Author | Lightnews

Gregory J. Rosmaita

@oedipusnj.bsky.social

740 followers 520 following 1.3K posts

Voice input/output user | Unintelligible at any speed Accessibility is a human & civil right. Inaccessibility is a choice. YOUR choice. #AlwaysAddALT #ALT4me #ALT4you Girlbossed by #BCatPix, who appears in my avatar & banner.

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Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Jun 24

A SIMPLE GUIDE TO PROVIDING USEFUL ALT ON BLUESKY

1/ ALT's sole function on Bluesky is to provide an autonomous & as fully equivalent an experience of an image as possible for the blind/VI & neurodivergent

If you can see it & read it, I should be able to feel or hear it without leaving Bluesky

Baby Cat, seated on her haunches on an unmade bed, her right forepaw resting on the back of her human's white skinned left hand.

BC's gazing solemnly at her human with her enormous sage green eyes, a look of determination on her white milk muzzle. BC exudes quiet confidence, but she still wishes there was an Image Description reminder on Bluesky she could enable, so she couldn't possibly forget to add ALT before tweeting.

Baby Cat is an adult deep chocolate colored tan-ticked tabby. All 4 of her legs are tiger striped, as is her tan chest & neck. The stripes on her neck & chest look like necklaces of varying widths & hues, from jet black to milk chocolate.

BC has a tan face with black markings, white whiskers, a white milk muzzle & an irresistibly boopable dusty rose nose. Her back coat is a rich chocolate brown, dappled by golden specks. In a sign of great sincerity, BC's whiskers—like her lynx-tufted ears–are at full alert.

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Reposted by Gregory J. Rosmaita

Sarah Blahovec @sblahov.bsky.social · Nov 17

I created an #AltTextPalestine toolkit with information on how to participate and combining practices I've used + learned from others on here. It's a work in progress so let me know if you have any tips or ideas to share!

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

#AltTextPalestine Toolkit

#AltTextPalestine Toolkit Created November 16, 2023 by Sarah Blahovec What is #AltTextPalestine? 1 Why does #AltTextPalestine matter? 2 How do I make a request in #AltTextPalestine? 2 What kind of c...

docs.google.com

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Reposted by Gregory J. Rosmaita

Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein) @rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social · Dec 23

#AltTextPalestine some photos from No Xmas As Usual In A Genocide event in NYC

The protest was not wheelchair accessible so I couldn't take too many photos but I did get some and two of the volunteers who approached me about it were very nice. Solidarity was given and awareness was raised.

a photo of myself taken by my PCA. I am in a motorized wheelchair black with some yellow accents. I am wearing a rainbow mohawk hat with a rainbow flower crown headband going across it. purple sunglasses round and medium sized, a yellow balaclava and under that a black mask because COVID is still a thing and it's cold today. I'm wearing a black winter coat, snow pants and winter boots. I am holding a red bag and my sign that reads "disabled anti-zionist jews say not in our name. ceasefire now. end the occupation"

two religious (hadidic or othodox) jewish with men with black hats, and side curls (payot). one is looking to the right and one is looking down. they are among a line of religious protesters in solidarity with Palestine. . one signs reads torah demands all Palestine be returned to Palestinian sovereignty. the other sign reads freedom for gaza and all of palestine

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Reposted by Gregory J. Rosmaita

Rebelwheels NYC (Michele Sommerstein) @rebelwheelsnyc.bsky.social · Dec 31

(NYE in Columbus Circle, NYC) pt 1
#ShutItDown4Palestine #AltTextPalestine

photo is taken outside in Columbus Circle in New York City. I'm trying to keep my distance because of COVID, but you can see people are starting to gather at the protest and there's a golden metallic balloon that reads Free Palestine where it's spelled out puffy letter by letter

An activist is sitting down before the rally starts and their white sign reads stop the genocide ceasefire now. It is written in marker in black red and green, and they have drawn watermelon symbols

An activist is standing outside of a protest in Columbus circle in New York City. She's bundled up for the weather and her large sign which hangs around her neck reads cease fire now. Her arms are stretched out. She is an older woman and told me that she is a Jewish activist who is anti-Zionist

an activist in a manual wheelchair carrying a good quantity of protest signs and they are holding them upside down as they make their way around the rally to see who needs to signs. The signs have pro Palestine messages on them like Ceasefire now!

