Marian Avery
@madebymarian.bsky.social
Content design and #accessibility specialist. Based in Ireland. Disabled. Ex GDS, Scottish Gov, DfE and Defra. Posts about my cat, #A11y and #DigitalInclusion. She/her
Pinned
Marian Avery
@madebymarian.bsky.social
· Nov 20
I really have to stop arguing with PDF advocates. I'm not going to change their minds and they're not going to change mine.
Reposted by Marian Avery
VoiceOver on iOS doesn't have a Welsh voice synthesiser, so Welsh content is announced in English, making it completely inaccessible to Welsh screen reader users. Essentially, Welsh screen reader users who do not speak English will not be able to use any iOS apps. Are there any workarounds?
October 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
VoiceOver on iOS doesn't have a Welsh voice synthesiser, so Welsh content is announced in English, making it completely inaccessible to Welsh screen reader users. Essentially, Welsh screen reader users who do not speak English will not be able to use any iOS apps. Are there any workarounds?
I'm going to call all instances of AI 'Clippy' from now on to save time. Follow me for more tips.
#AI
#ItLooksLikeYoureWritingALetter
#AI
#ItLooksLikeYoureWritingALetter
October 7, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I'm going to call all instances of AI 'Clippy' from now on to save time. Follow me for more tips.
#AI
#ItLooksLikeYoureWritingALetter
#AI
#ItLooksLikeYoureWritingALetter
We're really excited to share this course. It's been 8 months of development, but it's finally here!
Our Accessible Content Design course lasts 2 days. The next one's in September. Courses are limited to 10 people.
Learn how to:
- make your content design accessible
- embed accessibility into your processes
Find out more on our website:
shorturl.at/WBO2V
Learn how to:
- make your content design accessible
- embed accessibility into your processes
Find out more on our website:
shorturl.at/WBO2V
Accessible Content Design :: Content Design Ireland
Two day course about accessible content design. Learn about plain language and structure, image descriptions, accessible links, presenting accessible data, download accessibility, accessible audio and...
shorturl.at
July 28, 2025 at 12:08 PM
We're really excited to share this course. It's been 8 months of development, but it's finally here!
Come and learn about accessible content design 🙂
July 16, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Come and learn about accessible content design 🙂
Having a little sulk. I was looking for very bad examples of tables, but all the ones I knew about have been fixed. I can't complain - all of my recommendations were taken seriously.
Does anyone know of any rubbish HTML tables? (I'm particularly looking for 'too wide' /horizontal scroll issues.)
Does anyone know of any rubbish HTML tables? (I'm particularly looking for 'too wide' /horizontal scroll issues.)
June 17, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Having a little sulk. I was looking for very bad examples of tables, but all the ones I knew about have been fixed. I can't complain - all of my recommendations were taken seriously.
Does anyone know of any rubbish HTML tables? (I'm particularly looking for 'too wide' /horizontal scroll issues.)
Does anyone know of any rubbish HTML tables? (I'm particularly looking for 'too wide' /horizontal scroll issues.)
Today I read a worrying motice on glitch which suggests my favourite colour contrast checker might disappear. Any news on the glitch contrast checker @timpaul.co.uk ?
June 10, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Today I read a worrying motice on glitch which suggests my favourite colour contrast checker might disappear. Any news on the glitch contrast checker @timpaul.co.uk ?
Reposted by Marian Avery
I've got an invisible disability. I don't tell people about it anymore. It's hindered me from having jobs because they don't believe I have it. Bosses want me to go to the doctor and get extensive tests to prove I have nerve damage. It flares up when standing or walking for long periods of time.
If you're quiet about your disabilities, you get accused of being a fake. If you're outspoken, you get accused of being attention seeking.
Disabled people deserve to be believed and supported without hate. We deserve to be able to thrive.
Disabled people deserve to be believed and supported without hate. We deserve to be able to thrive.
April 26, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I've got an invisible disability. I don't tell people about it anymore. It's hindered me from having jobs because they don't believe I have it. Bosses want me to go to the doctor and get extensive tests to prove I have nerve damage. It flares up when standing or walking for long periods of time.
Found an excellent tech reviewer who's also blind. This is such a good intro to assistive tech for VIPs (visually impaired people). Also I am now pretty jealous and need something to properly display fonts the size of Texas. Thanks @thelexikitty.bsky.social
youtu.be/hBoeoIqtI1I?...
youtu.be/hBoeoIqtI1I?...
Blind People Tech | Lexplanations
YouTube video by TheLexikitty
youtu.be
April 16, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Found an excellent tech reviewer who's also blind. This is such a good intro to assistive tech for VIPs (visually impaired people). Also I am now pretty jealous and need something to properly display fonts the size of Texas. Thanks @thelexikitty.bsky.social
youtu.be/hBoeoIqtI1I?...
youtu.be/hBoeoIqtI1I?...
Here's why referring to locations on a page is bad for accessibility, and what you can do instead
#Accessibility
#ContentDesign
#UX
#A11y
bsky.app/profile/cont...
