#accessibility over aesthetics

[solarishashernoseinabook]

Friendly reminder that IDs below a readmore are a hindrance to accessibility, and also disappear if the original account deactivates or is terminated.

Full ID:

I'll let you in on a secret. I have a doctorate in education, but the field’s basically just a 100 years old. We don’t really know what we’re doing. Our scholarly understanding of how learning happens is like astronomy 2000 years ago.

Most classroom practice is astrology.

Before the late 19th century, no human society had ever attempted to formally educate the entire populace. It was either aristocracy, meritocracy, or a blend. And always male.

We’re still smack-dab in the middle of the largest experiment on children ever done.

Most teachers perpetuate the “banking” model (Freire) used on them by their teachers, who likewise inherited it from theirs, etc.

Thus the elite “Lyceum” style of instruction continues even though it’s ineffectual with most kids.

What’s worse, the key strategies we’ve discovered, driven by cognitive science & child psychology, are quite regularly dismissed by pencil-pushing, test-driven administrators. Much like Trump ignores science, the majority of principals & superintendents I’ve known flout research.

Some definitions:

Banking model --> kids are like piggy banks: empty till you fill them with knowledge that you're the expert in.

Lyceum --> originally Aristotle's school, where the sons of land-owning citizens learned through lectures and research.

Things we (scholars) DO know:

-Homework doesn't really help, especially younger kids.

-Students don't learn a thing from testing. Most teachers don't either (it's supposed to help them tweak instruction, but that rarely happens).

-Spending too much time on weak subjects HURTS.

Do you want kids to learn? Here's something we've discovered: kids learn things that matter to them, either because the knowledge and skills are "cool," or because .... they give the kids tools to liberate themselves and their communities.

Maintaining the status quo? Nope.

Kids are acutely aware of injustice and by nature rebellious against the systems of authority that keep autonomy away from them.

If you're perpetuating those systems, teachers, you've already freaking lost.

They won't be learning much from you. Except what not to become. Sure, you can wear them down. That's what happened to most of you, isn't it? You saw the hideous flaw in the world and wanted to heal it. But year after numbing year, they made you learn their dogma by rote.

And now many of you are breaking the souls of children, too.

For what?

It's all smoke and mirrors. All the carefully crafted objectives, units and exams.

WE. DON'T. KNOW. HOW. PEOPLE. LEARN.

We barely understand the physical mechanisms behind MEMORY. But we DO know kids aren't empty piggy banks. They are BRIMMING with thought.

The last and most disgusting reality? The thing I hear in classroom after freaking classroom?

Education is all about capitalism.

"You need to learn these skills to get a good job." To be a good laborer. To help the wealthy generate more wealth, while you get scraps.

THAT is why modern education is a failure.

Its basic premise is monstrous.

"Why should I learn to read, Dr. Bowles?"

Because reading is magical. It makes life worth living. And being able to read, you can decode the strategies of your oppressors & stop them w/ their own words. /end

A Twitter Thread from David Bowles:

[Text transcript at the end of the screenshots]

I'll let you in on a secret. I have a doctorate in education, but the field’s basically just a 100 years old. We don’t really know what we’re doing. Our scholarly understanding of how learning happens is like astronomy 2000 years ago.

Most classroom practice is astrology.

Before the late 19th century, no human society had ever attempted to formally educate the entire populace. It was either aristocracy, meritocracy, or a blend. And always male.

We’re still smack-dab in the middle of the largest experiment on children ever done.

Most teachers perpetuate the “banking” model (Freire) used on them by their teachers, who likewise inherited it from theirs, etc.

Thus the elite “Lyceum” style of instruction continues even though it’s ineffectual with most kids.

What’s worse, the key strategies we’ve discovered, driven by cognitive science & child psychology, are quite regularly dismissed by pencil-pushing, test-driven administrators. Much like Trump ignores science, the majority of principals & superintendents I’ve known flout research.

Some definitions:

Banking model --> kids are like piggy banks: empty till you fill them with knowledge that you're the expert in.

Lyceum --> originally Aristotle's school, where the sons of land-owning citizens learned through lectures and research.

Things we (scholars) DO know:

-Homework doesn't really help, especially younger kids.

-Students don't learn a thing from testing. Most teachers don't either (it's supposed to help them tweak instruction, but that rarely happens).

-Spending too much time on weak subjects HURTS.

Do you want kids to learn? Here's something we've discovered: kids learn things that matter to them, either because the knowledge and skills are "cool," or because .... they give the kids tools to liberate themselves and their communities.