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Reposted by Gregory J. Rosmaita

Ashlee @ashleemboyer.com · Dec 5

Most common examples of #Technoableism I see these days? Believing alt text is a "problem" to be solved by AI.

So many of you would benefit from developing a mutual aid mentality. Alt text is one form. Examples: #Alt4Me #Alt4You #AltTextPalestine.

The answer is community, not AI.

This site has been great in making me more aware of and using (not all the time - I still slip up) alt text.

But it also strikes me as one of the more obvious uses of basic AI, ans auto populate alt text for us with a description of the image.

Conspiracy theory: alt text is only there to improve AI image recognition models. Accessibility is a happy byproduct.

AI doesn't understand why a single frame of Captain Picard resting his forehead on his hand has cultural relevance in a tweet about, say, sports. Alt text in a skeet adds context.

Yeah, I want to be sympathetic to the idea behind alt text, but it's a pain to do, and often the post text itself already "describes" the image.

Plus, like you said, why isn't AI doing this. This is an actual useful use case for AI tools.

Also some people are obsessive about blog length alt text.

My thinking on #AltText is evolving to be: rather than nagging individuals for behavioral change (for a relatively high-cost low-reward activity), which will never work, we should all pester @bsky.app product to build AI alt-tag drafting into the app / product. #UX

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Reposted by Gregory J. Rosmaita

Sarah Blahovec @sblahov.bsky.social · Nov 13

I suppose I should do an intro post: I'm Sarah, I'm a disability civic engagement expert by day.

I talk a lot about accessible organizing including #AltTextPalestine (because #FreePalestine) & otherwise talk about weaving, sewing, knitting, & my dog Oliver.

Oliver, white and tan small dog, lays on his back and stares at the camera.

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Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Jan 2

Been waiting for an excuse to break this out...

#WeirdHistory #Medieval #ThisIsFine
#AlwaysAddALT #AlwaysReadTheALT

Meme of the bed of king Charles II of Navarre aflame with the king in it, based on the popular meme which shows a dog seated at a table in a room that's on fire, nonchalantly saying "This is fine!"

In this version, vivid orange & yellow flames rise around the king's pillows. Under a white sheet & a red blanket, his knees are bowed. He holds his hands clasped in front of his bare chest. His eyes are closed & his head is tilted to the right. The expression on his clean shaven face is strangely serene, although he is sticking the tip of his tongue between his lips. A white cloth or towel's wrapped around his head like a turban. Above him appear the words: "This is fine!"

This image is a detail from an illumination of the event in Ms. Ludwig XIII 7 (83.MP.150), fol. 274v - Bed of the King of Navarre Set on Fire - Master of the Getty Froissart (Flemish, ca. 1480–1483)

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Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Jan 1

All you need to do is remember: nothing online - absolutely nothing, not even the nazis, racists, bigots, xenophobes, homophobes, & transphobes - is more annoying or detrimental than inaccessible content.

Keep throwing that rock against that wall!

bsky.app/profile/oedi...

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Nov 6

On most days, accessibility advocacy feels like throwing a rock at a granite wall, but I have to keep throwing that rock as I know the wall's composed of individual atoms–98% of which are empty space–so, eventually, the atoms will align so the rock passes right through the granite.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Jan 1

Don't sell yourself short - I really enjoy your ALT!

And I really appreciate your advocacy & evangelization for the use of ALT.

May we all have a more accessible new year.

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Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Jan 1

BC's too nipperized to post – or move...

#BCatPix #AlwaysAddALT #zonked

Baby Cat, lying flat on her back on a white carpet underneath a wooden chair. Her tiger striped rear legs are splayed, with her curled right rear paw lying on her ringed & black-tipped tail. Three black toe beans are clearly visible on her left rear paw.

