Jan Maarten
@janmaarten.com
Inclusive designer, privacy advocate, writer, and future hermit. (he/him)
Please don’t add me to your starter packs.
Opinions are my own.
🌐 https://janmaarten.com
Please don’t add me to your starter packs.
Opinions are my own.
🌐 https://janmaarten.com
Pinned
Jan Maarten
@janmaarten.com
· Nov 15
a man in a suit is crying and says `` everyone '' .
Alt: A man maniacally shouting "EVERYONE!", enunciating and drawing out every ear-piercing syllable. Clip from the film The Professional.
media.tenor.com
Me, an accessibility designer losing his chill: If you do that, no one using assistive tech will be able to use this
Dev: Okay but is it really a problem if it isn't accessible?
Me: We need to make sure that everyone can access this
Dev: What do you mean everyone??
Me:
Dev: Okay but is it really a problem if it isn't accessible?
Me: We need to make sure that everyone can access this
Dev: What do you mean everyone??
Me:
Reposted by Jan Maarten
Here is an obituary for Alice Wong from The Sick Times, a publication aligned with disability rights and disability activism, if you are looking for an alternative to reading the nyt one: thesicktimes.org/2025/11/15/a...
Alice Wong, disability activist and luminary, dies at 51 - The Sick Times
Alice Wong platformed and uplifted people with Long COVID in her final chapter as a lifelong disability advocate and storyteller.
thesicktimes.org
November 16, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Here is an obituary for Alice Wong from The Sick Times, a publication aligned with disability rights and disability activism, if you are looking for an alternative to reading the nyt one: thesicktimes.org/2025/11/15/a...
Reposted by Jan Maarten
An absolute tragic loss in the disability community. Alice was one of the strongest voices we've had, and this world will not be the same without her guidance, especially during these times.
Heartbroken to hear of @sfdirewolf.bsky.social ‘s transition to be a crip anscestor AND feeling so honored to have been alive in the time as this brilliant human, and gotten to learn from her.
May her memory continue to always be a blessing.
May her memory continue to always be a blessing.
November 15, 2025 at 6:43 AM
An absolute tragic loss in the disability community. Alice was one of the strongest voices we've had, and this world will not be the same without her guidance, especially during these times.
Reposted by Jan Maarten
‘Death remains my intimate shadow partner. It has been with me since birth, always hovering close by. I understand one day we will finally waltz together into the ether. I hope when that time comes, I die with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, unapologetic, joyful, & full of love.’
—Alice Wong
—Alice Wong
November 15, 2025 at 6:12 AM
‘Death remains my intimate shadow partner. It has been with me since birth, always hovering close by. I understand one day we will finally waltz together into the ether. I hope when that time comes, I die with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, unapologetic, joyful, & full of love.’
—Alice Wong
—Alice Wong
Reposted by Jan Maarten
Honored to be featured on the freshly-relaunched @aftermath.site with this new piece!
It's about AI and Fascism, and also the beloved Y2K-era teen comedy Mean Girls.
It's about AI and Fascism, and also the beloved Y2K-era teen comedy Mean Girls.
AI Is The Ultimate "Forced Meme"
There are few things in this world more insufferable than a rich person trying to force their shitty ideas on everyone else. And in 2025, there are very few things that feel more forced than “Generati...
aftermath.site
November 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Honored to be featured on the freshly-relaunched @aftermath.site with this new piece!
It's about AI and Fascism, and also the beloved Y2K-era teen comedy Mean Girls.
It's about AI and Fascism, and also the beloved Y2K-era teen comedy Mean Girls.
Reposted by Jan Maarten
Reposted by Jan Maarten
every large institution and public sector organisation needs to do this
November 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM
every large institution and public sector organisation needs to do this
Just going to drop this link for no particular reason, other than the Safety team here is staffed by utter clowns
www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
November 13, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Just going to drop this link for no particular reason, other than the Safety team here is staffed by utter clowns
www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
Reposted by Jan Maarten
I'm happy to share that I've written a chapter for a book called Digital Accessibility Ethics: Disability Inclusion in All Things Tech, to be published on 26 March 2026:
www.routledge.com/Digital-Acce...
#DigitalAccessibilityEthics
www.routledge.com/Digital-Acce...
#DigitalAccessibilityEthics
Digital Accessibility Ethics: Disability Inclusion in All Things Tech
Digital Accessibility Ethics is a practical guide with an urgent goal: to help end tech exclusion of 1.3 billion people across the world with disabilities.
The book introduces the first Digital Access...
www.routledge.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:43 PM
I'm happy to share that I've written a chapter for a book called Digital Accessibility Ethics: Disability Inclusion in All Things Tech, to be published on 26 March 2026:
www.routledge.com/Digital-Acce...
