#assistivetechnology

♿ Accessibyte Studio — Simplified Every Day Computing Tools For Home, Schools, Libraries, the Elderly And More | By Steve Barclay, Canadian Assistive Technology Ltd. | Courtesy of the PWD Media Co-op https://canasstech.com/products/accessibyte-studio-annual A self-voicing Windows app that gathers everyday computer tasks into one calm place. Three keys run it: Up, Down and Enter. $220 CAD a year, in stock. #AssistiveTechnology #Accessibility #DigitalInclusion #ScreenReaders #Libraries #SpecialEducation #IndependentLiving

SHOKZ, ACCESSIBILITY SHOULDN’T BE MY JOB. 💎 Today I got angry at a pair of lightweight Shokz headphones I just paid over $200 for. Not because the headphones are bad. They’re actually rather good. I got angry because I had to charge them. I am 70 years old. I had a major stroke many years ago. I am paralysed on my left side, and I have the use of only one hand. So something as ordinary as plugging in a charging cable can become a bloody engineering project, and then I have to admit that I just can't do it. The cable falls. The plug turns the wrong way. The socket is designed for two hands, good eyesight, good balance and fingers that work independently of each other. And suddenly, an object that is supposed to make my life easier is asking me to adapt to it. Again. That was what made me angry. This isn't really about Shokz. And it isn't really about a charging cable. IT IS ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF TINY BARRIERS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO QUIETLY ABSORB EVERY DAY. A door handle. A package. A keyboard. A bottle top. A heavy door. A charging cable. A shower. An article of clothing. A knife. None of these objects looks like discrimination. Nobody deliberately designed them to exclude me. But they, along with several thousand other objects, do. They simply designed them without me or anyone with a disability in the room. And then I am expected to solve the problem. Not only pay for the item, but also come up with the disability fix so that I can use the bloody stupid thing. For most of my life, I could solve these things. Before my stroke, the physical world largely worked for me. I didn't have to think about how many hands something required. I didn't notice where the socket was. I didn't examine a packet and calculate how I was going to hold it still while opening it. NOW I NOTICE. And after decades of noticing, occasionally I get fucking angry. Not because I am incapable. Because I am capable, and I am tired of wasting that capability fighting stupid little barriers that never needed to exist. Accessibility isn't a special favour for a small, unfortunate group of people. IT IS GOOD DESIGN. And sometimes the difference between independence and dependence is something as ridiculously small as where somebody decided to put the bloody plug. @3goodthings@fedigroups.social @DigitalCoup@fedigroups.social @meditation@fedigroups.social @economics_that_works@fedigroups.social @disability@fedigroups.social @pwd@yellowmustard.club @joinin@fedigroups.social #Shokz #Accessibility #Disability #InclusiveDesign #AccessibleDesign #OneHanded #DisabilityAwareness #AssistiveTechnology

I WILL NOT BE BULLIED 💎 I received a vicious reply today because I use AI. It wasn't a disagreement. Nor a criticism. It was a full-frontal personal attack! And I’ll admit it affected me more than I expected. I USE AI MAINLY BECAUSE I'M PARALYSED. Typing is physically difficult for me. I have the use of only one hand. So, tapping out a post or email with one finger is exhausting. Voice and AI help me turn my own thoughts into usable writing in a normal amount of time. THAT SHOULD NOT REQUIRE A DEFENCE. You can dislike AI. You can distrust it. You can argue about copyright concerns, energy and water use, labour, culture, or anything else that concerns you. I will listen to you and answer you. But attacking people simply for using AI is not principled. IT'S BULLYING. And disabled people should not have to produce a medical justification every time they use a technology that makes their life easier. AI is a tool. How it is used matters. Who gets harmed matters. Context matters. What does not help is turning “AI user” into a moral accusation and deciding that cruelty is suddenly acceptable. I’m quite happy to discuss the technology with anyone. HOWEVER, I WILL NOT BE BULLIED FOR USING IT. I didn't need to do anything about the attack. Before I could even decide how to respond, both the post and the person disappeared from my notifications. @3goodthings@fedigroups.social @DigitalCoup@fedigroups.social @meditation@fedigroups.social @economics_that_works@fedigroups.social @startrek@fedigroups.social #AI #Accessibility #Disability #AssistiveTechnology #Fediverse #Bullying #PWD #Tool

Scottish Enterprise's @davidobrien on giving interactive elements on the #Web meaningful, #Accessible names to support #AssistiveTechnology Users.

Is there a way to indicate "[sic]" to a #screenreader without it reading the brackets verbatim? #accessibility #a11y #waiAria #wcag #AssistiveTechnology #eAccessibility #webAccessiblity #digitalAccessibility #digitalInclusion

NVDA Coach will be localized for the Chinese language in the coming week. Preparing No Sight Required for spanish release, as well. Can not wait to update everyone on some exciting things coming our way! Remember, you rock the socks! #tech #AssistiveTechnology #BlindStuff #Traveling

I will be setting up an automatic payment portal to that will allow you to choose the format of your choice outside of Amazon. Thank you to those who have been patient while I answer every single accomodation request this first week for the book. I apologize to the few that got overlooked for a brief moment, appreciate the follow up emails in the inbox. For right now, I will handle special format requests by hand until I have it automated by stripe. you are amazing! https://nosightrequired.com #AI #Books #AssistiveTechnology #NoSightRequired

I'm proud to announce the launch of Blind Productions. Blind Productions is a showcase and community I built to celebrate blind creative professionals — musicians, DJs, actors, authors, podcasters, and content creators — and to give us one place to discover each other's work, collaborate, and connect. Here's the honest part: this is the ground floor. The doors are open, the foundation is built, and now it's time to fill it up. I'm inviting you to help shape what this becomes — a living archive that future generations can search to discover the musicians and creators who came before them, and a moderated space where we create, support one another, and network as a community. What's here today: • A searchable directory of blind creatives, each profile with a bio, links to their work, audio to listen to, and video to watch. • A moderated community forum for collaboration, support, opportunities, and networking. • Accessibility built in from the ground up — screen-reader friendly, fully keyboard operable, with adjustable text, themes, and high contrast on every page. So here's my ask: start submitting profile suggestions. Nominate yourself. Nominate the artists you admire. Bring the people who deserve to be found. Create a free account, join the conversation, and let's build something that lasts. This is how a legacy gets started — together. Explore and submit: https://blind.productions You must be 18 or older to join. #Accessibility #BlindCreatives #BlindMusicians #DisabilityInclusion #A11y #BlindCommunity #DisabilityAdvocacy #InclusiveDesign #AssistiveTechnology #ScreenReader #VisuallyImpaired #DigitalAccessibility #BlindArtists #DisabilityPride #InclusiveCommunity