively communicate, find employment, maintain

independence, and for support persons to improve their level of awareness 
and understanding by 04/07.

Status: Green

GOAL 4 - THROUGH COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS EXPAND FUNDING AND RESOURCES 
TO MCB TO INCREASE SERVICES TO

CONSUMERS.

Objective 1

4.1 By 04/07, Participate our first annual workshop for all Michigan 
Intermediate School Districts' teachers of the Visually Impaired and/or

superintendents to provide opportunity for interaction between MCB and VI 
teachers report on progress 6/07.

Status: Green-Completed but ongoing and need to report progress.

Objective 2

4.2

Develop a contingency plan if the federal earmark funds for the MCBTC 
Technology Center are not awarded by 3/07 (Grant Writing).

Status: Green

Objective 3

4.3

Explore collaboration with the Office of Aging and area agencies on aging to 
help leverage human and fiscal resources to more effectively

serve older individuals with sight loss and report to Director by 06/07.

Status: Green - Progress has been made past the "exploration" point. It will 
remain an issue on the 2008 plan and results will be reported to the Board

in 2008.

1. Bureau/Agency Customers (Internal /External)

Rehabilitation is a cooperative venture with visually impaired individuals, 
client families, MCB staff, community, employers, other state, local and

federal government agencies, public and private rehabilitation facilities, 
high school, colleges and training institutions, Business Enterprise

Program customers and operators



Page 10

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 10 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

2. How are MCB processes/services developed based on the needs of those 
customer groups?

MCB has several federal and state regulatory policies that drive the 
processes implemented for blind individuals and the BEP operations.

However, the main objective in successfully serving people with vision 
impairments is to facilitate informed consumer choice. The regulations

require that our services are developed based on individual client needs and 
full consumer participation. Therefore, MCB works within the

federal and state bureaucratic system to provide unique services to every 
client. In addition, we continually solicit input from staff, clients,

partners, and external entities to provide excellent customer services in 
all aspect of daily operations.

Some of the extensive avenues of input and communication are:

Consumer Involvement Council

Elected Operators Committee

MCB Listserv

Regular Staff Meetings

Planning and Quality Team

Five Vision 2020 Focus Design Teams

Communication Committee

Client Satisfaction Surveys

3. How is the customer satisfaction data used to modify activities; what 
trends have been identified?

The data is provided to staff and administration to indicate strengths and 
to identify areas that need improvement or change. Many trends

surface when examining customer satisfaction data. Consistent with the 
Quality Management principles "Plan, Do, Study, Act" (PDSA), we

use this process to modify programs in an effort to continuously improve 
services. Some of the more significant trends identified have

been:

Timeliness of services

Client Involvement

Lack of resources (Staffing and Funds)

The positive value that MCB Training Center adds to the rehabilitation 
process

The high level of professionalism of demonstrated by MCB Staff

4. What are the major products/services of the Bureau/Agency?



Page 11

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 11 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

The main services of MCB are to provide Vocational Rehabilitation and 
Independent Living skills training to blind and visually impaired

consumers statewide. In addition, MCB monitors the Randolph Sheppard 
mandated food service operations throughout the state. These

services enable blind persons to achieve and maintain independence and 
employment

5. What processes are used to measure quality, effectiveness and/or impact 
of the products and services?

Processes used include: accreditation reviews of regulatory programs; 
compliance MCB is subject to comply with standards and indicators

defined and monitored by the federal government. Failure to comply with the 
mandates could result in a loss of federal funding.

MCB also self monitors its effectiveness by conducting client satisfaction 
surveys. Several consumer groups are integrated in the strategic

planning process and provide direct input to staff and administration when 
issues arise. In addition, MCB completes quarterly case reviews to

ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.

6. How MCB measures success:

Data regarding program performance is gathered regularly. Staffing and 
workload assignments are adjusted accordingly. The information is

also used in the development of the agency strategic plan and program 
revision requests when necessary.

The information gathered from internal and external sources is used to 
develop the annual Federal "State Plan". This plan requires that MCB

provide action steps to address specific areas of its service delivery 
system.

7. How is the data used to manage and improve MCB?

Data regarding program performance is gathered regularly. Staffing and 
workload assignments are adjusted accordingly. The information is

also used in the development of the agency strategic plan and program 
revision requests when necessary.

The information gathered from internal and external sources is used to 
develop the annual Federal "State Plan". This plan requires that MCB

provide action steps to address specific areas of its service delivery 
system.

8. How are employees both made aware of the measures and how those measures 
will affect the Bureau/Agency and their jobs?

Staff are made aware of measures and how it effects their jobs through:

Staff meetings; Individual consultations; Emails; Policy directives; 
Commission meetings/director reports



Page 12

FY 2007 Annual Program Performance Measures

DEPARTMENT:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

APPROPRIATION UNIT: Boards and Commissions

PROGRAM: Michigan Commission for the Blind

- 12 -

s:/admin/strategic plan/MCB 2006 Action Plan.doc

CHALLENGES:

. As a result of early retirements when, unlike many other direct field 
service agencies, Commission vacancies were only filled at a one in four

ratio, MCB is still experiencing problems serving its clients, and needs 
additional staffing to accomplish its mission and goals and to meet the

federally mandated performance standards and indicators. MCB also needs DLEG 
to assist in finding alternative solutions for resources when

demands exceed limits.

