Michael Mathews
@micmath.me.uk
Web developer, digital accessibility advocate. Ex BBC. Ex New Yorker. American expat living in the UK. Old skool liberal. Curmudgeon. I'm not signalling, I really have virtues.
He/Him
#autism #ASD 🌈♾️🌻
#a11y #webdev
#progressive ⬱
#LGBTQ+ ally 🏳️🌈🏳️
He/Him
#autism #ASD 🌈♾️🌻
#a11y #webdev
#progressive ⬱
#LGBTQ+ ally 🏳️🌈🏳️
Reposted by Michael Mathews
I’m not young or a Republican but for those of you who are, is that “just what you do?”
October 16, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I’m not young or a Republican but for those of you who are, is that “just what you do?”
Reposted by Michael Mathews
it's kinda weird that all the software i am expected to use for work are all written by distributed teams, go, python, postgres, linux, chrome, k8s etc
and despite being told "the best teams work in an office together" i don't know of any software i use that's actually written that way
and despite being told "the best teams work in an office together" i don't know of any software i use that's actually written that way
October 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM
it's kinda weird that all the software i am expected to use for work are all written by distributed teams, go, python, postgres, linux, chrome, k8s etc
and despite being told "the best teams work in an office together" i don't know of any software i use that's actually written that way
and despite being told "the best teams work in an office together" i don't know of any software i use that's actually written that way
Today I learned this from the internet: "All matter started first with the atom. Where did the atom come from? Research shows that the atom is the root molecule of all Creation. Who created the atom?" Thanks to user "jesusisking" I am logging off for the rest of the day.
September 17, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Today I learned this from the internet: "All matter started first with the atom. Where did the atom come from? Research shows that the atom is the root molecule of all Creation. Who created the atom?" Thanks to user "jesusisking" I am logging off for the rest of the day.
Reposted by Michael Mathews
I guess the main thing I’m learning this week is that lots of elite media people knew charlie kirk personally and didn’t know any minnesota state legislators
September 11, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I guess the main thing I’m learning this week is that lots of elite media people knew charlie kirk personally and didn’t know any minnesota state legislators
Reposted by Michael Mathews
How did America lose its democracy? Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.
August 28, 2025 at 2:45 AM
How did America lose its democracy? Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.
Reposted by Michael Mathews
Vance and his family are expected to be met with a wide variety of demonstrators during their luxury vacation to the Cotswolds.
“JD Vance is every bit as unwelcome in the UK as Donald Trump.” https://trib.al/eoZNudn
“JD Vance is every bit as unwelcome in the UK as Donald Trump.” https://trib.al/eoZNudn
July 22, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Vance and his family are expected to be met with a wide variety of demonstrators during their luxury vacation to the Cotswolds.
“JD Vance is every bit as unwelcome in the UK as Donald Trump.” https://trib.al/eoZNudn
“JD Vance is every bit as unwelcome in the UK as Donald Trump.” https://trib.al/eoZNudn
Reposted by Michael Mathews
He’s gone harder after Rosie O’Donnell than he has Jeffrey Epstein.
July 12, 2025 at 5:58 PM
He’s gone harder after Rosie O’Donnell than he has Jeffrey Epstein.
Putting someone who’s on the list, in charge of revealing who’s on the list was never going to work. #showUsTheList
July 15, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Putting someone who’s on the list, in charge of revealing who’s on the list was never going to work. #showUsTheList
Reposted by Michael Mathews
World War 3 kinda sucks, but you know, it was either this or pronouns
June 22, 2025 at 5:08 AM
World War 3 kinda sucks, but you know, it was either this or pronouns
Reposted by Michael Mathews
Reposted by Michael Mathews
people like to pretend malice doesn't exist bc it makes them, the pretender, feel better. superior. insulated.
but treating things as malice is not only usually more accurate, it's more effective:
but treating things as malice is not only usually more accurate, it's more effective:
The thing about not attributing to malice what can be explained by stupidity is that you are still left with both whereas treating it the other way around incentivises people to display neither
June 12, 2025 at 7:53 PM
people like to pretend malice doesn't exist bc it makes them, the pretender, feel better. superior. insulated.
but treating things as malice is not only usually more accurate, it's more effective:
but treating things as malice is not only usually more accurate, it's more effective:
Reposted by Michael Mathews
Those who don't criticize the government have nothing to fear.
June 12, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Those who don't criticize the government have nothing to fear.
Reposted by Michael Mathews
And to anyone thinking "impact is more important than intent"... that may be true in many/most cases... but saying this in relation to autism is placing blame on a disabled person for their disability.
May 30, 2025 at 3:01 AM
And to anyone thinking "impact is more important than intent"... that may be true in many/most cases... but saying this in relation to autism is placing blame on a disabled person for their disability.
So the US President can decide what prices private businesses are allowed to charge? And the Republicans are cool with this? But they all still hate communism?
May 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
So the US President can decide what prices private businesses are allowed to charge? And the Republicans are cool with this? But they all still hate communism?
Reposted by Michael Mathews
Don't mess with zooming on a website.
Don't mess with scrolling on a website.
Don't mess with default cursors on a website.
Don't mess with the default Tab order.
Don't mess with the back button in the browser.
Thank you.
Don't mess with scrolling on a website.
Don't mess with default cursors on a website.
Don't mess with the default Tab order.
Don't mess with the back button in the browser.
Thank you.
May 16, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Don't mess with zooming on a website.
Don't mess with scrolling on a website.
Don't mess with default cursors on a website.
Don't mess with the default Tab order.
Don't mess with the back button in the browser.
Thank you.
Don't mess with scrolling on a website.
Don't mess with default cursors on a website.
Don't mess with the default Tab order.
Don't mess with the back button in the browser.
Thank you.