#Accessibility
#ContentDesign
#UX
#A11y
bsky.app/profile/cont...
From our blog: Top, right and other directional text
www.contentdesignireland.ie/blog/top-rig...
We often get asked about the accessibility issues caused by referring to locations on a page, and how to avoid them. So we wrote another blog post.
#Accessibility
#A11y
#ContentDesign
www.contentdesignireland.ie/blog/top-rig...
We often get asked about the accessibility issues caused by referring to locations on a page, and how to avoid them. So we wrote another blog post.
#Accessibility
#A11y
#ContentDesign
Top, right and other directional text :: Content Design Ireland
Using directions like 'above', 'below', 'left' and 'right' to tell people how to navigate a website is never great, but pointing to locations that could move is bad practice.
Read this blog post to f...
www.contentdesignireland.ie
April 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Here's why referring to locations on a page is bad for accessibility, and what you can do instead
#Accessibility
#ContentDesign
#UX
#A11y
bsky.app/profile/cont...
#Accessibility
#ContentDesign
#UX
#A11y
bsky.app/profile/cont...
People trust you more if you work in the open.
That goes for #Accessibility, too.
bsky.app/profile/cont...
That goes for #Accessibility, too.
bsky.app/profile/cont...
From our blog: Accessibility is more than a statement.
Go beyond committing to accessibility and use your accessibility statement to prove your website will provide an inclusive experience for disabled people.
www.contentdesignireland.ie/blog/accessi...
Go beyond committing to accessibility and use your accessibility statement to prove your website will provide an inclusive experience for disabled people.
www.contentdesignireland.ie/blog/accessi...
Accessibility is more than a statement :: Content Design Ireland
An accessibility statement is for more than stating whether a website complies with regulations. Its main purpose is to tell people who need accessibility features whether they’ll be able to use a web...
www.contentdesignireland.ie
March 31, 2025 at 1:16 PM
People trust you more if you work in the open.
That goes for #Accessibility, too.
bsky.app/profile/cont...
That goes for #Accessibility, too.
bsky.app/profile/cont...
Reposted by Marian Avery
We're live! More details about our accessible content design training and consultancy services very soon: www.contentdesignireland.ie
Content Design Ireland | Content design and accessibility specialists
Content design consultants, trainers, speakers and accessibility specialists. Over 35 years' experience leading accessible content projects.
www.contentdesignireland.ie
March 25, 2025 at 3:00 PM
We're live! More details about our accessible content design training and consultancy services very soon: www.contentdesignireland.ie
Reposted by Marian Avery
Please bookmark this link for when the site is back up. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
The Ukrainian government has a list of places where you can donate to the war effort here. I personally just donated $100: war.ukraine.ua/donate/
Slava Ukraini.
Slava Ukraini.
Donate to Ukraine’s defenders
The National Bank of Ukraine has decided to open a special fundraising account to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
war.ukraine.ua
February 28, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Please bookmark this link for when the site is back up. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
That's Ecosia now my browser and search engine. And I'm really regretting buying a Pixel.
i hope more than anything what people learn from this 2nd trump term is that the capitalist class are aligned and they want you to have less rights and only want you to exist to generate profit for them
“I recommend being in the office at least every weekday,” Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, wrote in a memo. He added that “60 hours a week is the sweet spot of productivity.” nyti.ms/41yElFc
February 28, 2025 at 10:46 PM
That's Ecosia now my browser and search engine. And I'm really regretting buying a Pixel.
Juat one more weird accessibility workaround in my life.
Facts I'm oddly proud of:
- my pc's operating system is nearly 9 years out of date
- I've been using a gaming platform for nearly 1 year since it said it would stop working with my OS
- I have an out-of-date pc* so that I can play one computer game
*no, of course it's not connected to the internet
- my pc's operating system is nearly 9 years out of date
- I've been using a gaming platform for nearly 1 year since it said it would stop working with my OS
- I have an out-of-date pc* so that I can play one computer game
*no, of course it's not connected to the internet
December 21, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Juat one more weird accessibility workaround in my life.
Facts I'm oddly proud of:
- my pc's operating system is nearly 9 years out of date
- I've been using a gaming platform for nearly 1 year since it said it would stop working with my OS
- I have an out-of-date pc* so that I can play one computer game
*no, of course it's not connected to the internet
- my pc's operating system is nearly 9 years out of date
- I've been using a gaming platform for nearly 1 year since it said it would stop working with my OS
- I have an out-of-date pc* so that I can play one computer game
*no, of course it's not connected to the internet
December 21, 2024 at 2:06 PM
Facts I'm oddly proud of:
- my pc's operating system is nearly 9 years out of date
- I've been using a gaming platform for nearly 1 year since it said it would stop working with my OS
- I have an out-of-date pc* so that I can play one computer game
*no, of course it's not connected to the internet
- my pc's operating system is nearly 9 years out of date
- I've been using a gaming platform for nearly 1 year since it said it would stop working with my OS
- I have an out-of-date pc* so that I can play one computer game
*no, of course it's not connected to the internet
For Christmas, Teacake did not get a new cat tree, no matter what she thinks.
