Get Involved
Florida BLN Webinar
April 23, 2008
Question/Answer Session
Dana: How does this help with Pand flu?
(Refers to slides #17-21 - sharing keyboards/workstations)
Joan: When you cover your hand from sneezing, you don’t typically cleanse it before touching the keyboard. BCBSFL focused on social distancing when sharing workstations by practicing the amount of time it would take to decontaminate the keyboard by taking a solution to wash it. Practice brought cleansing time to 15 minutes – this is done between shifts for shared workstations.
Dana: Wow, thank you for answering
Marvin: Is there such a thing as a device that creates sign language? Such as an electronic, voice driven "translator"?
Joan: There are devices that will translate information typed into the computer into sign language done via video on the computer screen. There are also hand-held devices that allow people who are hearing-impaired to have real-time conversations by translating spoken word to text
Barbara: Will a copy of this information be available after the webinar?
Kristen: Yes, power point information and Q&A session will be available to download as pdf or word file on the Florida BLN website at www.floridabln.org.
Marvin: As I see, this is not ergonomically built; therefore, how does this help in the tendonitis / carpal tunnel syndrome
(Refers to slide #21 - keyboard)
Joan: When you type on a traditional keyboard, you typically rest your palms flat on the surface to type on the keys, causing a kink at the wrist. Kinking at the wrist causes problems with circulation and can lead to carpel tunnel. Flat keyboards, such as the one shown here, keeps your wrists in the neutral position and allows for continuous circulation.
Annette: Are employers required to provide accommodations on web sites to assistant blind or visually impaired applicants to apply for open positions?
Joan: Under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires Federal departments and agencies and contractors providing services or products to Federal agencies to have electronic and information technology easily accessible to all end users-including people with disabilities. You could get your website “Bobby” certified. Bobby is a web application that analyzes sites for features that make them more accessible for people with disabilities, such as text summaries of graphics and photos.
As of February 1, 2008 the Bobby online products are no longer publicly available. IBM has acquired the rights and IBM rational Policy Tester Accessibility Edition helps to ensure website user accessibility. For more information visit www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/tester/policy/accessibility and www.ibm.com/able
Dana: If a person has surgery, like hip-replacement surgery, does this automatically mean they have a disability or do you wait until the employee approaches you to ask for an accommodation?
Joan: Employees must disclose to you that they have a disability, you cannot assume. BCBSFL offers information to employees about the accommodations they can provide and how to apply for those services, then allows the employee to self disclose and determine if they need that support. Oftentimes an employee may be able to develop the solutions that will work best for them b/c they know their job functions.
Alana: What are some additional resources- websites, literature that you would recommend us to use to look into making successful accommodations?
Joan: Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Job Accommodation Network. In Jacksonville there is the Job Opportunities Consortium, which consists of a number of nonprofits that provide employment services to people with disabilities and can offer resource materials. The Florida BLN also has resources available for employers.
Kristen: Contact information for Joan Altavilla, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida - joan.altavilla@bcbsfl.com
Additional resources, website links can also be found on the Florida BLN website at www.floridabln.org - visit the employer resources link for state and national resource links.
| 
