Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Updates - Computer/Electronic ...
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February 2021
News Bulletin of the Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program
U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Human Resources Activity
Volume 1
Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Updates .............1 Telework, Telehurt? Take an ErgoBreak!.......................3
New Administration and the Disability Community......2 COVID and Cognitive Limitations.................................3
Telework and COVID-19: CAP’s Response..................2 Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness..................................4
Blanket Purchase Agreement
(BPA) Updates
With an expansive list of over 600 assistive
technology (AT) solutions on its BPA, CAP
procures accommodations for individuals with
blind or low vision, cognitive, communication,
deaf or hard of hearing, and dexterity disabilities.
When manufacturers discontinue products,
CAP acts quickly to identify new solutions and
ensure we provide effective and appropriate
accommodation solutions to our customers.
Examples of recently discontinued and new
products are:
other activities. A potential alternative is
• Plantronics Voyager Stereo 4220 UC the Livescribe Symphony, which has some
headset – a wireless headset with up to 12 additional features like auto-synching your
hours of battery life that covers both ears. A notes to the cloud and being able to interact
wired alternative to consider is the Andrea with Android and iOS.
NC-8 Ultralight Head Mounted Microphone –
CAP often updates the BPA list on our website,
a noise-cancelling headset that covers a
www.cap.mil, to reflect these new products.
single ear, which may be more beneficial for
Updates happen frequently, so we recommend
individuals who can’t have both ears covered.
that you check the website throughout the
• CAP also said goodbye to the Livescribe week to ensure you are referencing the latest
Echo – a smartpen that allowed an individual information. Additionally, always feel free to
to electronically record verbal information contact CAP for help identifying the most
while taking notes during meetings or appropriate AT solution.
1
New Administration and the Disability Community
President Biden expects the Disability
Policy Council to enforce Section 503 of the
Rehabilitation Act more vigorously, with the
goal of ensuring that the government workforce
accurately reflects the diversity of the American
population. Section 503 requires federal
contractors to engage in affirmative action
efforts to employ and advance employment
for qualified individuals with disabilities. The
Council also expects a stronger enforcement
of Section 508 policy, which ensures that
On January 20th, a new presidential the federal agencies provide accessible
administration began with the inauguration of information to individuals with disabilities. The
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Vice President Biden administration also plans to work with
Kamala Harris. What will this administration Congress to expand access to AT at home,
change mean for individuals with disabilities? The school, and work for individuals with disabilities
disability policy information posted on President associated with underfunded programs. These
Biden’s website provides a list of potential are just a few of the policy ideas mentioned
actions, www.joebiden.com/disabilities. President on President Biden’s website. As the COVID
Biden plans to appoint a disability policy director pandemic continues and eventually subsides,
within his administration’s Domestic Policy it is important that the needs of individuals
Council. This senior position will work with leaders with disabilities are considered and addressed.
and representatives from disability organizations CAP is eager to continue supporting DoD
to ensure that diverse perspectives are included employees with disabilities and Service
and reflected in all disability policies. In addition, members with functional limitations.
Telework and COVID-19: CAP’s Response
Many federal employees are teleworking due
to COVID-19. CAP continues to provide the AT
devices that will allow individuals to accomplish
their program missions remotely. CAP will continue
to ship accommodations to alternative (telework)
addresses, including residential addresses. In
addition, if you received accommodations from
CAP in the past and now require additional
equipment to complete your mission from the
telework environment, CAP may be able to help.
CAP can provide duplicate AT devices to those
you received for your office and now may require medical condition and require accommodations for
at your telework location. If you have a diagnosed your telework environment, please contact CAP!
2
Telework, Telehurt? Take an ErgoBreak!
Maximum teleworking for many has been in
place for almost a year and CAP customers have
noted many common dexterity issues related to
the home office environment. Home offices may
not be as accommodated as your regular office,
leading to back, neck, and shoulder pains. While
you are getting lost in the flow of work, be kind
to yourself and take an ErgoBreak to stretch
out some problem areas. Here are three easy
exercises that you can incorporate during your
workday, and you do not have to move far from
your desk to do them!
alleviate the symptoms. If your condition creates
First try some back stretches - place your hands painful symptoms in your hands and arms while
on your hips, gently rotate your body side-to-side, typing, you might want to consider an alternative
then lift your chest and lean back. Follow that up pointing device with an alternative keyboard.
