Katelyn
@dev-pancake.bsky.social
📍DC
-MCS HCI student & researcher at Towson Uni
-I care a lot about if people can use your website and if they’re ADA compliant 🙂
-Perspective PhD candidate (Fall 25’)
-Language learner and mahjong player by night 🌙
-MCS HCI student & researcher at Towson Uni
-I care a lot about if people can use your website and if they’re ADA compliant 🙂
-Perspective PhD candidate (Fall 25’)
-Language learner and mahjong player by night 🌙
I encountered this issue recently in one of our tests. The website the was generated had an entire background of active emojis and content just in the header.
NDVA read every. single. emoji. In a circle until it finally found the header. Insanity
NDVA read every. single. emoji. In a circle until it finally found the header. Insanity
An emoji has a coded description that gets read aloud by screen readers. Putting emoji in between text could cause confusion or make content less clear. It's best to put emoji at the end of written content.
April 10, 2025 at 3:07 AM
I encountered this issue recently in one of our tests. The website the was generated had an entire background of active emojis and content just in the header.
NDVA read every. single. emoji. In a circle until it finally found the header. Insanity
NDVA read every. single. emoji. In a circle until it finally found the header. Insanity
Reposted by Katelyn
Little gentle reminder to all the human creatives out there 💪
April 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Little gentle reminder to all the human creatives out there 💪
Reposted by Katelyn
Ensure text is readable in data visualizations and information graphics. Small text is generally harder to read, and should be avoided where possible. Make sure the text is not obstructed by other chart elements, and has sufficient contrast against its background.
March 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Ensure text is readable in data visualizations and information graphics. Small text is generally harder to read, and should be avoided where possible. Make sure the text is not obstructed by other chart elements, and has sufficient contrast against its background.
Reposted by Katelyn
There’s much talk about how early career researchers are getting shafted. Researchers with disabilities and those who are working hard to maintain mentoring pipelines: hold my beer.
Accessibility Is Taking a Hit Across the Sciences (Gift Article)
Confusion has ensued about the future of programs and research supporting people with disabilities as a result of President Trump’s executive order.
www.nytimes.com
February 22, 2025 at 9:49 PM
There’s much talk about how early career researchers are getting shafted. Researchers with disabilities and those who are working hard to maintain mentoring pipelines: hold my beer.
The CHI notification is on Thursday and I am trying to mentally prepare myself 👀 🤞🏻
February 17, 2025 at 4:42 AM
The CHI notification is on Thursday and I am trying to mentally prepare myself 👀 🤞🏻
Reposted by Katelyn
"Disabled users don't use my website" is a cop-out and a lie. There's no way to know how many assistive technology users are using your site. You can't confidently exclude a large portion of the world's population that has a disability by claiming none of them use your site.
February 16, 2025 at 4:03 AM
"Disabled users don't use my website" is a cop-out and a lie. There's no way to know how many assistive technology users are using your site. You can't confidently exclude a large portion of the world's population that has a disability by claiming none of them use your site.
Reposted by Katelyn
A sign that accessibility and data viz is important: the most downloaded episode of the Data Stories Podcast ( @moritzstefaner.bsky.social @ebertini.bsky.social ) is the episode about accessibility with the amazing @fossheim.bsky.social
Check out the data: observablehq.com/@moritzstefa...
Check out the data: observablehq.com/@moritzstefa...
February 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM
A sign that accessibility and data viz is important: the most downloaded episode of the Data Stories Podcast ( @moritzstefaner.bsky.social @ebertini.bsky.social ) is the episode about accessibility with the amazing @fossheim.bsky.social
Check out the data: observablehq.com/@moritzstefa...
Check out the data: observablehq.com/@moritzstefa...
Reposted by Katelyn
One of the most important things about our public education system is at risk of being destroyed.
17 states are suing the federal government to bring down Section 504, which is arguably the single-most important law that paved the course of my entire life.
www.frank.computer/blog/2025/02...
17 states are suing the federal government to bring down Section 504, which is arguably the single-most important law that paved the course of my entire life.
www.frank.computer/blog/2025/02...
Section 504 is under attack
A right that I had as a disabled student in the US is at risk of being destroyed.
www.frank.computer
February 12, 2025 at 6:14 PM
One of the most important things about our public education system is at risk of being destroyed.
17 states are suing the federal government to bring down Section 504, which is arguably the single-most important law that paved the course of my entire life.
www.frank.computer/blog/2025/02...
17 states are suing the federal government to bring down Section 504, which is arguably the single-most important law that paved the course of my entire life.
www.frank.computer/blog/2025/02...
Reposted by Katelyn
thank you to everyone adding ALT text to your images. It ensures that your posts are #accessible.
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to include text when you're posting an image. Go to Settings / Accessibility, and check the box next to "Require alt text before posting."