#DigitalAccessibilityEthics
www.routledge.com/Digital-Acce...
#DigitalAccessibilityEthics
Reposted by Jan Maarten
New: a judge has ruled that Flock surveillance images are public records that can be requested by anyone. Shows that at least in some cases, police cannot withhold the data collected by its surveillance systems.
www.404media.co/judge-rules-...
www.404media.co/judge-rules-...
Judge Rules Flock Surveillance Images Are Public Records That Can Be Requested By Anyone
A Washington judge said images taken by Flock cameras are "not exempt from disclosure" in public record requests.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
New: a judge has ruled that Flock surveillance images are public records that can be requested by anyone. Shows that at least in some cases, police cannot withhold the data collected by its surveillance systems.
www.404media.co/judge-rules-...
www.404media.co/judge-rules-...
Reposted by Jan Maarten
This is exactly what we ended up doing on Direct File to protect taxpayer privacy while remaining focused on accessibility.
Like any UX solution, you also have options with accessibility, each with their own tradeoffs.
How do you learn about those trade-offs? Learn to use assistive technology.
Like any UX solution, you also have options with accessibility, each with their own tradeoffs.
How do you learn about those trade-offs? Learn to use assistive technology.
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
This is exactly what we ended up doing on Direct File to protect taxpayer privacy while remaining focused on accessibility.
Like any UX solution, you also have options with accessibility, each with their own tradeoffs.
How do you learn about those trade-offs? Learn to use assistive technology.
Like any UX solution, you also have options with accessibility, each with their own tradeoffs.
How do you learn about those trade-offs? Learn to use assistive technology.
Reposted by Jan Maarten
I really do think The Sick Times is doing some of the most important journalism of our generation. And I can tell you firsthand that Miles and Betsy are the real deal. They care so, so much about getting it right. They’re incredible humans in addition to being such good journalists.
Our #LongCOVID journalism requires reader support — with your help, we can prepare our non-profit newsroom for whatever 2026 brings.
Will you donate today and help us keep this vital work going? the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/
Will you donate today and help us keep this vital work going? the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/
November 7, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I really do think The Sick Times is doing some of the most important journalism of our generation. And I can tell you firsthand that Miles and Betsy are the real deal. They care so, so much about getting it right. They’re incredible humans in addition to being such good journalists.
Reposted by Jan Maarten
Bad news for human rights and national security, no matter how you spin it
NSO Group has a new executive chairman, David Friedman, who's a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and onetime bankruptcy lawyer for President Trump.
www.wsj.com/tech/israeli... via @WSJ
NSO Group has a new executive chairman, David Friedman, who's a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and onetime bankruptcy lawyer for President Trump.
www.wsj.com/tech/israeli... via @WSJ
Israeli Spyware Maker NSO Gets New Owners, Leadership and Seeks to Mend Reputation
Investors led by Hollywood producer Robert Simonds have taken a controlling stake in the company behind Pegasus, and former Trump official David Friedman has been named executive chairman.
www.wsj.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Bad news for human rights and national security, no matter how you spin it
NSO Group has a new executive chairman, David Friedman, who's a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and onetime bankruptcy lawyer for President Trump.
www.wsj.com/tech/israeli... via @WSJ
NSO Group has a new executive chairman, David Friedman, who's a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and onetime bankruptcy lawyer for President Trump.
www.wsj.com/tech/israeli... via @WSJ
Reposted by Jan Maarten
RIP James Watson, co-discoverer of Rosalind Franklin's notes
November 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
RIP James Watson, co-discoverer of Rosalind Franklin's notes
Reposted by Jan Maarten
One problem with the web platform I’m thinking about how to solve: keyboard shortcuts.
I’ve written what I see as the requirements here: github.com/openui/open-...
I want to hear from devs who’ve worked on big apps/sites with shortcuts and see what I’m missing, and how they’ve solved this.
I’ve written what I see as the requirements here: github.com/openui/open-...
I want to hear from devs who’ve worked on big apps/sites with shortcuts and see what I’m missing, and how they’ve solved this.
github.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
One problem with the web platform I’m thinking about how to solve: keyboard shortcuts.
I’ve written what I see as the requirements here: github.com/openui/open-...
I want to hear from devs who’ve worked on big apps/sites with shortcuts and see what I’m missing, and how they’ve solved this.
I’ve written what I see as the requirements here: github.com/openui/open-...
I want to hear from devs who’ve worked on big apps/sites with shortcuts and see what I’m missing, and how they’ve solved this.
Reposted by Jan Maarten
Alt text is about accessibility, intended for people who use screenreaders. If you use it for other things, like image credits, that's like parking construction equipment in an accessible parking space. Sure, that is a convenient space for that, but it's not what it's for.