. MCB needs additional matching funds to fully capture all allocated federal 
funds and, in fact, General Fund appropriations provided by the

Michigan Legislature has been consistently inadequate to match available 
federal funds and as a result, Michigan is last among all states

when it comes to state's supporting federal rehab programs such as the 
Commission's.

. In recent years MCB has been innovative in finding matching sources to 
capitalize maximum federal dollars. However, the rising cost of rent

in state owned or occupied buildings for the Business Enterprise Program 
food service operations in Michigan is making it nearly impossible to

capture all funds to serve blind citizens in the State of Michigan. The rent 
for these locations was to be a pass through in MCB's budget as

funding was to keep pace with expenses. MCB has not been fully funded for 
the rent since before FY2000 when the rent was one third of

what it is today.

. Another major challenge facing MCB is its Training Center, which has 
several building operational health and safety issues that have the

potential to create emergency situations. The first is an antiquated HVAC 
system that could fail at any time and parts for the system are

obsolete. Hand in hand with that situation is the lack of a backup generator 
at the Center to provide temporary power in the case of an

outage. MCBTC is a 24/7 residential school that houses 25-35 blind students. 
Many of these students are elderly, frail or have secondary

disabilities that could be affected if power were to be interrupted during 
the cold of winter or the heat of the summer.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christine Boone" <Christine_Boone at comcast.net>
To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 4:30 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Inaccessible Michigan benefits website


> Totally true in Michigan.  What's more, the current director of the
> Commission for the Blind in our state has never done anything about the
> inexcusable inaccessibility of state websites in Michigan, many of which 
> are
> supposed to be used by state employees.  His response to this untenable
> situation was to request a waiver for the Commission.  Now, the MCB is the
> only agency in state government in our State, to do all of its time
> reporting with pen and paper.  Naturally this is also inaccessible to 
> blind
> employees, so at MCB while I was director there, blind staff could print
> time sheets out on their computers.  Still, those time sheets were given 
> to
> a senior and confidential secretarial staff person, for entry into the
> computer system.
>
> By contrast, my agency in Pennsylvania partnered with the general VR 
> agency,
> and entered into a long-term cooperative working agreement with the office
> of information technology.  We even designated one of our computer savvy
> employees to be detailed to the OIT for a while.  At the end of it all,
> after much struggle and some turmoil, all systems that were used by state
> employees were fully accessible to:  people who are blind or visually
> impaired and those who are otherwise disabled.
>
>
> Some times you just have to take a stand!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Fred Wurtzel
> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 8:38 PM
> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Inaccessible Michigan benefits website
>
> Hello,
>
> Who is Michigan's ADA coordinator, anyway?
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
> Fred
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Lydia Schuck
> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 4:07 PM
> To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Inaccessible Michigan benefits website
>
> Just as an FYI.  See you all at the convention.  Lydia Report Finds State
> of Michigan Benefits' Website Inaccessible to People with Disabilities  by
> Jenifer Simpson, AAPD Senior Director of Government Affairs
>
> A June 22, 2010 report finds that state public benefits agencies are 
> relying
> more on their websites as a means of providing information to the public,
> and as a means for applicants to secure Medicaid, food stamps, and cash
> assistance. However, the report, by the National Center for Law and 
> Economic
> Justice (NCLEJ) at http://www.nclej.org/, shows that at least five states 
> 
> California, Florida, Michigan, New York and Texas  have agency websites
> with problems that make them inaccessible to people with disabilities who
> are users of assistive technology, and many websites are difficult for
> anyone to navigate.
>
> The report, "The Closed Digital Door: State Public Benefits Agencies'
> Failure to Make Websites Accessible to People with Disabilities and Usable
> for Everyone," describes barriers to access for people with disabilities
> when applying for cash and other benefits online, requesting an 
> application,
> searching the website, or contacting the agency by email.
> These accessibility problems violate the Americans with Disabilities Act,
> Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and many state web accessibility 
> laws
> and policies. As the federal government and states prepare to implement
> health care reform, and millions of additional people become eligible for
> Medicaid, it is critical that state public benefits agency websites are
> accessible to people with disabilities and usable by everyone, so eligible
> individuals have ready access to information on the Medicaid program and 
> the
> application process. AAPD notes that the evaluation did not state 
> assessment
> of any video materials on these websites, and which might involve lack of
> captioning or video description, where used.
>
> The NCLEJ states it will work with advocates to improve public benefits
> agency website accessibility and usability.
> To become involved or for more information, please contact Hannah
> Weinberger-Divack at Tel (312) 368-1104, (312) 368-1104, or E-mail Cary
> LaCheen at lacheen at nclej.org See letter sent to State of Michigan Director 
> &
> Chief Information Officer, Kenneth Theis from National Center for Law and
> Economic Justice and State of Michigan Accessibility Policy
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk mailing list
> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
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>
>
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