Tessera

Gregory J. Rosmaita

@oedipusnj.bsky.social

Voice input/output user | Unintelligible at any speed Accessibility is a human & civil right. Inaccessibility is a choice. YOUR choice. #AlwaysAddALT #ALT4me #ALT4you Girlbossed by #BCatPix, who appears in my avatar & banner.

1275 Posts777 Follower 523 Folgt

Sarah Blahovec @sblahov.bsky.social · 3y ago

I created an #AltTextPalestine toolkit with information on how to participate and combining practices I've used + learned from others on here. It's a work in progress so let me know if you have any tips or ideas to share! docs.google.com/document/d/1...

#AltTextPalestine Toolkit

#AltTextPalestine Toolkit Created November 16, 2023 by Sarah Blahovec What is #AltTextPalestine? 1 Why does #AltTextPalestine matter? 2 How do I make a request in #AltTextPalestine? 2 What kind of c...

docs.google.com

Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)@rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social · 3y ago

#AltTextPalestine some photos from No Xmas As Usual In A Genocide event in NYC The protest was not wheelchair accessible so I couldn't take too many photos but I did get some and two of the volunteers who approached me about it were very nice. Solidarity was given and awareness was raised.

a photo of myself taken by my PCA. I am in a motorized wheelchair black with some yellow accents. I am wearing a rainbow mohawk hat with a rainbow flower crown headband going across it. purple sunglasses round and medium sized, a yellow balaclava and under that a black mask because COVID is still a thing and it's cold today. I'm wearing a black winter coat, snow pants and winter boots. I am holding a red bag and my sign that reads "disabled anti-zionist jews say not in our name. ceasefire now. end the occupation"

two religious (hadidic or othodox) jewish with men with black hats, and side curls (payot). one is looking to the right and one is looking down. they are among a line of religious protesters in solidarity with Palestine. . one signs reads torah demands all Palestine be returned to Palestinian sovereignty. the other sign reads freedom for gaza and all of palestine

Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein)@rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social · 3y ago

(NYE in Columbus Circle, NYC) pt 1 #ShutItDown4Palestine #AltTextPalestine

photo is taken outside in Columbus Circle in New York City. I'm trying to keep my distance because of COVID, but you can see people are starting to gather at the protest and there's a golden metallic balloon that reads Free Palestine where it's spelled out puffy letter by letter

An activist is sitting down before the rally starts and their white sign reads stop the genocide ceasefire now. It is written in marker in black red and green, and they have drawn watermelon symbols

An activist is standing outside of a protest in Columbus circle in New York City. She's bundled up for the weather and her large sign which hangs around her neck reads cease fire now. Her arms are stretched out. She is an older woman and told me that she is a Jewish activist who is anti-Zionist

an activist in a manual wheelchair carrying a good quantity of protest signs and they are holding them upside down as they make their way around the rally to see who needs to signs. The signs have pro Palestine messages on them like Ceasefire now!

Ashlee 🤟🏻@ashleemboyer.com · 2y ago

Most common examples of #Technoableism I see these days? Believing alt text is a "problem" to be solved by AI. So many of you would benefit from developing a mutual aid mentality. Alt text is one form. Examples: #Alt4Me #Alt4You #AltTextPalestine. The answer is community, not AI.

This site has been great in making me more aware of and using (not all the time - I still slip up) alt text.

But it also strikes me as one of the more obvious uses of basic AI, ans auto populate alt text for us with a description of the image.

Conspiracy theory: alt text is only there to improve AI image recognition models. Accessibility is a happy byproduct.

AI doesn't understand why a single frame of Captain Picard resting his forehead on his hand has cultural relevance in a tweet about, say, sports. Alt text in a skeet adds context.

Yeah, I want to be sympathetic to the idea behind alt text, but it's a pain to do, and often the post text itself already "describes" the image.

Plus, like you said, why isn't AI doing this. This is an actual useful use case for AI tools.

Also some people are obsessive about blog length alt text.

My thinking on #AltText is evolving to be: rather than nagging individuals for behavioral change (for a relatively high-cost low-reward activity), which will never work, we should all pester @bsky.app product to build AI alt-tag drafting into the app / product. #UX

Sarah Blahovec @sblahov.bsky.social · 2y ago

I suppose I should do an intro post: I'm Sarah, I'm a disability civic engagement expert by day. I talk a lot about accessible organizing including #AltTextPalestine (because #FreePalestine) & otherwise talk about weaving, sewing, knitting, & my dog Oliver.

Oliver, white and tan small dog, lays on his back and stares at the camera.

Nick DeNardis @nickdenardis.com · 2y ago

Social visual alt text browser extension is now live on Firefox 🚀 addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo... This extension exposes the alt text (or lack of it) directly in the timeline instead of having to click the "alt" badge on an image.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

In a Nancy comic dated December 24, 1945 the origins of "cat speak" are revealed. And, in a Christmas miracle, my session with BME was successful & relatively pain-free Have an accessible Christmas 🐱😎 #ImageDescription #ALT4You #ALT #Christmas share.bemyeyes.com/chat/j7iQXG2...

