[HumanSer] Work Accommodation Concerns
Justin Williams
justin.williams2 at gmail.com
Mon Jun 2 14:54:45 UTC 2025
Agreed.
At this point, those agencies should be involved.
-----Original Message-----
From: HumanSer <humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Miranda via HumanSer
Sent: Monday, June 2, 2025 9:46 AM
To: humanser at nfbnet.org
Cc: Miranda <knownoflove at gmail.com>; humanser at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [HumanSer] Work Accommodation Concerns
I wonder if calling the national NFB office or calling the job accommodation= network might be helpful? Also, while I realize this would be quite the pro= cess, I wonder about filing with the EEOC?
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 2, 2025, at 8:44=E2=80=AFAM, Sarah Meyer via HumanSer
> <humanser at nfb=
net.org> wrote:
>=20
> =EF=BB=BFHi Aimee,
> Thank you so much. I am so sorry that you had to go through that as
>well. I=
w=3D
> as planning to reach out to you and appreciate your willingness to speak.
> I=3DE2=3D80=3D99ll be in touch and hope you have a great day!
>=20
> Sincerely,
> Sarah
> Sent from the iPhone of Sarah Meyer (Please forgive any dictation
>errors)=
>=20
>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 4:23=3DE2=3D80=3DAFAM, Amy ruell
>> <aruell at comcast.net> w=
rote:
>> =3D20
>> =3DEF=3DBB=3DBFHi Sarah,
>> So sorry you=3DE2=3D80=3D99re having these difficulties. I worked for
>> a b=
usiness=3D
> organization which implemented an inaccessible database system and did
> not=
h=3D
> ing to provide accommodation other than to tell me that I could not do
> hal=
f o=3D
> f my job and deprive me of the opportunity to have access to the
> materials=
, I=3D
> needed to professionally complete tasks. I don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t want to
> say=
much p=3D
> ublicly here, as I went to court to fight this after making numerous
> attem=
pt=3D
> s to request that they make their programs accessible. Happy to talk
> with y=
o=3D
> u off-line if you like. Unfortunately, this is not something where
> legal p=
re=3D
> sidents are clear. I believe you know how to get in touch with me.
> Please f=
e=3D
> el free to call.
>> So sorry you are having these difficulties.
>> Amy.
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> =3D20
>>> On Jun 1, 2025, at 11:11=3DE2=3D80=3DAFPM, Sarah Meyer via HumanSer
>>> <hum=
anser at n=3D
> fbnet.org> wrote:
>>> =3D20
>>> =3DEF=3DBB=3DBFHello,
>>> =3D20
>>> I have been employed at a community mental health agency for 2 years
>>> now=
=3D3D=3D
>=20
>>> as
>>> a therapist and it has been the most challenging experience of my
>>> life =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> in
>>> terms of not having effective reasonable accommodations to do my
>>> job. I =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> will
>>> try to keep this as brief as possible because it has become such a
>>> =3D3D=
>>> complex
>>> situation but apologize in advance for the length. I will share some
>>> of =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> the
>>> major issues and my questions below. This is honestly a very
>>> vulnerable message for me so I just ask for grace and some
>>> gentleness in responses.=
>>> =3D20
>>> =3D3D20
>>> =3D20
>>> Problems:
>>> =3D20
>>> * Despite having discussions prior to my hire and ongoing advocacy
>>> efforts, as well as reassurances from the agency for months that
>>> they =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> were
>>> prioritizing accessibility to the EMR because they recognized that
>>> our work-arounds would not be sustainable/effective, I have never
>>> had access=
=3D3D=3D
>=20
>>> to
>>> use any aspect of our EMR (NextGen) with JAWS or any other screen
>>> =3D3D reading options. I believe some of the issues are that NextGen
>>> is housed on a =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> Remote
>>> Desktop, but most notably that the agency has never used the latest
>>> =3D3=
D
>>> version
>>> of the EMR which NextGen has indicated would be most likely to be
>>> compatible/accessible with JAWS because that is where their
>>> developers =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> have
>>> invested their efforts to meeting accessibility
>>> guidelines/requirements.=
>>> * The agency has indicated JAWS scripting is too expensive. They neve=
r=3D
>=20
>>> engaged with me or VR when trying to reach out to explore if VR
>>> could =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> help
>>> with some of the cost.
