Re: Getting Involved
Bridger Reed-Lewis <[email protected]> Tue, 3 Jun 2025 22:09:37 -0800
| Newsgroups | gmane.comp.kde.devel.accessibility |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <CAFyN0F+y_bGzMKya+6vVO5gKwY=T+FJJxA+XdgCdQLc+TX1hwA@mail.gmail.com> |
--00000000000024f67a0636b8d870 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Thank you, I wasn't aware of those barriers. While I am aware that the university has strict rules around applications. I believe there could be a way to get around it, if it's used in an educational and collaborative environment. The person I need to check with about this, I am going to send them an email tomorrow since it's pretty late. Oh, and I tried accessing the IRC and Matrix but the channel isn't accepting anyone else, is there a way for me to get around that? I think it'd be a lot easier then email On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 10:03=E2=80=AFPM Benson Muite <benson_muite@emailplu= s.org> wrote: > > > On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 8:49 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote: > > Well I don=E2=80=99t think it would be useful particularly for UAA, it= =E2=80=99s just I > > feel a collaboration could be set up depending on the person. And with > > everything going on federally, a lot of folks at my work are pretty mad= , > > it=E2=80=99s the reason why I got my article. What I=E2=80=99m going to= do is reach out > to > > the engineers/tech departments, to see if anyone is interested in worki= ng > > on this project. Along with connecting with student clubs, I am also > going > > to install and test what I can with the applications you sent. > > Thanks. > > > > > Oh, about the mentoring program you mentioned. I don't think it's a goo= d > > fit for me since I have dyscalculia. I've tried with no luck to learn > > coding. It's just not my thing, what it would be testing along with > setting > > up times to chat around ideas, along with networking which i am scary > good > > at. > > We do use mailing lists, apps also have chat channels, typically on Matri= x > or IRC. > For Season of KDE, making students and people new to open source aware of > it > would be helpful. It provides a structured way for people to contribute > improvements > to software that they use, these need not be limited to coding > contributions. > > In the US, many applications require accessibility testing reports before > they can be > used in an institution. This can be a barrier to adopting open source > software since > the administrative burden of procuring software which has accessibility > testing done > is low compared to getting open source software and improving it to meet > accessibility > standards for which the financial cost would likely be ultimately lower, > thereby allowing > institutions to make more effective use of their limited funds. > > > > > > > > > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 21:37 Benson Muite <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > >> > >> > >> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 7:58 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote: > >> > I have heard of him, and it=E2=80=99s one of the reasons why I want = to get > >> > involved, at the moment I don=E2=80=99t think the university allows = Linux to > be > >> > used, but I could be wrong. At the moment, I am running KDE on my > Steam > >> > Deck. But I=E2=80=99m planning on purchasing a think-pad x1 carbon G= en 10 > soon. > >> One > >> > area I=E2=80=99d like to see get added is dictation. There's an aban= doned > project > >> > here --> https://github.com/abb128/LiveCaptions that could be forked > >> into a > >> > simple dictation tool, it's surprisingly, very accurate. > >> > >> This seems to build on another library which maybe worth incorporating > into > >> KDE applications: > >> https://github.com/abb128/april-asr > >> > >> There are ongoing discussions withing KDE about using tools trained on > >> data of unknown origin. > >> > >> > > >> > Outside of that, I would need to look because right now there's not = a > >> lot, > >> > and disability itself is a spectrum. without seeing what you are > already > >> > working on, giving feedback might be hard. But I am more than willin= g > to > >> > test anything you can give me, as long as you make the install proce= ss > >> easy > >> > or give me command props. > >> > >> KDE applications are listed at: > >> http://apps.kde.org > >> Some will work on Windows and Mac. Applications that might be useful i= n > a > >> university > >> setting include: > >> - https://apps.kde.org/labplot/ > >> - https://apps.kde.org/ktechlab/ > >> - https://apps.kde.org/accessibilityinspector/ > >> - https://apps.kde.org/krita/ > >> - https://apps.kde.org/okular/ > >> - https://apps.kde.org/kdenlive/ > >> - https://apps.kde.org/digikam/ > >> - https://apps.kde.org/glaxnimate/ > >> > >> It seems there are faculty members familiar with open source software: > >> https://pradeeban.github.io/ > >> > >> Maybe you could contact them to see if