Laurette Santos, a blind clinical social worker at the Department of Veterans Affairs, is suing the agency over its new electronic medical records system, which she claims is inaccessible to her due to her disability. The system, Oracle Health’s Cerner EHR, does not work with screen reader software commonly used by federal employees with disabilities, forcing Santos to rely on sighted colleagues for basic tasks. The VA’s decision to switch to this system has raised concerns about accessibility for thousands of federal employees with disabilities who may face similar challenges in the future.
Santos’s lawsuit alleges violations of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, specifically sections 501 and 508, which protect the rights of federal employees with disabilities. This legal action is part of a larger effort to hold federal agencies accountable for providing accessible technology to their employees. Despite requirements for the software to be compliant with accessibility standards, Santos found that the system was not compatible with her screen-reading software when she tested it in 2019.
The situation escalated when Oracle acquired Cerner in 2021, with no improvement in accessibility for Santos when the new system was implemented in 2022. Despite filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency denied any issues with the system, prompting Santos to file a lawsuit against her employer. The case also raises questions about whether the VA consulted its own compliance office before selecting the Cerner contract, a matter that the agency declined to comment on during ongoing litigation.
Santos’s frustration with the inaccessible system has impacted her ability to do her job effectively and has left her questioning her passion for helping others. Despite her initial excitement about making a difference as a blind social worker, the barriers imposed by the new electronic records system have hindered her work and independence. This case highlights the importance of ensuring that federal agencies provide accessible technology to all employees, regardless of disability.
Ultimately, Santos’s lawsuit sheds light on the need for federal agencies like the VA to prioritize accessibility and compliance with disability rights laws to ensure that employees with disabilities can perform their jobs effectively. The outcome of this case may have implications for how other agencies approach the implementation of new technology and the accommodation of employees with disabilities in the future.
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https://www.statnews.com/2024/06/28/veterans-affairs-ehr-oracle-cerner-inaccessible-lawsuit/