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Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

"I cannot believe I just heard you ask for what I just heard you ask for!" ‪#BCatPix #TheArtOfALT #Cats #ChristmasCats #ChristmasEve‬ #MeowyChristmas

Baby Cat, seated on a light blue love seat next to a stuffed plush Santa Claus doll. Baby's looking directly at the camera disapprovingly with her large sage green eyes. She's not only disappointed in me, she's embarrassed for my entire family - not to mention my ancestors, going back twelve generations.

Baby Cat is a predominantly brown, black, & tan tabby. The slanting rays of the late evening sun highlight baby's tan face with black markings, a white milk muzzle, white whiskers & a dusty rose nose. BC's chest & neck are also sunlit & tan, with tiger stripes that look necklaces of varying widths & hues. All four of BC's legs are also tiger striped. Her back coat is a rich chocolate brown, it's tan-ticking sparkling in the sun's fading light like flecks of gold.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

Baby Cat discussing a few last minute additions to her list with Santa‪ #BCatPix #TheArtOfALT #Cats #ChristmasCats #ChristmasEve‬ #MeowyChristmas

Baby Cat, seated on a light blue love seat next to a stuffed plush Santa Claus doll. Baby's looking directly at Santa's face, listening raptly to every word he says. Her large, sage green eyes sparkle with excitement, as she patiently awaits her turn to speak. Baby is about to school Santa in the true Art of the Deal. This is one supremely confident cat, for she knows just how good she's been since last Christmas.

Baby Cat is a predominantly brown, black, & tan tabby. The slanting rays of the late evening sun highlight baby's tan face with black markings, a white milk muzzle, white whiskers & a dusty rose nose. BC's chest & neck are also tan, with tiger stripes that look like draped necklaces. All four of BC's legs are tiger striped. Her back coat is a rich chocolate brown, it's tan-ticking sparkling in the sun's fading light like flecks of gold.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

‪"Hey, everybody—LOOK!!!"‬ ‪"Santa's here & the sun hasn't even set yet!"‬ ‪"Must've been a lot fewer people on the 'nice list' again this year!"‬ ‪#BCatPix #TheArtOfALT #Cats #ChristmasCats #ChristmasEve‬

Baby Cat, seated on a light blue love seat next to a stuffed plush Santa Claus doll. Baby's looking back at the camera, her mouth wide open, a look of absolute amazement on her tan face with black markings. She can hardly believe her large, sage green eyes which sparkle with excitement. The slanting rays of the late evening sun highlight her white milk muzzle, white whiskers & hot pink tongue. This is one supremely happy cat, for—despite everything the cats at the shelter told BC—there IS a Santa Claus!

Baby Cat is a predominantly brown, black, & tan tabby. All four of her legs are tiger striped. Her back coat is a rich chocolate brown, it's tan-ticking sparkling in the sun's fading light like flecks of gold.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

Music for Isolation - “Moçs Crăciun” (Santa Claus) A carol by Romanian composer Ion V. Borgovan, arr. Gideon Juckes for tuba & baritone sax, performed live at "Christmas Past", Shomeido Ongaku Hall, December 13th 2024 youtu.be/5Sno82sM67g

MUSIC for ISOLATION "Santa Claus"

YouTube video by Music For Isolation

youtu.be

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

@pfrazee.com - where's the character counter for DM? Where's the WAI-ARIA markup necessary for those of us using assistive technology to use the char counter when composing messages or ALT? Where is your accessibility plan for BS outlining how you will make it accessible & work with PWD to do so?

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

The Altai Band: "Jingle Bells" (Mongolian version) youtu.be/qJkiYNeDsw4?...

The Altai band - Jingle Bells (mongolian version)

YouTube video by musicagencymn

youtu.be

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 2y ago

Michigan passed reforms to stop imposing court fines & fees on children — often very young (someone quoted here was *11*!). And the reforms applied retroactively this fall, relieving millions of dollars of debt that were weighing people down from young ages. NEW: boltsmag.org/michigan-juv...

How Michigan Stopped Saddling Children with Millions in Court Debt

Last year, Michigan stopped imposing court fines and fees on kids, and relieved millions of dollars in past debt. Now, it may also ensure that kids get adequate representation in court.

boltsmag.org

Luke Ontario @coolhand.bsky.social · 2y ago

Check out what I just got as change 😮 I haven’t seen one of these in probably twenty years

Two U.S. dollar coins are displayed side by side on a marble surface. The coin on the left shows an image of a woman kneeling while planting crops, surrounded by tall plants, with the text “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along the rim and “$1” at the bottom. The coin on the right features a portrait of Sacagawea with her hair tied back, carrying a baby on her back, with the word “LIBERTY” at the top and “IN GOD WE TRUST” inscribed to the left of the portrait. Both coins have a golden color.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

@pfrazee.com Please circulate amongst colleagues. Please institutionalize its advice. BS needs WAI-ARIA markup on its interactive widgets & counters to truly be usable by those who use assistive technology There is - & there has never been - an excuse not to implement www.w3.org/TR/html-aria/

ARIA in HTML

This specification defines the authoring rules (author conformance requirements) for the use of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.2 and Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.0 ...

w3.org

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

In which I discuss the gross insufficiency of this application with the application itself & it tells me it cannot provide feedback to humans but it will take definitely take note of my feedback 🙄 Are you listening @bemyeyes.bsky.social ? #ImageDescription #ALT share.bemyeyes.com/chat/EhHPC7t...