December 16, 2024 at 10:12 AM
For Christmas, Teacake did not get a new cat tree, no matter what she thinks.
If you mention accessibility and pets in your bio, I will hit that follow button so fast!
Here's Teacake enjoying her new, self-heating, bed
Here's Teacake enjoying her new, self-heating, bed
December 13, 2024 at 9:29 PM
If you mention accessibility and pets in your bio, I will hit that follow button so fast!
Here's Teacake enjoying her new, self-heating, bed
Here's Teacake enjoying her new, self-heating, bed
Actually built a trello board for new job today. I work for me now.
December 13, 2024 at 1:28 PM
Actually built a trello board for new job today. I work for me now.
I now have Anroid 15 on my phone. I absolutely hate it. It has made my font size and screen zoom (both set to largest) smaller. It has a magnifier, which doesn't magnify the keyboard. #Google did not test this with #users.
#accessibility #a11y
#accessibility #a11y
December 8, 2024 at 9:38 PM
I now have Anroid 15 on my phone. I absolutely hate it. It has made my font size and screen zoom (both set to largest) smaller. It has a magnifier, which doesn't magnify the keyboard. #Google did not test this with #users.
#accessibility #a11y
#accessibility #a11y
One of the best 'jobs' I ever had was spending 3 hours at City University in London making training materials for and speaking to their trainee optometrists and opticians about my experiences. I got £75 an hour, cash.
18 years ago, before I'd heard of #UserResearch or #UserCentredDesign.
18 years ago, before I'd heard of #UserResearch or #UserCentredDesign.
December 4, 2024 at 8:31 AM
One of the best 'jobs' I ever had was spending 3 hours at City University in London making training materials for and speaking to their trainee optometrists and opticians about my experiences. I got £75 an hour, cash.
18 years ago, before I'd heard of #UserResearch or #UserCentredDesign.
18 years ago, before I'd heard of #UserResearch or #UserCentredDesign.
It's that one day of the year when governments remember that disabled people exist and are people.
Just a few days after the UK government wrote a big "it was too difficult-and-or-expensive to assist you to live" clause.
#Disability #NEISVoid #Inclusion
Just a few days after the UK government wrote a big "it was too difficult-and-or-expensive to assist you to live" clause.
#Disability #NEISVoid #Inclusion
December 3, 2024 at 9:29 PM
It's that one day of the year when governments remember that disabled people exist and are people.
Just a few days after the UK government wrote a big "it was too difficult-and-or-expensive to assist you to live" clause.
#Disability #NEISVoid #Inclusion
Just a few days after the UK government wrote a big "it was too difficult-and-or-expensive to assist you to live" clause.
#Disability #NEISVoid #Inclusion
Moving from the North to the South of Ireland means a tax on blind people. I've shelled out €200 to have an ophthalmology appointment where they did all the tests, so they could reregister my #VisualImpairment. Except they didn't do all the tests and need me to come back, for €100.
December 3, 2024 at 11:18 AM
Moving from the North to the South of Ireland means a tax on blind people. I've shelled out €200 to have an ophthalmology appointment where they did all the tests, so they could reregister my #VisualImpairment. Except they didn't do all the tests and need me to come back, for €100.
Any nonexistent/invisible emails* due to lack of colour contrast get filtered out.
Remember that to encourage people to read emails, your emails have to be readable.
*I am not 5 and having fun with invisible ink.
Remember that to encourage people to read emails, your emails have to be readable.
*I am not 5 and having fun with invisible ink.
December 2, 2024 at 5:43 PM
Any nonexistent/invisible emails* due to lack of colour contrast get filtered out.
Remember that to encourage people to read emails, your emails have to be readable.
*I am not 5 and having fun with invisible ink.
Remember that to encourage people to read emails, your emails have to be readable.
*I am not 5 and having fun with invisible ink.
I criticise Google a lot, but credit where credit's due: their automatic email filters mean I've seen less than 5 black Friday and Cyber Monday emails this year. I'm sure there are a lot more in my 'promotions' folder, but I'm not going to look.
December 2, 2024 at 5:28 PM
I criticise Google a lot, but credit where credit's due: their automatic email filters mean I've seen less than 5 black Friday and Cyber Monday emails this year. I'm sure there are a lot more in my 'promotions' folder, but I'm not going to look.
I am very proud to have voted in a country I moved to 3 months ago, which has:
- actual choice
- proportional representation
- (in the constituency where I live, at least) the longest ballot paper/list of candidates I have ever seen!
- actual choice
- proportional representation
- (in the constituency where I live, at least) the longest ballot paper/list of candidates I have ever seen!
November 29, 2024 at 7:35 PM
I am very proud to have voted in a country I moved to 3 months ago, which has:
- actual choice
- proportional representation
- (in the constituency where I live, at least) the longest ballot paper/list of candidates I have ever seen!
- actual choice
- proportional representation
- (in the constituency where I live, at least) the longest ballot paper/list of candidates I have ever seen!