Shawn Welker (he/him)
@shawnw39.bsky.social
Disability advocacy, inclusion, visual interpreting, web and digital accessibility. Founder of VisualEyes Access, LLC.
If I message to ask why you're following me, and you don't answer, expect to be blocked. That's what that "other" place is for.
If I message to ask why you're following me, and you don't answer, expect to be blocked. That's what that "other" place is for.
Pinned
Seeing a disturbing trend of folks getting upset at others for not including alt text, and unfollowing or blocking accounts for not doing so. Here's the thing... advocating for alt text is great and all, but please educate folks on what is, the intended audience, and why it's important.
Reacquainting myself with Pandora because fuck Spotify
November 8, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Reacquainting myself with Pandora because fuck Spotify
Reposted by Shawn Welker (he/him)
Nearly all the staff in the Office of Special Education have been fired as part of Trump’s sweeping layoffs.
These are the people responsible for protecting the civil rights of students with disabilities and ensuring they receive an equal education.
More needless cruelty on display.
These are the people responsible for protecting the civil rights of students with disabilities and ensuring they receive an equal education.
More needless cruelty on display.
October 14, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Nearly all the staff in the Office of Special Education have been fired as part of Trump’s sweeping layoffs.
These are the people responsible for protecting the civil rights of students with disabilities and ensuring they receive an equal education.
More needless cruelty on display.
These are the people responsible for protecting the civil rights of students with disabilities and ensuring they receive an equal education.
More needless cruelty on display.
There’s plenty of suck in the world these days.
We need more of this.
Hope it made things suck less, if only for a moment.
We need more of this.
Hope it made things suck less, if only for a moment.
For all the dog lovers. This is a classic. Worth seeing again.
August 27, 2025 at 1:42 AM
There’s plenty of suck in the world these days.
We need more of this.
Hope it made things suck less, if only for a moment.
We need more of this.
Hope it made things suck less, if only for a moment.
Reposted by Shawn Welker (he/him)
LOL… my high school saw a bigger crowd when we marched in the Do-dah parade in Kalamazoo, MI. #NoKings
"One deep" does not boast "a huge crowd"!!
It’s 6:04 p.m. in D.C., and we have parading. Crowd has filled in a bit at the route front, but mainly one deep along Constitution Avenue.
June 15, 2025 at 3:03 AM
LOL… my high school saw a bigger crowd when we marched in the Do-dah parade in Kalamazoo, MI. #NoKings
Reposted by Shawn Welker (he/him)
Me. Switching out of athletic shorts and a t-shirt, into pajama pants and a hoodie.
Ah, yes... I must don my evening wear.
Ah, yes... I must don my evening wear.
June 9, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Me. Switching out of athletic shorts and a t-shirt, into pajama pants and a hoodie.
Ah, yes... I must don my evening wear.
Ah, yes... I must don my evening wear.
I hear that the president responded with, "You don't have the authority to tell me what I have the authority to do. Nonny nonny poo poo. Stick your head in doo doo."
Or something like that....
Or something like that....
Major win in our tariffs case tonight.
US Court of International Trade has ruled that Trump’s tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are invalid and cannot be implemented.
This judgment completely halt’s Trump’s brainless tax increase on American families.
US Court of International Trade has ruled that Trump’s tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are invalid and cannot be implemented.
This judgment completely halt’s Trump’s brainless tax increase on American families.
May 29, 2025 at 2:15 AM
I hear that the president responded with, "You don't have the authority to tell me what I have the authority to do. Nonny nonny poo poo. Stick your head in doo doo."
Or something like that....
Or something like that....
Welp. At least the tax evading Chrisleys will be pardoned. Important stuff, you know. Very beneficial to the lives of all Americans. Such amazing leadership, this guy…
May 28, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Welp. At least the tax evading Chrisleys will be pardoned. Important stuff, you know. Very beneficial to the lives of all Americans. Such amazing leadership, this guy…
Exploring Inclusive Technology with UC-Irvine:
The VisualEyes Access team was honored to recently contribute to a research project in collaboration with UC-Irvine, focused on accessibility and emerging technology.
The VisualEyes Access team was honored to recently contribute to a research project in collaboration with UC-Irvine, focused on accessibility and emerging technology.
April 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Exploring Inclusive Technology with UC-Irvine:
The VisualEyes Access team was honored to recently contribute to a research project in collaboration with UC-Irvine, focused on accessibility and emerging technology.
The VisualEyes Access team was honored to recently contribute to a research project in collaboration with UC-Irvine, focused on accessibility and emerging technology.
Happy Opening Day, to those who celebrate!
a dodgers baseball player is standing on the field with his arms in the air and the words woot woot behind him .