with some shoulder rolls - bring your shoulders up These two accommodations will change the way
towards your ears and roll them forward and back. you physically interact with your workspace and
Finish up with some neck stretches - turn your help you maintain your arms and shoulders in a
head right to left, move your head from side-to- neutral position. If your condition makes it difficult
side, and move your chin up and down. for you to see your computer screens, you might
These simple exercises will help relieve your want to consider some low vision software with a
body from the tension caused by working at large print keyboard. These accommodations can
your desk all day. If you find these tips helpful, be help reduce eye strain and/or other symptoms
sure to follow CAP’s social media for additional impacting your performance. The CAP Team
tips on how to make sure you keep your body can provide a needs assessments and procure
active throughout the workday. These exercises accommodations for our DoD employees
may also prove useful and may relieve some and Service members. If you are experiencing
pains you experience while working at your limitations from a disability and are not sure of the
home office. If you have a diagnosed medical best solution, visit our website to request a needs
condition, some AT devices are available to help assessment and we will help you!
COVID and Cognitive Limitations an accurate percentage of people experiencing
cognitive limitations after COVID-19 diagnosis
As we are now roughly one year into the
are still underway, some researchers believe the
widespread effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,
occurrence rate may be between 30% and 50%
many individuals in the workforce have thankfully
of patients. (www.statnews.com) These symptoms
recovered from COVID-19 infections and
vary widely and can affect an individual’s attention
returned to their usual job duties. However,
span, short-term memory, and executive function.
a significant number of recovered individuals
Some patients report experiencing “brain fog” and
have reported experiencing long-term cognitive
fatigue. This may cause the employee difficulties
symptoms. While studies that aim to determine
continued... 3
in managing deadlines, reading and understanding common accommodation for cognitive limitations is
written materials, speaking, or writing. Although the Smartpen, which allows an individual to record
these cognitive limitations may not be apparent verbal information electronically while taking notes
to the people working with the affected individual, during meetings or other activities. The customer
accommodations should be provided. For example, can then replay the audio recorded while taking
CAP provides software that can help people with notes at a later time or upload the notes to an
cognitive limitations read, write, and organize app or cloud service. If you are not certain which
information. These software solutions include varying accommodation solutions you or an employee find
features, built-in dictionaries, word prediction, and helpful, CAP can perform a needs assessment. A
text-to-speech capabilities. This way, employees needs assessment allows us to identify potential
whose essential job functions require them to write solutions that will aid someone in accomplishing
and edit documents or emails are able to perform essential job tasks. We discuss the requirements
the duties. Other cognitive accommodations of the position, the limitations the individual is
include physical devices and memory aids, such as experiencing, and tools that allow the individual
tracking devices to help customers locate frequently accomplish the tasks. These can be submitted
misplaced, yet essential, work items. Another using the online form located at www.cap.mil.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness
individual’s hand and
February 2nd was Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness
wrist symptoms. Proper
Day. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive
ergonomic practices and
inflammatory disease that attacks an individual’s
using chair inserts and
immune system. People are aware that
modifications, such as
rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints, but it can
lumbar supports, may
also affect other vital organs including the heart.
be helpful to individuals
Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis have a 50-
experiencing discomfort
70 percent higher risk for cardiovascular disease
in other areas of the body. For individuals who
than the general population. (www.arthritis.org)
frequently use the telephone, a handset lifter or
While there is a great degree of variance in how
telephone headset may be useful to avoid straining
rheumatoid arthritis patients experience their
the shoulder or neck. The fatigue associated with
symptoms, patients often experience a fever,
rheumatoid arthritis can be unpredictable, so a
fatigue, joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
flexible work schedule or the option for telework
Rheumatoid arthritis commonly presents itself may benefit employees with rheumatoid arthritis.
around the wrist and hand. This can make If an individual received accommodations for their
typing or using a mouse difficult and painful. rheumatoid arthritis at their regular work location,
CAP can provide alternative mouse or keyboard CAP is able to provide duplicate AT options for their
solutions, and/or speech recognition software. home office. This allows CAP customers be just as
These tools can help reduce and relieve the productive in the home office. 4
Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP)
4800 Mark Center Drive, Suite 05E22, Alexandria, VA 22350-7000
T 833-227-3272 or 703-614-8416, Videophone 571-384-5629, F 703-697-5851
Email cap@mail.mil, www.cap.mil
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