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to include text when you're posting an image. Go to Settings / Accessibility, and check the box next to "Require alt text before posting."
I have low vision and I rely on alt text and image descriptions to provide context about images on platforms like BlueSky. If you don’t know how to write #AltText yet, I have several guides on my website that can show you how— take the #AltTextChallenge! veroniiiica.com/how-to-write... (1/10)
How To Write Alt Text And Image Descriptions
The ultimate guide on how to write alt text and image descriptions for the visually impaired, written by someone with low vision who uses alt text
veroniiiica.com
February 11, 2025 at 12:28 AM
thank you to everyone adding ALT text to your images. It ensures that your posts are #accessible.
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to include text when you're posting an image. Go to Settings / Accessibility, and check the box next to "Require alt text before posting."
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to include text when you're posting an image. Go to Settings / Accessibility, and check the box next to "Require alt text before posting."
Justice for the em dash! ー
It's me. I love em dashes. 😭
Perhaps it's that AI was trained on all of us writers...who love em dashes. But they were ours first. OURS.
Perhaps it's that AI was trained on all of us writers...who love em dashes. But they were ours first. OURS.
Just saw a post where someone said that use of em dashes (—) was a giveaway that you're using AI for writing. Uh, no. It could just mean you like to use em dashes.
February 10, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Justice for the em dash! ー
Reposted by Katelyn
The ASSETS 2025 early bird mentoring deadline is Feb 20. Signup details here assets25.sigaccess.org/mentoring.html.
We also have an interesting blog post from mentoring chair Yasmine Elgaly describing her experiences with early ASSETS papers and why mentoring is helpful medium.com/@yasmineg/th...
We also have an interesting blog post from mentoring chair Yasmine Elgaly describing her experiences with early ASSETS papers and why mentoring is helpful medium.com/@yasmineg/th...
Mentoring / ASSETS 2025
The 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility
assets25.sigaccess.org
February 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The ASSETS 2025 early bird mentoring deadline is Feb 20. Signup details here assets25.sigaccess.org/mentoring.html.
We also have an interesting blog post from mentoring chair Yasmine Elgaly describing her experiences with early ASSETS papers and why mentoring is helpful medium.com/@yasmineg/th...
We also have an interesting blog post from mentoring chair Yasmine Elgaly describing her experiences with early ASSETS papers and why mentoring is helpful medium.com/@yasmineg/th...
Reposted by Katelyn
Announcing ASSETS 2025 Call for Papers and Mentoring. Technical papers are due April 16, experience reports are due June 11, posters and demos are due June 25, and the DC is due June 25. If you are new to ASSETS, you can also receive mentorship. Details at assets25.sigaccess.org Pls share.
ASSETS 2025
The 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility
assets25.sigaccess.org
February 3, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Announcing ASSETS 2025 Call for Papers and Mentoring. Technical papers are due April 16, experience reports are due June 11, posters and demos are due June 25, and the DC is due June 25. If you are new to ASSETS, you can also receive mentorship. Details at assets25.sigaccess.org Pls share.
Reposted by Katelyn
Everyone who works on a website has a role to ensure the site and its content are accessible. This resource from Vox Media breaks down some accessibility tasks by job role, including content creators, designers, developers, project managers, and testers.
accessibility.voxmedia.com
accessibility.voxmedia.com
Vox Product Accessibility Guidelines
As journalists, advertisers, producers, and creators, content is at our core at Vox Media. We want to ensure that everyone—regardless of ability, situation, or context—can access it.
accessibility.voxmedia.com
January 31, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Everyone who works on a website has a role to ensure the site and its content are accessible. This resource from Vox Media breaks down some accessibility tasks by job role, including content creators, designers, developers, project managers, and testers.
accessibility.voxmedia.com
accessibility.voxmedia.com
Reposted by Katelyn
Curious about what we are doing at @UChicago to advance Human Computer Integration? www.pbs.org/video/chicag... shows how we connect computers with the body to provide physical embodied assistance—1st live demo of Yun Ho (new PhD) where she shows wearable muscle stimulation to the TV reporter! 1/3
Chicago Tonight | Chicago Lab Connects Computers With the Human Body | Season 2025
Pedro Lopes leads the Human-Computer Integration Lab at the University of Chicago.
www.pbs.org
January 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Curious about what we are doing at @UChicago to advance Human Computer Integration? www.pbs.org/video/chicag... shows how we connect computers with the body to provide physical embodied assistance—1st live demo of Yun Ho (new PhD) where she shows wearable muscle stimulation to the TV reporter! 1/3
Reposted by Katelyn
"All NSF grantees must [cease] all non-compliant activities... that [use] DEIA principles and frameworks" The EO asks that DEIA "discrimination programs" be terminated "to the maximum extent allowed by law." But it is illegal to fail at accessibility and to discriminate. I'll be obeying the law.