Alt: L.A. Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, standing on the field waving his arms side to side over his head, slightly shaking his hips, giving the appearance that he is almost dancing. White letters overlay the gif near the bottom, “WOOT WOOT”.
media.tenor.com
March 27, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Happy Opening Day, to those who celebrate!
I hope all of us non-willing participants of Trump Country, get a class action settlement like the willful participants of Trump University.
March 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I hope all of us non-willing participants of Trump Country, get a class action settlement like the willful participants of Trump University.
Found another so-called alt-text expert who is spreading harmful misinformation. Please be cautious about the folks who are out here yelling at people to use alt-text. Many of them have no idea what it actually is, or how is should actually be used.
March 9, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Found another so-called alt-text expert who is spreading harmful misinformation. Please be cautious about the folks who are out here yelling at people to use alt-text. Many of them have no idea what it actually is, or how is should actually be used.
They're using illegal measures to take illegal action on legal citizens. I'm no historian, but...
Oh wait. I am a historian. BS History, Grand Valley State University, 1998.
Oh wait. I am a historian. BS History, Grand Valley State University, 1998.
UPDATE—Mahmoud's attorney says they do NOT know where he is.
They were first told he was sent to an ICE facility in Elizabeth, NJ. But when his 8-month-pregnant wife tried to visit him, she was told he's not there.
They've received reports he may be sent as far away as Louisiana.
They were first told he was sent to an ICE facility in Elizabeth, NJ. But when his 8-month-pregnant wife tried to visit him, she was told he's not there.
They've received reports he may be sent as far away as Louisiana.
March 9, 2025 at 10:21 PM
They're using illegal measures to take illegal action on legal citizens. I'm no historian, but...
Oh wait. I am a historian. BS History, Grand Valley State University, 1998.
Oh wait. I am a historian. BS History, Grand Valley State University, 1998.
Wasn’t sure how to pronounce “Hakeem Jeffries”, looked it up, and evidently it is pronounced “MAG-uh”. Fuck that guy…
March 8, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Wasn’t sure how to pronounce “Hakeem Jeffries”, looked it up, and evidently it is pronounced “MAG-uh”. Fuck that guy…
Whe kids start dying of measles because of MTG’s recommended “measles parties” I certainly hope she faces murder charges. Additionally, said parents should be brought up on child abuse and manslaughter charges. All of this is preventable, yet she wants to pretend she’s smarter than science. Fuck her
March 7, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Whe kids start dying of measles because of MTG’s recommended “measles parties” I certainly hope she faces murder charges. Additionally, said parents should be brought up on child abuse and manslaughter charges. All of this is preventable, yet she wants to pretend she’s smarter than science. Fuck her
Friendly reminder, preferences are not standards. If you like alt text to be more descriptive or less descriptive, that's your preference. Alt text should be created, however, following known accessibility standards. Again, it is more art than science. But please, bottom line, use it correctly.
March 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Friendly reminder, preferences are not standards. If you like alt text to be more descriptive or less descriptive, that's your preference. Alt text should be created, however, following known accessibility standards. Again, it is more art than science. But please, bottom line, use it correctly.
Sighted people getting angry about being asked to use a tool for blind people correctly, is exactly why (digital) accessibility matters. If you're going to advocate for the use of alt text, please understand the intended audience, how to use it correctly, and actively avoid misusing it.
March 6, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Sighted people getting angry about being asked to use a tool for blind people correctly, is exactly why (digital) accessibility matters. If you're going to advocate for the use of alt text, please understand the intended audience, how to use it correctly, and actively avoid misusing it.
Friendly reminder that alt text, while useful, is not for sighted folks. It is for blind and low vision folks, and folks whose devices or networks might not be able to load images. It is for people using a screen reader, not for people who are able to physically see the image and read the caption.
March 6, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Friendly reminder that alt text, while useful, is not for sighted folks. It is for blind and low vision folks, and folks whose devices or networks might not be able to load images. It is for people using a screen reader, not for people who are able to physically see the image and read the caption.
So Dem “leadership” showed their strength by [adjusts glasses] holding tiny little signs… JFC, fuck them too. We need to burn it all down. These fucking weak pieces of shit…
March 5, 2025 at 3:26 AM
So Dem “leadership” showed their strength by [adjusts glasses] holding tiny little signs… JFC, fuck them too. We need to burn it all down. These fucking weak pieces of shit…
Still think it's not a cult?
March 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Still think it's not a cult?
Keep 'em coming! These protest videos are not just about sending a message to those corrupt individuals in power. They are also beacons of light to those of us who struggle to find hope these dark days. We need each other's energy. We need each other's solidarity. We need each other.
March 2, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Keep 'em coming! These protest videos are not just about sending a message to those corrupt individuals in power. They are also beacons of light to those of us who struggle to find hope these dark days. We need each other's energy. We need each other's solidarity. We need each other.