Speaking vs using your voice (SBLTN Lab Notes 035)
Adaptive technology and voices, resisting the binaries, and open-source art inspo
IN THE MARGINS
I caught myself apologizing the other day for something I shouldn't have. After asking if there would be live captions/transcriptions for an online event (since I am Hard of Hearing), I said “I don’t mean to be difficult, I just want to be accommodated.”
Right as those words left my mouth, and before I could finish running on autopilot of free emotional labor by providing them with a list of resources/platforms, I was tilting my head to the side like a dog listening to an unexpected sound. Saying this made me realize (1) I was shrinking myself, even while in the act of self-advocating (2) on some level, I internalized that accessibility is equated with being a nuisance or inconvenience for others - which totally makes sense when you’re living in an ableist society.
This shrinking often happens for someone socialized as a woman, especially in business spaces such as corporate work environments. They’re taught to play nice and look pretty. To take instruction instead of giving it. The same behavior that’s seen as respectable behavior for a man is seen as aggressive if a woman does it, especially if you’re a Black woman. There’s a double standard between what’s considered a ‘boss’ move vs a ‘bitch’ move.
I’m learning how to take up space and use my voice, but I’ve got a long way to go. Here’s to practicing!
ACCESSIBILITY
Adaptive technologies have helped Stephen Hawking, and many more, find their voice
Speaking of finding your voice….
Some disabled people have no voice or are hard to understand. That doesn't mean they have nothing to say, says filmmaker Jemima Hughes. In the short animation “How To Speak When You Don’t Have a Voice”, she explains how alternative and augmentative communication aids (AAC) work and why giving people time to speak is really important.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Sort the court… into more than two categories, please
Speaking of socialized gender roles…
After a long day of work I thought I’d play a fun little online game called “Sort The Court” where you give your decree via yes or no answers and try to grow your kingdom. Immediately at the second screen, I was presented with choosing between being a “king” or a “queen”. This binary is a small thing for some people but huge for others. While having just two options may be awesome for easy gameplay (the yes/no structure), it can create friction in other places, like user experience. Maybe a third option of “ruler” or something non-gender specific would help people enjoy it more. Although the game is old and hasn’t been updated in awhile, luckily, it DOES allow for keyboard navigation to play so yay accessibility in that regard
ART & DESIGN
OG Inspo
Designers, take a break from Pinterest, Behance and Dribbble… Visit some OG sources.
Artvee is a site that lets you browse and download high-resolution, public domain paintings, drawings, illustrations and posters. In the last few years, several major museums and libraries have instituted an open access policy by making most of their public art available for use without restrictions. This site sorts through and aggregates the best of these images in one location to make them easy to discover and download.
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Signing off from the Starship SBLTN,
Laneen (Pronouns: she/they)
HEARD IN THE HALLWAYS
I’m doing a little 7-day writing challenge and sharing as I go. The series so far:
🎧 Listening: "Pink Venom" by BLACKPINK
👀 Watching: The news to see what Biden had to say about student loans
💬 Quote: “Iawa kūpono 'oe” (you are enough)
To download amazing sort the court game, follow the given link
https://sortthecourt.org/