[nfbmi-talk] Inaccessible Michigan benefits website

[Fred Wurtzel]

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