there are ways to also involve > >> students in > >> improving software accessibility? Season of KDE ( > >> https://mentorship.kde.org/sok/) > >> would be one structured way to do this for KDE software that is useful > at > >> UAA. > >> > >> Krita, Kdenlive and Glaxnimate may also be useful to people in your ar= t > >> department: > >> > >> > https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departm= ents/art > >> and to the student clubs in the art department: > >> > >> > https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departm= ents/art/clubs/ > >> > >> Finally, in terms of testing, is there a KDE application you use and > would > >> be willing to help > >> test? One-off contributions are welcome, but sustained involvement is > most > >> helpful. > >> > >> > > >> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 20:28 Benson Muite <[email protected]= g > > > >> > wrote: > >> > > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> On Tue, Jun 3, 2025, at 11:15 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote: > >> >> > Good evening, I am interested in becoming a tester, and help > >> collaborate > >> >> > together on ideas to ensure accessibility in future kde iteration= s. > >> Nate, > >> >> > one of the board members, let me know about your sub-group, and I > >> >> emailed a > >> >> > few folks listed as contacts. Just didn't hear back, figuring > reaching > >> >> out > >> >> > directly to this email would be more effective. > >> >> > > >> >> > Before getting involved though, I should introduce myself. I am t= he > >> >> > disability advisor for The University of Anchorage Alaska, and > while > >> I am > >> >> > doing this on my own time. I do hope to get the university involv= ed > >> since > >> >> > we have a very active disability, and accessibility work groups a= t > >> UAA. > >> >> > > >> >> > Recently, the university wrote a article about me which goes in > detail > >> >> > about myself you can read about it here... > >> >> > > >> >> > >> > https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2025/05/chd-disability-advisor-br= idger-r-reed-lewis.cshtml > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > I'm very passionate about what I do, and I believe Steam OS as a > whole > >> >> > could be a massive benefit to ensure a better market share, this > comes > >> >> with > >> >> > some challenges though because while steam os is great for gaming= , > >> once > >> >> > it's released to the masses later this year. > >> >> > > >> >> > The OS as a whole will have some disadvantages mainly the lack of > >> >> > accessibility tools, which as someone with a disability has been > the > >> >> > largest reason they haven't moved fully to linux. Ended up on Mac= s > >> >> because > >> >> > of how much i hate windows, but once thing apple has about them i= s > >> there > >> >> > gold star for supporting disabilities in there OS. > >> >> > >> >> Thanks for your interest. Are there any KDE applications that you u= se > >> where > >> >> support could be better? Do you have any computer labs where linux > is > >> used > >> >> or KDE applications are used? > >> >> > >> >> KDE e.V. recently appointed Ritchie Frodomar as accessibility > engineer: > >> >> https://mail.kde.org/pipermail/kde-community/2025q2/008193.html > >> >> > >> >> > > >> >> > I also want this in Linux, and I'm here to help along > >> >> > with assisting with networking with professionals to ensure > >> >> communications > >> >> > and collaboration with developers/companies alike. Let me know if > you > >> >> have > >> >> > any questions, and I hope to chat with you soon. > >> >> > > >> >> > Sincerely, > >> >> > > >> >> > Bridger R. Reed-Lewis > >> >> > Disability Advisor | Advocate | Speaker > >> >> > He/Them > >> >> > >> > --00000000000024f67a0636b8d870 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">Thank you, I wasn't aware of those barriers. While I a= m aware that the university has strict rules around applications. I believe= there could be a way to get around it, if it's used in an educational = and collaborative=C2=A0environment. The person I need to check with about t= his, I am going to send them an email tomorrow since it's pretty late. = Oh, and I tried accessing the IRC and Matrix but the channel isn't acce= pting anyone else, is there a way for me to get around that? I think it'= ;d be a lot easier then email</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quot= e_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 1= 0:03=E2=80=AFPM Benson Muite <<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]= rg">[email protected]</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D= "gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(2= 04,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><br> <br> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 8:49 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote:<br> > Well I don=E2=80=99t think it would be useful particularly for UAA, it= =E2=80=99s just I<br> > feel a collaboration could be set up depending on the person. And with= <br> > everything going on federally, a lot of folks at my work are pretty ma= d,<br> > it=E2=80=99s the reason why I got my article. What I=E2=80=99m going t= o do is reach out to<br> > the engineers/tech departments, to see if anyone is interested in work= ing<br> > on this project. Along with connecting with student clubs, I am also g= oing<br> > to install and test what I can with the applications you sent.