As to a follow up to our prior article, I’m happy to report that Sun Metro has made the necessary modifications to their online application for paratransit services to be accessible to those individuals that are low vision or blind and use a screen reader. The city’s Strategy Information Director, Laura A. Cruz-Acosta and the paratransit manager, Rafael Fernandez were quick to remedy the issue I reported on previously. Once they were notified, they began work on rectifying the lack of access to passengers with a visual disability. The Sun Metro website is now accessible to vision impaired users.

A screen reader is a type of assistive software that reads the textual contents that displays on a computer screen. The device enables the low vision or blind individual to interact with their computer through short key commands. The most common commercial screen reader is called JAWS (Job Access With Speech. There are open and free screen readers such as NVDA (No Vision Desktop Assistant) and Narrator, which is a native app already installed in any Microsoft Windows computer.

I also inquired if the city conducts sensitivity and awareness training for newly elected city council members. The city responded that, yes incoming city representatives and every new employee is required to go through sensitivity and awareness training every 2 years. However, the city no longer conducts in person training and all sensitivity training is offered online.

Three new city representatives took office on Tuesday. They are Art Fierro, Chris Canales and Brian Kennedy.