Maintaining the status quo? Nope.

Kids are acutely aware of injustice and by nature rebellious against the systems of authority that keep autonomy away from them.

If you're perpetuating those systems, teachers, you've already freaking lost.

They won't be learning much from you. Except what not to become. Sure, you can wear them down. That's what happened to most of you, isn't it? You saw the hideous flaw in the world and wanted to heal it. But year after numbing year, they made you learn their dogma by rote.

And now many of you are breaking the souls of children, too.

For what?

It's all smoke and mirrors. All the carefully crafted objectives, units and exams.

WE. DON'T. KNOW. HOW. PEOPLE. LEARN.

We barely understand the physical mechanisms behind MEMORY. But we DO know kids aren't empty piggy banks. They are BRIMMING with thought.

The last and most disgusting reality? The thing I hear in classroom after freaking classroom?

Education is all about capitalism.

"You need to learn these skills to get a good job." To be a good laborer. To help the wealthy generate more wealth, while you get scraps.

THAT is why modern education is a failure.

Its basic premise is monstrous.

"Why should I learn to read, Dr. Bowles?"

Because reading is magical. It makes life worth living. And being able to read, you can decode the strategies of your oppressors & stop them w/ their own words.

[lanaevyssmoved]

please stop formatting your posts like this i cannot fucking read it

[solarishashernoseinabook]

begging people to put image descriptions directly under the images they're describing instead of at the end of the post after your commentary. people who need descriptions deserve to have context right away

[solarishashernoseinabook]

ID copied from below the cut for accessibility

Main comic transcription credit: @thejacespace​

Image 1:

[Author avatar, feminine presenting person with brown hair and a blue overall skirt] TEA, 26 SHE/HER AUTISM DYSPRAXIA “Oh!! Is it my turn now? Nice! Hello!! I was diagnosed with autism in 2017.”

When I found out, I hoped I’d be able to find practical advice for all the things I struggled with. But the advice I found… was usually intended for allistic* [non-autistic] parents, teachers, or employers.

[Author reading articles titled, “Help your child focus in class by-” “How to stop your child from having meltdowns” “10 reasons to hire an autistic pers-”]

So after plenty of research, talking to friends, and trying things out for myself, here are… [images of author conducting research]

(just a few) Tips For Autistic Adult Life!

Including website resources for more information!

Image 2: Dealing With Chores and Tasks!

Meet: Executive Dysfunction [image of cat] + Pathological Demand Avoidance [image of dog] Two challenging traits!

In short:

Executive Dysfunction impacts our ability to start or plan tasks. It may feel like you can’t begin, even with no obstacles. [image of cat in front of dirty dishes, thinking, “I can’t start yet!”]

PDA, meanwhile, causes us to intensely avoid tasks, BECAUSE of the expectation to do it. [image of dog pulling on leash labelled “expectation” protesting, “I don’t need to do it!” “I can do it later, okay?!”]

These might help:

[ED] -Ask for company to keep you focused while you do the task! This could be a call, or in person. -Say the next step of your task out loud. Repeat as needed. -Break down your to-do lists, like this!

Ongoing task!

Step 1 (done)

Step 2

Step 3… etc! [image of cat saying, “ Plates done, cups next!”] *transcription note: reformatted steps to fit tumblr

[PDA] -If the “expected” way is stressing you out, look for your own way of doing it! -Decide on an “out” for events, but don’t intend on using it. This reduces stress, since you know you can leave if you must. -Some find disguising demands helpful, eg: [image of dog saying, “I’m not actually starting yet, I’m just setting things up so it’ll be easy later!”]

And some which help me:

[ED] Something is always better than nothing! Appreciate the small things you get done each day, even things like washing or eating. [image of cat patting their own head]

[PDA] Put on some shoes! Strangely, I find I’m always more keen to get things done if I have shoes on. I can’t wear them in bed, after all! [image of dog wearing shoes]

Go around it! Does just one part of the task feel scary? [image of cat anxious about a phone call] Try to plan your way around it, treat it like a puzzle! [image of cat thinking]

Image 3: Out And About!