January 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
"All NSF grantees must [cease] all non-compliant activities... that [use] DEIA principles and frameworks" The EO asks that DEIA "discrimination programs" be terminated "to the maximum extent allowed by law." But it is illegal to fail at accessibility and to discriminate. I'll be obeying the law.
Reposted by Katelyn
it's worth repeating that trump's executive order against DEI was actually against DEIA … the A stands for Accessibility, a very different issue. Accessibility means coding software and documents properly so everyone can use them, instead of making them wrong. Almost nobody is against accessibility
January 29, 2025 at 3:02 AM
it's worth repeating that trump's executive order against DEI was actually against DEIA … the A stands for Accessibility, a very different issue. Accessibility means coding software and documents properly so everyone can use them, instead of making them wrong. Almost nobody is against accessibility
Reposted by Katelyn
I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
White House pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion
The Trump administration has put a hold on all federal financial grants and loans, affecting tens of billions of dollars in payments.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
Higher education research is about to suffer. Students who need apply for financial aid for spring and grants will be unable to access them causing delay in enrollment confirmation
www.cnn.com/2025/01/27/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/01/27/p...
All federal grants and loan disbursement paused by White House | CNN Politics
The White House budget office has ordered a pause on all federal grants and loans, according to an internal memorandum sent Monday.
www.cnn.com
January 28, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Higher education research is about to suffer. Students who need apply for financial aid for spring and grants will be unable to access them causing delay in enrollment confirmation
www.cnn.com/2025/01/27/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/01/27/p...
Reposted by Katelyn
Maybe every generation has to fight for the value of user experience
January 27, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Maybe every generation has to fight for the value of user experience
Just submitted for #CHI ‘25 late breaking for the first time. Regardless if this paper is accepted or not, I’m still grateful for the opportunity and proud of the work we put in for my very first paper submission.
a woman wearing glasses is waving her hand while sitting in front of a window .
Alt: Actress and producer sitting down and high fiving herself while open mouth smiling
media.tenor.com
January 23, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Just submitted for #CHI ‘25 late breaking for the first time. Regardless if this paper is accepted or not, I’m still grateful for the opportunity and proud of the work we put in for my very first paper submission.
Reposted by Katelyn
Another day another icon button that has no label and doesn’t indicate what it does clearly.
January 14, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Another day another icon button that has no label and doesn’t indicate what it does clearly.
A lot of great information in here!! Thank you for also including plain text usage for those with cognitive disabilities and neurodivergence! @kateringland.bsky.social
Accessibility is essential for thriving online communities! Here are 10 actionable tips to make your digital spaces more inclusive and welcoming. From alt text to fostering an inclusive culture, small changes can make a big impact.
#Accessibility #Inclusion
www.kateringland.com/10-essential...
#Accessibility #Inclusion
www.kateringland.com/10-essential...
10 Essential Tips for Accessibility and Inclusion in Online Communities
Accessibility is essential for thriving online communities! Check out these 10 actionable tips to make your digital spaces more inclusive and welcoming for all. From alt text to fostering an inclusive...
www.kateringland.com
January 14, 2025 at 4:45 AM
A lot of great information in here!! Thank you for also including plain text usage for those with cognitive disabilities and neurodivergence! @kateringland.bsky.social
Reposted by Katelyn
As more and more of our favorite #HCI venues join Bluesky, I created a starter pack with the ones I found @chi.acm.org @acm-dis.bsky.social @chiwork.bsky.social @mobilehci.bsky.social @ieeevis.bsky.social @acm.org @acm-cscw.bsky.social @ozchi-conf.bsky.social #CHI2025
go.bsky.app/GN935Hq
go.bsky.app/GN935Hq
December 2, 2024 at 12:30 AM
As more and more of our favorite #HCI venues join Bluesky, I created a starter pack with the ones I found @chi.acm.org @acm-dis.bsky.social @chiwork.bsky.social @mobilehci.bsky.social @ieeevis.bsky.social @acm.org @acm-cscw.bsky.social @ozchi-conf.bsky.social #CHI2025
go.bsky.app/GN935Hq
go.bsky.app/GN935Hq
Reposted by Katelyn
Happy new year, here is some extremely satisfying news about the notoriously aggressive overlay vendor, accessiBe:
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
FTC Order Requires Online Marketer to Pay $1 Million for Deceptive Claims that its AI Product Could Make Websites Compliant with Accessibility Guidelines
The Federal Trade Commission will require software provider accessiBe to pay $1 million to settle allegations that it misrepresented the ability of its AI-powered web accessibility tool to make any
www.ftc.gov
January 4, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Happy new year, here is some extremely satisfying news about the notoriously aggressive overlay vendor, accessiBe:
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...
www.ftc.gov/news-events/...