>>> * I had to fight to get them to consider work-arounds for months
>>> because they insisted they were "so close" to providing
>>> accessibility =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> for me
>>> to independently access NextGen. Eventually I got them to be willing
>>> to =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> try
>>> using Word templates for me to do documentation, which I then sent
>>> to my=
>>> supervisor and other leadership to upload into the database. The
>>> =3D3D templates have had a lot of accessibility barriers themselves,
>>> and it has been challenging, to say the least, to acquire
>>> information from client charts=
=3D3D=3D
>=20
>>> in
>>> accessible formats. Additionally, I can't access the calendar, =3D3D
>>> scheduling features, notifications of client arrivals, communication
>>> intra-professionally with members of other teams involved in
>>> clients' =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> care,
>>> etc. Other staff indicated repeatedly that they knew our
>>> work-arounds =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> were
>>> short-term and not truly sustainable (for me, for them, for quality
>>> =3D3=
D
>>> client
>>> care).
>>> * I've proposed other options including Aira, Seeing AI on work cell,=
>>> installation of my own provided Kurzweil 1000 and Duxbury Braille
>>> Translation software onto work laptop to try to make various
>>> materials =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> more
>>> accessible, and several other accommodations proposed. I also use a
>>> =3D3=
D
>>> Focus 40
>>> Braille Display which has had a lot of problems not pairing via
>>> =3D3D Bluetooth. I have requested permission to transfer documents
>>> via SD card between =3D3=
D
>>> Focus
>>> display and laptop but have never received a solid response though
>>> they =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> have
>>> previously been very hesitant to allow use of flash drives or
>>> anything =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> that
>>> could potentially cause concerns about privacy, which I understand
>>> from their perspective. Wired connection with laptop works better,
>>> though =3D=
3D
>>> still
>>> has issues, and JAWS has had other issues as well.
>>> * The toll of chronic inaccessibility and having to work so much extr=
a=3D
>=20
>>> to compensate for these barriers, which also apply to trainings and
>>> =3D3=
D
>>> other
>>> aspects of the job beyond the EMR accessibility barriers, have =3D3D
>>> repeatedly exacerbated symptoms of multiple other chronic health
>>> disabilities. I eventually had to go on an extended medical leave
>>> last year. I =3D3D continually have tried advocating and have
>>> frequently received no response, =3D3D inaccurate follow-up,
>>> dismissiveness, and have faced an often hostile and =3D3D
>>> intimidating work environment when I have tried to speak up and
>>> advocate.
>>> * When I returned from my leave last Fall, I truly hoped there would
>>> be improvements; however, the agency has actually doubled down and
>>> =3D3D=
>>> indicated
>>> that the supposedly temporary work-arounds, which failed miserably
>>> =3D3D=
>>> before,
>>> are now the ongoing "accommodation system." They have come up with
>>> some =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> new
>>> methods for notifying me of client arrivals, and there has been some
>>> improvement in support staff notifying me of scheduled client =3D3D
>>> appointments and cancellations, but this has been inconsistent. The
>>> client =3D3D documentation I've requested to prepare for sessions
>>> and help with pre-filling my templates has at times been missing
>>> crucial information, not provided, =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> and
>>> is filled with accessibility problems in their efforts to convert
>>> inaccessible PDFs into Word files. The templates I am using for
>>> =3D3D completing documentation are still in process of being revised
>>> for accessibility =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> and
>>> the burden has been placed on me to provide written narratives of
>>> the =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> issues
>>> so they can "fix them". Until recently, leadership would not meet
>>> with =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> me,
>>> and this has been inconsistent.
>>> * I've requested having a visual assistant and have yet to receive a
>>> response.