[image of bunny thinking, “I can get so overwhelmed at the shops! Every sight and sound is designed to catch your eye. Ah. I forgot what I needed…]

[image of sunflower and sunflower lanyard that says, “hidden disability”] Some public places (like shopping centres and airports) will give you a sunflower lanyard if you ask. This is part of a project that lets staff know you have an invisible disability. hiddendisabilities.com

[image of shopping list] Try grouping your shopping list by areas. Or if there’s no time for lists, I snap a pic of the fridge! [image of bunny photographing inside of open fridge]

You may want to wear one if you’d like extra help finding things or using facilities! [image of bunny wearing a mask and sunflower lanyard]

Restaurants can be a lot, too. Sometimes with all the noise, once I get the menu… [image of bunny in overstimulating restaurant environment saying, “Ah. I can’t read.”] Some restaurants have their menu online, so you can plan before you go!

Image 4: In The Workplace!

There’s a statistic that only 22% of UK autistic people are in work. [image of pie chart, colored like a cheese wheel, with a portion labelled, “22%”] [Author avatar speaking] Until 2020, I was one of ‘em! So for now, I’ll leave you with this wee guy! [image of mouse in a tie]

Whether you disclose your autism is entirely up to you If you do, a good place to start is with Human Resources (HR). They can help you without telling anyone else about it. [Image of mouse talking to elephant wearing an HR nametag]

You can ask for adjustments! This could be clear written instructions, different lighting, or moving to a quieter place with less distractions… etc. [image of frantic, overwhelmed mouse moving to a quieter environment where they are more relaxed]

Some jobs have LOTS of info. I used a blank notebook for: -step by step guides for tasks -to-do lists and tracking progress -any issues or questions I had -desk maps to help me find people. [image of notebook opened to notes on printing and copying as well as a calendar]

Speak to a manager or HR if you think you’re being bullied at work. This could be: -constant harsh critique of your work -rude comments on your intelligence/looks -uncalled for threats to fire you [image of mouse being threatened by hedgehog coworker]

Image 5: Sensory Overloads (part 1)

Due to masking, sensory overload in adults isn’t always obvious - even to us! Maybe there was a big social event, or just a busy day. Suddenly, there’s Too Much. Sounds all suddenly feel unbearable! [images of tiger distressed and angered by sounds of music and slurping] You might feel snappy if someone tries to talk to you or touch you. Or you might shut down and struggle to keep talking or moving. Autistic fatigue is very real, and sensory overload, masking, and stress can all cause it.

Pressure therapy can be very soothing. This can be done with a tight hug, a weighted blanket, or with weighted plush toys! [images of tiger hugging a friend and wearing a weighted blanket]

Sound-cancelling headphones were a game changer for me! They reduce ambient noise, which is handy outside. [image of tiger wearing headphones] Ear plugs help too!

Some find that wearing sunglasses helps with visual overstimulation. Reducing the amount of clutter and simplifying a safe space can help, too! (leather jacket is optional) [image of tiger with sunglasses and a leather jacket]

Distractions are a tactic, too. This could be: -eating a strong-tasting sweet -touching something soft -playing a game on your phone -doing puzzles [image of tiger doing number puzzles]

Image 6: Sensory Overloads (part 2)

[image of tiger thinking] “Mindfulness techniques can ground you if you have nothing to hand. -Name one thing of each color you can see -Pick an item and describe it out loud -Find 5 different textures to touch”

And in the event that you can’t talk, there’s other ways to communicate. There’s phone apps specifically for this, but in a pinch you can text. You can also get cards with messages, use a whiteboard, or hand signs to speak. Like Makaton! [image of tiger holding smart device that reads, “HELLO”]

It’s not uncommon to feel exhausted after a meltdown, sensory overload, or burnout. Please don’t give yourself a hard time if you can’t bounce back right away..! [images of all animal characters previously used helping the tiger deal with their exhaustion]

[Author avatar speaking] “Well, I think that’s all I’ve got for just now! I hope this helps!”

[Author avatar covered in animal characters, who are each a little larger than her hands] “Happy Autism Acceptance Month!” Thanks for [heart] reading! [heart]

Update comic transcription credit: @xteacupx​

[Panel 1 + 2, Tea (the artist) spits out her tea after seeing the response to her comic.The animals from her comic are plushies, and sitting with her.]

A few days ago, I posted my comic for #ASDComicTakeover. (It had tips for fellow autistic adults.) It went well! Lots of people have been asking me about it.

[Panel 3, Tea is gesturing to the segment after. She looks more composed.]

Good news about that! Our Kickstarter got funded within 6 hours! And there's still heaps of time left to back it! (Ends on May 27 2021) I'm getting published again! Woo!

[Panel 4, a yellow book sits on some pastel clouds]

Sensory: Life On The Spectrum Available on Kickstarter. A hardcover book! Beautiful comics about autism! Support over 30 artists! Your name in the book (£5+)! Prints (£25+)! Stickers (£35+)!