Baby Cat is completely passed out, looking for all the world as if Donald J. Trump has just shot her on Fifth Avenue. The dominant theme of the pic, other than BC's comatose pose, is belly floof. Lots & lots of luxurious sacred underbelly fur: mostly tan, but with darker brown accents & highlights, like the top of a crème brûlée. BC's tan face, head & tiger striped forelegs can just barely be glimpsed over the swell of her glorious floof.

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Reposted by Gregory J. Rosmaita

Nick DeNardis @nickdenardis.com · Dec 8

Social visual alt text browser extension is now live on Firefox 🚀 addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo...

This extension exposes the alt text (or lack of it) directly in the timeline instead of having to click the "alt" badge on an image.

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Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 25

The Christmas Day truce between Be My Eyes AI & me did not last the day.

An absolutely excruciating attempt to get a logical, believable description from the app. Guaranteed to curdle the milk of human kindness.

share.bemyeyes.com/chat/3iafM2U...

Be My AI - Shared chat

A Be My Eyes user shared an image description by Be My AI

share.bemyeyes.com

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 25

In a Nancy comic dated December 24, 1945 the origins of "cat speak" are revealed.

And, in a Christmas miracle, my session with BME was successful & relatively pain-free

Have an accessible Christmas 🐱😎

#ImageDescription #ALT4You #ALT #Christmas

share.bemyeyes.com/chat/j7iQXG2...

Be My AI - Shared chat

A Be My Eyes user shared an image description by Be My AI

share.bemyeyes.com

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Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 25

"I cannot believe I just heard you ask for what I just heard you ask for!"

‪#BCatPix #TheArtOfALT #Cats #ChristmasCats #ChristmasEve‬ #MeowyChristmas

Baby Cat, seated on a light blue love seat next to a stuffed plush Santa Claus doll. Baby's looking directly at the camera disapprovingly with her large sage green eyes. She's not only disappointed in me, she's embarrassed for my entire family - not to mention my ancestors, going back twelve generations.

Baby Cat is a predominantly brown, black, & tan tabby. The slanting rays of the late evening sun highlight baby's tan face with black markings, a white milk muzzle, white whiskers & a dusty rose nose. BC's chest & neck are also sunlit & tan, with tiger stripes that look necklaces of varying widths & hues. All four of BC's legs are also tiger striped. Her back coat is a rich chocolate brown, it's tan-ticking sparkling in the sun's fading light like flecks of gold.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 25

Baby Cat discussing a few last minute additions to her list with Santa‪

#BCatPix #TheArtOfALT #Cats #ChristmasCats #ChristmasEve‬ #MeowyChristmas

Baby Cat, seated on a light blue love seat next to a stuffed plush Santa Claus doll. Baby's looking directly at Santa's face, listening raptly to every word he says. Her large, sage green eyes sparkle with excitement, as she patiently awaits her turn to speak. Baby is about to school Santa in the true Art of the Deal. This is one supremely confident cat, for she knows just how good she's been since last Christmas.

Baby Cat is a predominantly brown, black, & tan tabby. The slanting rays of the late evening sun highlight baby's tan face with black markings, a white milk muzzle, white whiskers & a dusty rose nose. BC's chest & neck are also tan, with tiger stripes that look like draped necklaces. All four of BC's legs are tiger striped. Her back coat is a rich chocolate brown, it's tan-ticking sparkling in the sun's fading light like flecks of gold.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 25

‪"Hey, everybody—LOOK!!!"‬

‪"Santa's here & the sun hasn't even set yet!"‬

‪"Must've been a lot fewer people on the 'nice list' again this year!"‬

‪#BCatPix #TheArtOfALT #Cats #ChristmasCats #ChristmasEve‬

Baby Cat, seated on a light blue love seat next to a stuffed plush Santa Claus doll. Baby's looking back at the camera, her mouth wide open, a look of absolute amazement on her tan face with black markings. She can hardly believe her large, sage green eyes which sparkle with excitement. The slanting rays of the late evening sun highlight her white milk muzzle, white whiskers & hot pink tongue. This is one supremely happy cat, for—despite everything the cats at the shelter told BC—there IS a Santa Claus!

