Remember accessibility? I guess ADHA forgot.
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Blind and low vision community neglected in My Health Record
opt-out process | Vision Australia
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2018 07:19:20 +1000
From: Helen Yoxall <helenyox...@bigpond.com>
To: apfhea...@privacy.org.au
Blind and low vision community neglected in My Health Record opt-out
process | Vision Australia. Blindness and low vision services
https://www.visionaustralia.org/community/news/my-health-record-opt-out-accessibility
Blind and low vision community neglected in My Health Record opt-out
process
23 July 2018
Leading blindness and low vision service provider Vision Australia has
expressed extreme frustration that the My Health Record online opt-out
option cannot be accessed by all people who are blind or have low vision.
Australians have until October 15 to opt out of My Health Record. If an
individual does not opt out by that date they will automatically be
given an online My Health Record, which could contain clinical
documents, prescriptions and other private medical information.
People who are blind or have low vision cannot use the online opt-out
option because it fails to meet accessibility standards.
Vision Australia Policy Advisor Kate Begley said it’s inexcusable that
accessibility was not better considered by the Australian Digital Health
Agency prior to the roll out of the opt-out process.
“When the My Health Record idea was first flagged in 2011, Vision
Australia advised that all parts of the system must be accessible to
people who are blind or have low vision. Despite the seven years of
planning, a key part of the system is inaccessible,” Ms Begley said.
“Everybody should be able to control their personal information and
people who are blind or have low vision should be given the opportunity
to participate in this process with the same ease and convenience as
anyone else,” she said.
Several parts of the online opt-out system are incompatible with
screen-reading software and other adaptive technologies used by many
people who are blind or have low vision. Vision Australia believes the
My Health Record portal does not comply with Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines, which is the national and international benchmark for web
accessibility, as well as being the Australian Government's own standard.
While there is also a telephone option to opt-out, Ms Begley said it
does not afford people who are blind or have low vision the same
convenience as the online option.
“The telephone option is not available 24/7, it requires people to
explain their decision to opt out and to explain why they haven't opted
out via the online system.”
Ms Begley said Vision Australia is also extremely concerned as to
whether the content of the My Health Records will be accessible and said
the situation highlights the need for a greater focus on accessibility.
“Incorporating accessibility is not difficult. It would not take a great
deal of time or effort to fix the accessibility issues that prevent
equal access to opting out of My Health Record. Unfortunately, as we see
all too often, accessibility has not been prioritised when developing
this process.”
Media enquiries: Vision Australia Communications Advisor Phil McCarroll
– 0416 632 253 <tel:0416%20632%20253>.
_______________________________________________
Link mailing list
Link@mailman.anu.edu.au
http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link