[Panel 5, an arrow points to some cute animals who are holding the book and its prints.]

Now you can see these guys in a book!

/end

I decided to create something that I wish I had when I first got diagnosed with autism - so here’s my comic for ASDComicTakeover! You can find out more about the project here!

Keep reading

[ashton-ryder]

moodboard meme send me one of the following symbols and i’ll make a moodboard for my character.

@rhianwells asked:

💛 - for a moodboard about our muses’ relationship (x)

[babyboybmo]

A lot of ppl make their DNI banners or blogs in general so inaccessible. I can’t read pastel on pastel with super tiny text. That’s why I keep mine simple:

I shouldn’t have to adjust the brightness on my phone or squint/zoom in to read your DNI.

I suggest we all simplify the picture you use on every post and put the longer/more specific DNI criteria in your bio or pinned. I feel like less people will ignore it if it’s clearer too

[heart-forge]

there's like a scale of inconvenient mechanics by design. on one end you have what remains to me as the most mind-boggling stupid thing to put into a video game for aesthetic purposes, the cyberpunk seizure inducing lights. and then on the other hand you have "well you won't die if I don't add an entirely separate reroute through the menus"

[solarishashernoseinabook]

ID copied from below the cut for accessibility

Post reads: "It's the same criticism I see levied at the last episode over and over again. "I'm fine with gay people, but keep politics out of my entertainment."

[Image ID: post from Reddit thread r/thelastofus titled "When is a gay relationship on screen not "political propoganda?""

I'm genuinely curious. How in the holy hell is a gay relationship pictured on screen inherently "political?"

It's maddening man. I'd prefer they just come out and say what they're actually thinking."

User catnap_kismet replies: "there are two sexualities, straight and political. there are two genders, male and political. there are two races, white and political. etc".

This reply has many awards and 1.2k upvotes

End ID]

Reddit wins this one

Image ID below the cut

Post reads: "It's the same criticism I see levied at the last episode over and over again. "I'm fine with gay people, but keep politics out of my entertainment."

[Image ID: post from Reddit thread r/thelastofus titled "When is a gay relationship on screen not "political propoganda?""

I'm genuinely curious. How in the holy hell is a gay relationship pictured on screen inherently "political?"

It's maddening man. I'd prefer they just come out and say what they're actually thinking."

User catnap_kismet replies: "there are two sexualities, straight and political. there are two genders, male and political. there are two races, white and political. etc".

This reply has many awards and 1.2k upvotes

End ID]

[softgrungeprophet]

real talk if anyone on here ever wants to like... buy me a DVD i will totally draw a real quick bust or whatever in exchange, i have a target wishlist registry thing and everything 😂

Like it says in the note thing on the page, DVD or DVD/Blu-Ray are both fine, regular (not 4k) Blu-Ray is probably fine since my PS4 should be able to play those, but I only have a regular-ass PS4, not a PS5, I cannot play UHD, so if something is 4K UHD please make sure it has either a DVD or a regular Blu-Ray as well...

Anyway it should be set up so you can buy stuff off my registry without me having to blast my address to the world (lol) so if you do this, send me an ask or something off anon (so I can like, contact you) (that or like, send me a message on discord if we're friends, or w/e) and I will def draw you a little drawing as thanks 👍

[atopvisenyashill]

that post about asoiaf artwork and dark skin makes me think about those ar/ya stans on here that threw a bitch fit in the last few days over some artists drawing her with 'darker' skin while drawing Sansa with lighter skin. so they accused the artists of racism while simultaneously implying that ar/ya looks worse in the artwork as opposed to Sansa because the artist gave her darker skin......which is literally racist and colorist as shit? honestly can't imagine stanning a 10 year and being this weird and bitter on tumblr dot com but anyway

that is INSANE OMG i’m glad i missed that completely

It’s like yeah sure, i think when george was coming up with the “northern look” that northern “coloring” he was thinking of was more similar to the way that like, a lot of welsh people have dark hair and a sort of, olive-tan coloring to their skin (think catherine zeta jones or ioan gruffudd) that makes them look darker than your average brit but usually in a “maybe they’re spanish?” kind of way rather than a “that’s a person of color” kind of way.

but death of the author, first of all, and second of all, depending on what your baseline is, “darker” coloring can look way darker in my imagination than in yours! and that “northern” coloring is vague enough that like, there’s a lot of poc who see parts of themselves in northern culture and explore that, and the Joy Of Reading is that we all see these characters differently!! me going “the starks are indigenous it’s the law” has no actual consequences for the series, someone else’s reading experience, or the fandom at large!! you can literally just block and move on if you’re that dedicated to being a loser weirdo?!?

