#universal access

So this journey into accepting my disability and trying to get the adaptive tech I need to continue farming has been difficult, enlightening, and LOOOOONNNNGGG. I'm not done yet, but thanks to community, I'm well on my way. The gofundme campaign was really successful, and I've got a lot of humble gratitude for the people that keep believing in me and this vision for the Farm.

Usually can't haul a hay bale that far worth a lick without a ton of pain, so being able to move that way, even as my arms get used to the impact, was pretty incredible.

Here for Universally Accessible Farming and all it takes to try and keep trying to implement that here on the land. If yr interested in the kind of wheelchair I'm currently using across uneven surfaces, grass and dirt -- see here. Still trying to figure out how to climb and incline well.

All part of the journey.

I hate this so fucking much.

There are few things I loathe more than people prioritising aesthetic over functionality when it comes to communicating essential information.

It’s even worse that this was posted in a specifically neurodivergent group. The utter lack of consideration for the needs of less privileged disabled folk by too many privileged neurodivergent folk depresses me so much.

Honestly, if you are in charge of choosing bathroom signage for a public venue, that sign is fine. It says everything it needs to to folks who don’t speak English or can’t read. It includes that it’s accessible.

Please don’t include mythical creatures. Trans binary and nonbinary and disabled folk aren’t mythical. We are human, same as cis, binary gendered and abled folk.

*Please* do *not* erase the fact that it’s an accessible bathroom. Disabled folk need to be able to see that easily. Many of us have fatigue disorders that make searching everywhere for a bathroom we can use impossible or issues with continence that would render it awful.

“If our patrons around the globe think this latest situation is upsetting, then they should be very worried about what the publishing and recording industries have in mind,” added Kahle. “I think they are trying to destroy this library entirely and hobble all libraries everywhere. But just as we’re resisting the DDoS attack, we appreciate all the support in pushing back on this unjust litigation against our library and others.”

I just donated to Archive.org because they have spent the past two decades building this Digital Library that has collected over 100 PETRAbytes (1 petra = 1000 tera) of content from all over time and the world.

All kinds of media, even game emulators.

Books you can rent.

Full feature films.

Historical documents.

Webpages - The Wayback Machine, archiving over 860mill webpages across time, is part of the library.

The have a slew of projects designed to help allow libraries and everyday individuals contribute to this library as well as help give everyone access like Offline Archive , Bookserver - even in unique ways like with the Bookmobile!

They are also under attack though, which is what encouraged me to contribute today. Libraries across the US, and lets be real - access to education in many areas of the world - is under attack. I do suspect not just DDoS, not just businesses, but even governments seeking to oppress people will try to suppress this archive and the knowledge is holds.

While you can donate there are other ways to help:

Volunteering is an option, if that fits your bill. If you have collections that should be digitized, they have Scanning Services that would help people contribute non-digitized media to the archive. Also the aptly named Open Library is a great place to contribute either with books or if you are a programmer you can build on top of the data as well. There are also some jobs available! (i can't be sure without their info, but they may qualify as a PSLF employer since they are non-profit)

Archive.org is my new favorite place of all time. Both because of the content but also because of the mission at the heart of it all:

The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Like a paper library, we provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, people with print disabilities, and the general public. Our mission is to provide Universal Access to All Knowledge.

The number of people in China living with HIV/AIDS grew 14 percent in the past year, according to an Al Jazeera report based on China’s state news agency, Xinhua. This amounts to nearly 100,000 new diagnoses.

The fact that trains and buses don’t come with automatic ramps as standard, instead relying on inconsistent and grudging aid from staff who are frequently either surly and aggressive or difficult to find is ridiculous.