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Re: Government site accessibility law

for

From: Ro
Date: Sep 22, 2010 1:12PM

Yes, I needed sighted assistence because my Apple computer could not
access the application. Turns out, the whole website is completely
useless anyway. I won't go into details, but even my sighted friend,
using their required Internet Explorer, cannot get the application to
do what I need it to do, and what I've been told to do countless
times. So my sighted friend had to call because I wasn't even really
given the time of day since I couldn't see the screen we were having
problems with. She was given a work around and we are trying that now.
Wow. :)

~Randi and Guide Dog Jayden

For me, acceptance was the first step towards recovery.

On Sep 22, 2010, at 11:59 AM, Margit Link-Rodrigue wrote:

> Randi,
> It sounds to me that by applying for benefits, you had to access a web
> application rather than a website, the difference being that you
> needed to
> go through a data entry workflow.
>
> Working on web applications myself, I know that often (even on
> federally
> funded projects) the accessibility testing is very basic. These
> applications
> are often programmed by subcontractors which are rarely held
> accountable
> when it comes to accessibility. I know this is unacceptable, but
> unfortunately a reality.
>
> I am curious why you needed sighted assistance to get through the
> process.
> Was it impossible for you to submit your application (maybe because it
> required access to a lot of paperwork)? Or is it just easier and
> faster for
> you to submit your application with the help of a sighted person? If
> the
> latter is the case, then I don't think it's a big deal for the
> sighted user
> to switch to Internet Explorer in order to assist you.
>
> If you needed help because you found the application process
> inaccessible,
> you should definitely report this to the agency you were dealing
> with. It
> would not be acceptable if the application didn't meet the technical
> requirements of your assistive technologies.
>
> -Margit
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 6:53 PM, Ro < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
>> Hi accessibility experts,
>>
>> I am not versed in all the laws that govern the internet, and I need
>> your help.
>>
>> All government sites are supposed to be accessible, right? Now, under
>> that, do all web browsers and operating systems have to be able to
>> use
>> that site? For example, can a government site only be used with
>> Internet Explorer, locking out users of Safari?
>>
>> Any help would be appreciated, as I encountered this today. I have to
>> have sighted assistence to apply for benefits, and my friend had to
>> open Internet Explorer, when she uses Firefox primarily.
>>
>> If this is not following guidelines, I'd sure like to know, because
>> it
>> totally locked me out of my own business.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Randi
>>
>> http://raynaadi.blogspot.com/
>>
>>