also it’s funny that her fandom, specifically, is a breeding ground for the worst, most blatantly bigoted takes in the fandom aksjd like people will be like “oh arya is better than the other girls” arya actually loves and supports other women in canon “arya is the prettiest actually” arya herself doesn’t care about being pretty in canon “arya is gonna be a princess in a pretty castle and marry a lord” arya in canon explicitly says she doesn’t want to do that tho “arya is my lily white fave” one of arya’s besties is dornish icon edric dayne be SILENT ON WHAT ARYA IS BC U JUST WANT HER TO BE EXACTLY WHAT SHE HATES.

[stinkrascal]

im begging you guys to add a stroke effect to the captions on your pictures im on my knees

[roboromantic]

why in the got damn is Old School Runescape called that when it was actually released Long after I stopped playing

[adamparrishes]

it’s 2023 and the rpc still has a HUGE problem with prioritising so called aesthetics over accessibility are we ready 2 talk about it?

[solarishashernoseinabook]

Friendly reminder that, since tumblr users have always been able to filter the #long post tag, and since tumblr now offers the option to automatically shorten posts, there's literally no excuse for putting image descriptions below a readmore link. Don't make accessibility harder for people who need it just for the sake of ✨️ aesthetics ✨️

[solarishashernoseinabook]

Transcript copied from below the cut for accessibility

John Bull @garius

One of the things I occasionally get paid to do by companies/execs is to tell them why everything seemed to SUDDENLY go wrong, and subs/readers dropped like a stone. So, with everything going on at Twitter rn, time for a thread about the Trust Thermocline /1

So: what’s a thermocline?

Well large bodies of water are made of layers of differing temperatures. Like a layer cake. The top bit is where all the the waves happen and has a gradually decreasing temperature. Then SUDDENLY there’s a point where it gets super-cold.

That suddenly is important. There’s reasons for it (Science!) but it’s just a good metaphor. Indeed you may also be interested in the “Thermocline of Truth” which a project management term for how things on a RAG board all suddenly go from amber to red.

But I digress.

The Trust Thermocline is something that, over (many) years of digital, I have seen both digital and regular content publishers hit time and time again. Despite warnings (at least when I’ve worked there). And it has a similar effect. You have lots of users then suddenly… nope.

And this does effect print publications as much as trendy digital media companies. They’ll be flying along making loads of money, with lots of users/readers, rolling out new products that get bought. Or events. Or Sub-brands.

And then SUDDENLY those people just abandon them.

Often it’s not even to “new” competitor products, but stuff they thought were already not a threat. Nor is there lots of obvious dissatisfaction reported from sales and marketing (other than general grumbling). Nor is it a general drift away, it’s just a sudden big slide.

So why does this happen? As I explain to these people and places, it’s because they breached the Trust Thermocline.

I ask them if they’d been increasing prices. Changed service offerings. Modified the product.

The answer is normally: “yes, but not much. And everyone still paid”

Then I ask if they did that the year before. Did they increase prices last year? Change the offering? Modify the product?

Again: “yes, but not much.”

The answer is normally: “yes, but not much. And everyone still paid.”

“And the year before?”

“Yes but not much. And everyone still paid.”

Well, you get the idea.

And here is where the Trust Thermocline kicks in. Because too many people see service use as always following an arc. They think that as long as usage is ticking up, they can do what they like to cost and product.

And (critically) that they can just react when the curve flattens

But with a lot of CONTENT products (inc social media) that’s not actually how it works. Because it doesn’t account for sunk-cost lock-in.

Users and readers will stick to what they know, and use, well beyond the point where they START to lose trust in it. And you won’t see that.

But they’ll only MOVE when they hit the Trust Thermocline. The point where their lack of trust in the product to meet their needs, and the emotional investment they’d made in it, have finally been outweighed by the physical and emotional effort required to abandon it.

At this point, I normally get asked something like:

“So if we undo the last few changes and drop the price, we get them back?”

And then I have to break the news that nope: that’s not how it works.

Because you’re past the Thermocline now. You can’t make them trust you again.

Really good Twitter thread originally about Elon Musk and Twitter, but also applies to Netflix and a lot of other corporations.

Full thread. Text transcription under cut.

Keep reading

[hiswrlds]

hmmm. is the blue hard to read ?