All Hopped Up

I finally figured out why this week has essentially been Hell Week for me and anyone who had to deal with me in any capacity: The new meds the doctor gave me can cause elevated hostile behavior and feelings of anger. it's insidious, though, because it's not something that just happens. In my case, it played on things i normally find irritating and boosted my response to those. It's like how in Season 4 of Supernatural when Sam basically gives his brother 20 years of ass kickings because he's all hopped up on Demon blood. Notice how this gets filed under The X Files because 🖕🏻 Andrew Dab. I don't even care if I spelled his name right.

If you don't like topics like sexuality and gender, sit in the corner and hum a hymn as you fondle the symbol of your faith with one hand and stroke your Good Book with the other, why don't you.

🐲 It’s also worth mentioning I’ve largely exited the Asexual community because they are generally younger, angry and not yet tired enough by life to keep them from making your online life a nightmare if you fuck up. The result is even when I was having a nice time in those communities, I always felt on edge. In their attempt to make a safe space for everyone, they wound up having the reverse effect on me. I can tell myself it might say bad things about me as a person all I want, but it never managed to curb the feeling. It’s also why it took me so long to accept that I was nonbinary. I didn’t want to adopt a role that would require me to make others feel bad. So I privately classify myself as gender unimportant so I can just start living already without neglecting a big piece of my personality pie. 🏳️‍🌈

Let My Changeling Go! A memoir of Championing Discord in the Blindness Community

I want to take a minute to express my displeasure (growing whenever I think on it) with Discord. To some of you, it will seem like not a big deal. For those of you who have experienced something like this, you’ll understand. I’m not actually trying to get something done, I’m just talking about it to talk about it.

Background

I wrote my guide for using Discord with screen readers. I expanded and maintained it until 2022 when I became too ill to keep up with the changes, give participation to feedback in Discord’s accessibility server, or write 300 words a week to correct terminology and descriptions for UI changes that were minor, but could potentially cause screen readers to behave unpredictably. For my time and dedication and work to convince as many members of the blindness community as possible to embrace Discord, I received a T-shirt with their logo just before they changed said logo.

Username

I was also a Nitro subscriber and had been for a few years when Discord changed their policy concerning usernames. Prior to, I was Changeling#0001. I checked in preparation for the change, I researched and found that the accounts with changeling in their names, the one where the name was just changeling and no other words were inactive. When it came time for me to choose, I found one of the inactive accounts had gotten my preferred username, Changeling.

No Reply

I contacted support and explained. I then politely requested a change be made so I could have my username. I sent that email back in April of 2022; no response has come. I even tried DMing the account owner and asking if they’d mind switching since they weren’t using the account.

Turning Point

This is when I decided ed that no longer would I offering my services as an accessibilitye consultant for free. Compensation needn’t be monetary, but it needs to go beyond the proverbial Coke® and a smile. See my about page for ways get in touch.

Your Turn

Has this ever happened to youou? Share in the replies.

Randy’s Love Languages: An overview of how to be a good friend and/or leader

My Love Languages

To Be Included in my users’ manual should it serve me to take the time to right one

1. Quality time: Essentally, if you don’t have it, can’t give it, won’t share it, please move along. I’m sure you’re a nice person, but we’re just not compatible.
2. Acts of service: Quality time breeds trust. Once I trust you, I feel comfortable with and demonstrate my appreciation by returning the favor.
3. Physical touch: I want it; a little goes way.
4. Gift giving: It only works if the top 3 are firmly established and it’s given because you thought of me, rather than because it’s a certain time of year and you feel obligated toed.
5. Words of Affirmation: Unless you’re a corporate type and you’re limited by years of conditioning, or HR needs such a statement on record, you can skip this step. By this point, you’re my friefriend. Generally speaking, I don’t need an explanation. CONGRATULATIONs! 🎰

Mature Reflection Concerning Apple's Disrutptive ipad ad

After thinking about it, here's what I've decided about the Apple #iPad ad that stirred the pot:

Aple is known as a disruptor. Because our society approaches certain topics with outright polarization, the only way to continue being a disruptor is to meet society where it is. In other words, the company wanted to wake us up and it worked. We'll all remember even if we don't actually watch said ad.

I Just hacked Sighted People!!!

For all my kindred spirits in the blind community, I've just figured out how to hack sighted people. Next time they forget to provide an accommodation, try saying, "Thank you for paying me the complement of forgetting I am blind. Nevertheless, i am blind." then tell them what you need. It wakes them up just enough.

#A11y issue with #UberEats app and proposed solution

Accessibility Issue with UberEats App

The main point I'm making is that there appears to be an accessibility issue with the UberEats app when using VoiceOver on iOS devices. Specifically, the issue arises when trying to report a problem with an order. Here's a clearer explanation: When attempting to report an issue with an order on the UberEats app while using VoiceOver (the screen reader for iOS), there are two main problems: - Inaccessible Dropdown Menu: The dropdown menu that allows you to select the specific item with issues is inaccessible, even with Screen Recognition enabled. This feature is crucial for reporting the problem accurately. - Photo Requirement: After managing to get past the inaccessible dropdown menu once, the app now requires you to upload a photo of the item with issues. This step presents another accessibility barrier for visually impaired users.

Suggested Solution

I propose that Uber should allow users to mark themselves as needing a stable experience for accessibility reasons. This would prevent beta features or experimental updates from being rolled out to those users, ensuring a consistent and accessible experience. Additionally, I suggest that other technology companies could benefit from adopting a similar approach, where users with accessibility needs can opt-out of receiving beta or experimental features that may introduce accessibility issues.

A changeling After All

😎🧚🏻🐲 Was watching an old sitcom the other day and heard one of the characters refer to athe #LGBTQIA2ss+ community as, "the fae crowd". Not saying that a good name for the community as a whole--pretty sure it's not, but if we take it as a possible name and at how i've lived my life and where I've ended up in relation to this specific community, the name Changeling seems more and more appropriate all the time.

Whole>Sum: Impressions of Stephen king's You like It Darker

Finished reading: You Like It Darker by Stephen King 📚

If you like the classic short story as done by King, this book has a lot to offer. The Cujo sequel was actually my least favorite, but the story that gets used to sell a collection usually is the one I like the least. I think it's because that story gets so much hype, then the actual thing ends up being a let down. I liked "Fin", "The Fifth step" and "Daniel Coughlin's Bad Dream" the best. Even so, this is a collection where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.👍🏼

This Book is Cool: Featuring guest Randy Reed

Some of you may remember me talking about being on a webqast called "This Book is Cool.". I just received the email with the finished product. See my photos page

Helen Keller -- This Book is Cool