November 7, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Alt text is about accessibility, intended for people who use screenreaders. If you use it for other things, like image credits, that's like parking construction equipment in an accessible parking space. Sure, that is a convenient space for that, but it's not what it's for.
Reposted by Jan Maarten
you can watch Dracula’s Ex-Girlfriend and The Prince AND the next two episodes of Philosophy Tube for free this weekend if you want
go.nebula.tv/philosophytube
go.nebula.tv/philosophytube
November 6, 2025 at 10:18 PM
you can watch Dracula’s Ex-Girlfriend and The Prince AND the next two episodes of Philosophy Tube for free this weekend if you want
go.nebula.tv/philosophytube
go.nebula.tv/philosophytube
Reposted by Jan Maarten
NEW: A federal judge said the decision by Trump WH to end sign language interpretation at briefings by Trump and Leavitt likely violated the Rehabilitation Act and harmed deaf people who communicate in ASL.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Judge orders White House to restore sign language interpreters at briefings by Trump, Leavitt
U.S. District Judge Amir Ali said the White House’s decision to end ASL interpretation illegally excluded deaf Americans from crucial updates from the government.
www.politico.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:36 AM
NEW: A federal judge said the decision by Trump WH to end sign language interpretation at briefings by Trump and Leavitt likely violated the Rehabilitation Act and harmed deaf people who communicate in ASL.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Jan Maarten
posted this four months ago but tonight as buckaroos like mamdani sweep elections i will post again. hope this is sign to all establishment goofs that trotting to the center is not the move. protect the buckaroos who are in perilous circumstances and do not give an inch
November 5, 2025 at 3:14 AM
posted this four months ago but tonight as buckaroos like mamdani sweep elections i will post again. hope this is sign to all establishment goofs that trotting to the center is not the move. protect the buckaroos who are in perilous circumstances and do not give an inch
Not often you see someone beat their opponent twice in the same election.
November 5, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Not often you see someone beat their opponent twice in the same election.
Reposted by Jan Maarten
BREAKING: OpenAI to invest $1trn in new compute so as to be able to calculate accurately how much money it’s losing
November 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
BREAKING: OpenAI to invest $1trn in new compute so as to be able to calculate accurately how much money it’s losing
Reposted by Jan Maarten
As a toolmaker, and someone soon to be (hopefully) conferred with a Philosophia Doctorae specifically on tool-making, I thought I'd offer my perspective on this seemingly simple phrase and how it misguides the conversation on AI.
(spoiler: nothing is "just" a tool - only a tool would think that!)
(spoiler: nothing is "just" a tool - only a tool would think that!)
Stop saying that AI is just a tool and it only matters how it is used
I’m tired of this phrase and this simple way of thinking about tools. This blog post is a wandering train of thought on the topic of what tools are and why it matters to be even slightly more mature i...
www.frank.computer
November 4, 2025 at 9:46 AM
As a toolmaker, and someone soon to be (hopefully) conferred with a Philosophia Doctorae specifically on tool-making, I thought I'd offer my perspective on this seemingly simple phrase and how it misguides the conversation on AI.
(spoiler: nothing is "just" a tool - only a tool would think that!)
(spoiler: nothing is "just" a tool - only a tool would think that!)
Reposted by Jan Maarten
this entire article is excellent, but I was especially struck by this insight: for many, faith in technology has supplanted faith in our own human abilities
November 3, 2025 at 12:43 AM
this entire article is excellent, but I was especially struck by this insight: for many, faith in technology has supplanted faith in our own human abilities
Reposted by Jan Maarten
Reposted by Jan Maarten
Just donated! Happy to support a publication also doing disability journalism.
We're kicking off our biggest fundraiser of the year by participating in NewsMatch, a national campaign to support newsrooms across the US run by the Institute for Nonprofit News.
We need your help to keep telling #LongCOVID stories. Will you donate today? the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/
We need your help to keep telling #LongCOVID stories. Will you donate today? the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/
November 1, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Just donated! Happy to support a publication also doing disability journalism.
Reposted by Jan Maarten
When I say "I have a conflict with this meeting" I do not mean that I have another meeting at the same time.
What I mean is, I take ubmrage against it. I have a feud with it on a historic scale.
What I mean is, I take ubmrage against it. I have a feud with it on a historic scale.
October 31, 2025 at 3:42 PM
When I say "I have a conflict with this meeting" I do not mean that I have another meeting at the same time.
What I mean is, I take ubmrage against it. I have a feud with it on a historic scale.
What I mean is, I take ubmrage against it. I have a feud with it on a historic scale.