Reposted by Michael Mathews
It’s good. Really, really good :)
Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal is officially out tomorrow - so pleased to get these reactions from Chris Packham, Camilla Pang and Lucia Osborne Crowley
Robinince.com
Robinince.com
May 1, 2025 at 8:21 AM
It’s good. Really, really good :)
Reposted by Michael Mathews
If you think you know what autism is but your only reference is what you've seen on TV or your cousin's/sister's/neighbor's kid... there's a very good chance you're wrong.
May 1, 2025 at 2:46 AM
If you think you know what autism is but your only reference is what you've seen on TV or your cousin's/sister's/neighbor's kid... there's a very good chance you're wrong.
Reposted by Michael Mathews
It's British Sign Language (BSL) Awareness day! BSL is a visual language used by over 150,000 people in the UK.
Explore our range of accessibility videos, all with BSL.
Quick Accessibility Tests: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2PS...
Browsing with Assistive Technology: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcNW...
Explore our range of accessibility videos, all with BSL.
Quick Accessibility Tests: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2PS...
Browsing with Assistive Technology: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcNW...
Quick accessibility test: Keyboard support (British Sign Language version)
YouTube video by TetraLogical
www.youtube.com
April 28, 2025 at 6:59 AM
It's British Sign Language (BSL) Awareness day! BSL is a visual language used by over 150,000 people in the UK.
Explore our range of accessibility videos, all with BSL.
Quick Accessibility Tests: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2PS...
Browsing with Assistive Technology: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcNW...
Explore our range of accessibility videos, all with BSL.
Quick Accessibility Tests: www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2PS...
Browsing with Assistive Technology: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcNW...
Reposted by Michael Mathews
Caught up on Doctor Who and it was joyful to see Rose Ayling-Ellis playing Aliss. True representation front and centre
So glad the Beeb went with a Deaf actor and smoothly incorporated BSL & live caption tech into the episode
Really good episode. Worth a watch!
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
So glad the Beeb went with a Deaf actor and smoothly incorporated BSL & live caption tech into the episode
Really good episode. Worth a watch!
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Doctor Who - Season 2: 3. The Well
Far in the future, on a tough, brutal planet, a devastated mining colony has only one survivor. To discover the truth, the Doctor and Belinda must face absolute terror.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 28, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Caught up on Doctor Who and it was joyful to see Rose Ayling-Ellis playing Aliss. True representation front and centre
So glad the Beeb went with a Deaf actor and smoothly incorporated BSL & live caption tech into the episode
Really good episode. Worth a watch!
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
So glad the Beeb went with a Deaf actor and smoothly incorporated BSL & live caption tech into the episode
Really good episode. Worth a watch!
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Reposted by Michael Mathews
Apparently RFK is trying to walk back his bullshit comments by saying he doesn't mean autistics like *me* are bad and awful and need to be irradicated; no, he just wants to get rid of the "low functioning" autistics and let me just say FUCK THAT
I'm not more worthy of existing than autistics who 1/
I'm not more worthy of existing than autistics who 1/
April 23, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Apparently RFK is trying to walk back his bullshit comments by saying he doesn't mean autistics like *me* are bad and awful and need to be irradicated; no, he just wants to get rid of the "low functioning" autistics and let me just say FUCK THAT
I'm not more worthy of existing than autistics who 1/
I'm not more worthy of existing than autistics who 1/
Reposted by Michael Mathews
Oooo! I forgot to mention. I’m joining a panel on neurodiversity & design stuff tomorrow. The questions look cracking :)
It should be a fun one & it’s free if folks want to come along: clearleft.com/thinking/onl...
It should be a fun one & it’s free if folks want to come along: clearleft.com/thinking/onl...
Online panel: Is neurodiversity the next frontier of accessibility in…
Join us for a panel discussion that will explore why designing for neurodivergence is designing for all.
clearleft.com
April 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Oooo! I forgot to mention. I’m joining a panel on neurodiversity & design stuff tomorrow. The questions look cracking :)
It should be a fun one & it’s free if folks want to come along: clearleft.com/thinking/onl...
It should be a fun one & it’s free if folks want to come along: clearleft.com/thinking/onl...
Reposted by Michael Mathews
Don't send all your users' data to the broligarchs. The Astro Fonts API downloads and caches fonts so they're served from your site, not an ad company's. Better for CLS *and* GDPR.
New in Astro 5.7: the experimental Fonts API. Say goodbye to boring fonts.
Built for performance, privacy and ease of use, the API makes it simple to add beautiful custom fonts to your site.
Built for performance, privacy and ease of use, the API makes it simple to add beautiful custom fonts to your site.
April 16, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Don't send all your users' data to the broligarchs. The Astro Fonts API downloads and caches fonts so they're served from your site, not an ad company's. Better for CLS *and* GDPR.
Reposted by Michael Mathews
When I didn’t have “I’m autistic” I had “I need a minute”, “I don’t understand”.
I had a lot of ways to communicate my needs. Better than what to many is a vague medical label.
I was still autistic.
#AutismAcceptance means accepting all autistic people, not just ones with “certificates”.
I had a lot of ways to communicate my needs. Better than what to many is a vague medical label.
I was still autistic.
#AutismAcceptance means accepting all autistic people, not just ones with “certificates”.
April 14, 2025 at 12:08 PM
When I didn’t have “I’m autistic” I had “I need a minute”, “I don’t understand”.
I had a lot of ways to communicate my needs. Better than what to many is a vague medical label.
I was still autistic.
#AutismAcceptance means accepting all autistic people, not just ones with “certificates”.
I had a lot of ways to communicate my needs. Better than what to many is a vague medical label.
I was still autistic.
#AutismAcceptance means accepting all autistic people, not just ones with “certificates”.