>>> * The agency has been through significant transitions with "merging"
>>> under a larger umbrella parent company which has also caused a lot
>>> of confusion and worsened miscommunications. I also have had issues
>>> with getting clear, accurate, timely, accessible information and
>>> =3D3D determinations of my leave time accommodation requests to
>>> manage my other health =3D3D concerns, especially during the
>>> transition to new leave management entities. I was=
>>> allowed to work remotely in the past when seeing clients, and during
>>> the=
>>> training refresher/catching up upon my return to work, but I was
>>> =3D3D recently informed that I am only allowed to conduct client
>>> sessions from the =3D3=
D
>>> office
>>> and only when team leader coverage, support staff, and crisis staff
>>> are =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> on
>>> site. (Never mind that many other staff are working hybrid due to
>>> =3D3D limited office space, work modified schedules including seeing
>>> clients past 5PM,=
>>> etc.).
>>> * I have been told I've been provided all the necessary accommodation=
s=3D
>=20
>>> to fulfill the essential functions of my job, despite my and my
>>> medical providers' statements that this is not accurate. I have
>>> received =3D3D corrective action notices/statements and discussions
>>> which place all the blame/responsibility on me for problems with
>>> note timeliness, session =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> length
>>> (running over on time), running late to sessions, etc., without
>>> acknowledgement of how the accessibility barriers play a significant
>>> =3D=
3D
>>> role.
>>> * I am burned out but I care so much about my clients and believe I
>>> have unique assets and skills to support them and the mission of the
>>> =3D=
3D
>>> agency,
>>> plus I am not fully licensed and need the supervision (I am close to
>>> =3D=
3D
>>> being
>>> able to apply for full LMHC licensure which would open more options).
>>> =3D20
>>> =3D3D20
>>> =3D20
>>> Questions:
>>> =3D20
>>> * I know several folks here have shared about work-arounds to
>>> compensate for inaccessibility; I am wondering where you draw the
>>> line, especially in community mental health where the service
>>> delivery and documentation expectations/demands are so high and
>>> able-bodied staff =3D=
3D
>>> even
>>> say they struggle to keep up with all of the expectations? I have
>>> never =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> been
>>> able to reach a full case load and service delivery because of the
>>> accessibility barriers and how much I've struggled to keep up as a
>>> =3D3D=
>>> result.
>>> It's hard to not internalize and beat myself up for not being able
>>> to =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> put in
>>> all of the extra time and energy to compensate, especially because
>>> of =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> the
>>> toll this has taken on my own physical and mental health.
>>> * If you have worked in a community mental health or otherwise
>>> fast-paced, high demand setting, and had either very limited or no
>>> =3D3D=
>>> access to
>>> the EMR, how did you keep up with service delivery and note
>>> timeliness standards? How much work-life balance has been realistic?
>>> I understand =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> this
>>> can vary for each person. What accommodations have been
>>> non-negotiables =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> for
>>> you?
>>> =3D20
>>> =3D3D20
>>> =3D20
>>> There's unfortunately more but I have already shared quite a lot here.
>>> Please feel free to ask questions if you need additional
>>> clarification. =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> I
>>> readily admit I do have areas I am constantly needing to improve in,
>>> especially when it comes to time management and being more concise
>>> (I do=
>>> have ADHD which I am still learning to navigate and again I know
>>> there =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> is
>>> overlap with the impact of my other chronic health disabilities; I
>>> was =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> so
>>> much better at pushing past my limits in school and college/grad
>>> school =3D=
3D=3D
>=20
>>> but
>>> chronic override of self-care is never sustainable).
>>> =3D20
>>> Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and share any feedback.
>>> =3D20
>>> =3D3D20
>>> =3D20
>>> Sincerely,
>>> =3D20
>>> Sarah
>>> =3D20
>>> =3D3D20
>>> =3D20
>>> Sarah K. Meyer, MA, LMHCA (she/her)
>>> =3D20
>>> (317) 402-6632
>>> =3D20
>>> <mailto:Sarah.meyer55 at gmail.com> Sarah.meyer55 at gmail.com
>>> =3D20
>>> =3D3D20
>>> =3D20
>>> "Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the
>>> =3D3D overcoming of it. My optimism, then, does not rest on the
>>> absence of evil, but on a=
>>> glad belief in the preponderance of good and a willing effort always
>>> to cooperate with the good, that it may prevail." =3D3DAF Helen
>>> Keller
>>> =3D20
>>> =3D3D20
>>> =3D20
>>> _______________________________________________
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> anSer:
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e=3D
> t
>> =3D20
>=20
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