Baby Cat is a predominantly brown, black, & tan tabby. All four of her legs are tiger striped. Her back coat is a rich chocolate brown, it's tan-ticking sparkling in the sun's fading light like flecks of gold.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 24

Din bătrani se povesteşte
Că-n toţi anii negreşit
Moş Crăciun pribeag soseşte
Niciodată n-a lipsit

From ancient times they tell the story
Of Santa Claus who without fail
Comes every year, roaming the world,
He has never missed a year.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 24

Music for Isolation - “Moçs Crăciun” (Santa Claus)

A carol by Romanian composer Ion V. Borgovan, arr. Gideon Juckes for tuba & baritone sax, performed live at "Christmas Past", Shomeido Ongaku Hall, December 13th 2024

youtu.be/5Sno82sM67g

MUSIC for ISOLATION "Santa Claus"

YouTube video by Music For Isolation

youtu.be

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 22

Your, & BS's, silence & inaction addressing these crucial issues that are known to present almost insurmountable problems for those using assistive technology speaks rather loudly & rather eloquently about how little you, individually & collectively, actually care about our ability to participate.

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 22

bsky.app/profile/oedi...

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 18

@pfrazee.com

Please circulate amongst colleagues. Please institutionalize its advice.

BS needs WAI-ARIA markup on its interactive widgets & counters to truly be usable by those who use assistive technology

There is - & there has never been - an excuse not to implement

www.w3.org/TR/html-aria/

ARIA in HTML

This specification defines the authoring rules (author conformance requirements) for the use of Accessible Rich Internet Applications (WAI-ARIA) 1.2 and Digital Publishing WAI-ARIA Module 1.0 ...

www.w3.org

Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 22

@pfrazee.com - where's the character counter for DM?

Where's the WAI-ARIA markup necessary for those of us using assistive technology to use the char counter when composing messages or ALT?

Where is your accessibility plan for BS outlining how you will make it accessible & work with PWD to do so?

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Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 22

The Altai Band: "Jingle Bells" (Mongolian version)

youtu.be/qJkiYNeDsw4?...

The Altai band - Jingle Bells (mongolian version)

YouTube video by musicagencymn

youtu.be

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Reposted by Gregory J. Rosmaita

Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · Dec 18

Michigan passed reforms to stop imposing court fines & fees on children — often very young (someone quoted here was *11*!).

And the reforms applied retroactively this fall, relieving millions of dollars of debt that were weighing people down from young ages.

NEW: boltsmag.org/michigan-juv...

How Michigan Stopped Saddling Children with Millions in Court Debt

Last year, Michigan stopped imposing court fines and fees on kids, and relieved millions of dollars in past debt. Now, it may also ensure that kids get adequate representation in court.

boltsmag.org

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Gregory J. Rosmaita @oedipusnj.bsky.social · Dec 18

Please, for the love of all you hold holy, make the top priority of this site ARIA-enabling ALL counter widgets

It is an undue burden for the AT user to have to compose all responses & posts off-line

There also does not seem to be a counter widget at all in DM though there is a cap on DM length

Reposted by Gregory J. Rosmaita

Dr Luke Steubenstein 👹 @lukesteuber.com · Dec 18

Check out what I just got as change 😮 I haven’t seen one of these in probably twenty years

Two U.S. dollar coins are displayed side by side on a marble surface. The coin on the left shows an image of a woman kneeling while planting crops, surrounded by tall plants, with the text “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” along the rim and “$1” at the bottom. The coin on the right features a portrait of Sacagawea with her hair tied back, carrying a baby on her back, with the word “LIBERTY” at the top and “IN GOD WE TRUST” inscribed to the left of the portrait. Both coins have a golden color.

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