<br> <br> Thanks.<br> <br> ><br> > Oh, about the mentoring program you mentioned. I don't think it= 9;s a good<br> > fit for me since I have dyscalculia. I've tried with no luck to le= arn<br> > coding. It's just not my thing, what it would be testing along wit= h setting<br> > up times to chat around ideas, along with networking which i am scary = good<br> > at.<br> <br> We do use mailing lists, apps also have chat channels, typically on Matrix = or IRC.<br> For Season of KDE, making students and people new to open source aware of i= t<br> would be helpful.=C2=A0 It provides a structured way for people to contribu= te improvements<br> to software that they use, these need not be limited to coding contribution= s.<br> <br> In the US, many applications require accessibility testing reports before t= hey can be<br> used in an institution.=C2=A0 This can be a barrier to adopting open source= software since<br> the administrative burden of procuring software which has accessibility tes= ting done<br> is low compared to getting open source software and improving it to meet ac= cessibility<br> standards for which the financial cost would likely be ultimately lower, th= ereby allowing<br> institutions to make more effective use of their limited funds.<br> <br> ><br> ><br> ><br> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 21:37 Benson Muite <<a href=3D"mailto:benson= [email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]</a>><= br> > wrote:<br> ><br> >><br> >><br> >> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 7:58 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote:<br> >> > I have heard of him, and it=E2=80=99s one of the reasons why = I want to get<br> >> > involved, at the moment I don=E2=80=99t think the university = allows Linux to be<br> >> > used, but I could be wrong. At the moment, I am running KDE o= n my Steam<br> >> > Deck. But I=E2=80=99m planning on purchasing a think-pad x1 c= arbon Gen 10 soon.<br> >> One<br> >> > area I=E2=80=99d like to see get added is dictation. There= 9;s an abandoned project<br> >> > here --> <a href=3D"https://github.com/abb128/LiveCaptions= " rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://github.com/abb128/LiveCaptio= ns</a> that could be forked<br> >> into a<br> >> > simple dictation tool, it's surprisingly, very accurate.<= br> >><br> >> This seems to build on another library which maybe worth incorpora= ting into<br> >> KDE applications:<br> >> <a href=3D"https://github.com/abb128/april-asr" rel=3D"noreferrer"= target=3D"_blank">https://github.com/abb128/april-asr</a><br> >><br> >> There are ongoing discussions withing KDE about using tools traine= d on<br> >> data of unknown origin.<br> >><br> >> ><br> >> > Outside of that, I would need to look because right now there= 's not a<br> >> lot,<br> >> > and disability itself is a spectrum. without seeing what you = are already<br> >> > working on, giving feedback might be hard. But I am more than= willing to<br> >> > test anything you can give me, as long as you make the instal= l process<br> >> easy<br> >> > or give me command props.<br> >><br> >> KDE applications are listed at:<br> >> <a href=3D"http://apps.kde.org" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blan= k">http://apps.kde.org</a><br> >> Some will work on Windows and Mac. Applications that might be usef= ul in a<br> >> university<br> >> setting include:<br> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/labplot/" rel=3D"noreferrer" tar= get=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/labplot/</a><br> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/ktechlab/" rel=3D"noreferrer" ta= rget=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/ktechlab/</a><br> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/accessibilityinspector/" rel=3D"= noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/accessibilityinspector/<= /a><br> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/krita/" rel=3D"noreferrer" targe= t=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/krita/</a><br> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/okular/" rel=3D"noreferrer" targ= et=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/okular/</a><br> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/kdenlive/" rel=3D"noreferrer" ta= rget=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/kdenlive/</a><br> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/digikam/" rel=3D"noreferrer" tar= get=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/digikam/</a><br> >> - <a href=3D"https://apps.kde.org/glaxnimate/" rel=3D"noreferrer" = target=3D"_blank">https://apps.kde.org/glaxnimate/</a><br> >><br> >> It seems there are faculty members familiar with open source softw= are:<br> >> <a href=3D"https://pradeeban.github.io/" rel=3D"noreferrer" target= =3D"_blank">https://pradeeban.github.io/</a><br> >><br> >> Maybe you could contact them to see if there are ways to also invo= lve<br> >> students in<br> >> improving software accessibility?