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A Be My Eyes user shared an image description by Be My AI

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Bruce Lawson @brucel.bsky.social · 2y ago

The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed criminal complaints against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech firm of using conflict minerals in its supply chain. www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Exclusive: Congo files criminal complaints against Apple in Europe over conflict minerals

reuters.com

Robert McNees @mcnees.bsky.social · 2y ago

Probably the best thing I ever posted on that other site, wish I could permanently transplant it to my timeline here.

A very popular tweet I posted in 2020 that says “Somehow I've lucked out and have an 8yo who thinks secretly reading under the covers past her bedtime is an act of rebellion, and it hasn't yet occurred to her that her flashlights never seem to run out of batteries.”

Robert McNees @mcnees.bsky.social · 2y ago

Émilie du Châtelet, who hypothesized conservation of energy, established kinetic energy as distinct from momentum and proportional to (speed)², and combined work by Newton and Leibniz with her own original ideas in "Institutions de Physique," was born #OTD in 1706. 🧪 👩‍🔬 ⚛️ Portrait: M. Q. de La Tour

Color portrait of Émilie du Châtelet. She has papers spread out before her and holds a compass to them with her right hand. Her left elbow rests on the table and her hand is propped against her cheek. She is wearing a green dress with a green bow at her neck, and white frilly sleeves.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

A 2 minute video from Uganda "highlighting beats from our hearts as we play the Adungu, Engoma, Namunjjoloba & African shakers, sharing traditional sounds that unite us in love, joy & community, celebrating our heritage & the beauty of African culture" youtu.be/poMQtrLLXzU

Rhythms Of Our Roots | A Celebration Of Culture Original Video

YouTube video by SADAM SEGUYA

youtu.be

Fiona Robertson @fionaswriting.bsky.social · 2y ago

Sorry in advance for the hostility, but fuck you if you're still saying shit like 'it's just social media, just switch off your computer and go outside, it's not that serious lol'. Fuck you. You can talk about a need for irl community and how no platform has your back without being that oblivious.

CEO of Beckett Mariner @kariizumi.bsky.social · 2y ago

#alt4you

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

Unfortunately, too many people who add ALT to images neglect to do so for images of text An image of text is not text. It's an image & must be accompanied by a full text transcript via ALT This is especially important for those who are not visually impaired, but who rely on ALT, as well

The New Yorker@newyorker.com · 2y ago

In the period between now and Inauguration Day, on January 20th, the Biden Administration could still give immigrants additional layers of protection before Trump takes office. So far, he appears unwilling to do so. nyer.cm/Ic2teal

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

A New Yorker cartoon with quality ALT, providing an equivalent experience & a much needed laugh Accessibility's a choice: It's not asking too much for people & entities to make their social media content accessible It does take an institutional policy, however, to ensure continued accessibility

The New Yorker@newyorker.com · 2y ago

Today’s Daily Cartoon, by Adam Douglas Thompson. #NewYorkerCartoons

Two people opening a little window in a large advent calendar titled “Inauguration Advent Calendar.” One of them is saying, “Looks like it’s another creepy appointee to a federal agency.”

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

@blindboyboatclub.bsky.social I've asked you the same questions many times on Twitter: What, if anything, does your podcast have to do with the blind? Why do you take our name in vain? Why do you use blindness as part of your branding when you are not blind? Hell, you do not even use ALT.

Frank & Joe 🇨🇦@thehardyboycats.bsky.social · 2y ago

Happy #Caturday 🎉

A closeup of a cat, Frankie, sitting in a fake Christmas tree. He has tabby stripes on his back and forehead, a Christmas tree shaped splotch on his nose and the rest of him is white. He looks engaged and happy.
#CatsOfBlueSky

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · 2y ago

I was pretty sure, given the context & response, this was a depiction of Luigi Mangione. But I could not get BME to confirm what is an essential & fundamental component of this image description: the identification of the figure being portrayed. #ImageDescription share.bemyeyes.com/chat/65EFEcm...

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🇨🇦Samuel Proulx🇨🇦@fastfinge.fed.interfree.ca.ap.brid.gy · 2y ago

The trials and tribulations of working in #accessibility: when I *want* to find something broken to demonstrate a particular issue, all the places I look, it's been fixed. When I need something to actually work, everything is always broken. #a11y