=C2=A0 Season of KDE (<br> >> <a href=3D"https://mentorship.kde.org/sok/" rel=3D"noreferrer" tar= get=3D"_blank">https://mentorship.kde.org/sok/</a>)<br> >> would be one structured way to do this for KDE software that is us= eful at<br> >> UAA.<br> >><br> >> Krita, Kdenlive and Glaxnimate may also be useful to people in you= r art<br> >> department:<br> >><br> >> <a href=3D"https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-an= d-sciences/departments/art" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://ww= w.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/art</a>= <br> >> and to the student clubs in the art department:<br> >><br> >> <a href=3D"https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-an= d-sciences/departments/art/clubs/" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">htt= ps://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/= art/clubs/</a><br> >><br> >> Finally, in terms of testing, is there a KDE application you use a= nd would<br> >> be willing to help<br> >> test? One-off contributions are welcome, but sustained involvement= is most<br> >> helpful.<br> >><br> >> ><br> >> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 20:28 Benson Muite <<a href=3D"mail= to:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">[email protected]= </a>><br> >> > wrote:<br> >> ><br> >> >><br> >> >><br> >> >> On Tue, Jun 3, 2025, at 11:15 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrot= e:<br> >> >> > Good evening, I am interested in becoming a tester, = and help<br> >> collaborate<br> >> >> > together on ideas to ensure accessibility in future = kde iterations.<br> >> Nate,<br> >> >> > one of the board members, let me know about your sub= -group, and I<br> >> >> emailed a<br> >> >> > few folks listed as contacts. Just didn't hear b= ack, figuring reaching<br> >> >> out<br> >> >> > directly to this email would be more effective.<br> >> >> ><br> >> >> > Before getting involved though, I should introduce m= yself. I am the<br> >> >> > disability advisor for The University of Anchorage A= laska, and while<br> >> I am<br> >> >> > doing this on my own time. I do hope to get the univ= ersity involved<br> >> since<br> >> >> > we have a very active disability, and accessibility = work groups at<br> >> UAA.<br> >> >> ><br> >> >> > Recently, the university wrote a article about me wh= ich goes in detail<br> >> >> > about myself you can read about it here...<br> >> >> ><br> >> >><br> >> <a href=3D"https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2025/05/chd-dis= ability-advisor-bridger-r-reed-lewis.cshtml" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_= blank">https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2025/05/chd-disability-advis= or-bridger-r-reed-lewis.cshtml</a><br> >> >> ><br> >> >> ><br> >> >> > I'm very passionate about what I do, and I belie= ve Steam OS as a whole<br> >> >> > could be a massive benefit to ensure a better market= share, this comes<br> >> >> with<br> >> >> > some challenges though because while steam os is gre= at for gaming,<br> >> once<br> >> >> > it's released to the masses later this year.<br> >> >> ><br> >> >> > The OS as a whole will have some disadvantages mainl= y the lack of<br> >> >> > accessibility tools, which as someone with a disabil= ity has been the<br> >> >> > largest reason they haven't moved fully to linux= . Ended up on Macs<br> >> >> because<br> >> >> > of how much i hate windows, but once thing apple has= about them is<br> >> there<br> >> >> > gold star for supporting disabilities in there OS.<b= r> >> >><br> >> >> Thanks for your interest. Are there any KDE applications = that you use<br> >> where<br> >> >> support could be better?=C2=A0 Do you have any computer l= abs where linux is<br> >> used<br> >> >> or KDE applications are used?<br> >> >><br> >> >> KDE e.V. recently appointed Ritchie Frodomar as accessibi= lity engineer:<br> >> >> <a href=3D"https://mail.kde.org/pipermail/kde-community/2= 025q2/008193.html" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">https://mail.kde.or= g/pipermail/kde-community/2025q2/008193.html</a><br> >> >><br> >> >> ><br> >> >> > I also want this in Linux, and I'm here to help = along<br> >> >> > with assisting with networking with professionals to= ensure<br> >> >> communications<br> >> >> > and collaboration with developers/companies alike. L= et me know if you<br> >> >> have<br> >> >> > any questions, and I hope to chat with you soon.<br> >> >> ><br> >> >> > Sincerely,<br> >> >> ><br> >> >> > Bridger R. Reed-Lewis<br> >> >> > Disability Advisor | Advocate | Speaker<br> >> >> > He/Them<br> >> >><br> >><br> </blockquote></div> --00000000000024f67a0636b8d870--