I was once rushed into hospital, severely ill and should have already been dead. I was initially treated by a black nurse, on a table in a small storage room off a corridor, surrounded by junk, because there were no beds available. The light bulb was gone, and so the door had to be wide open, whilst she stuck drips into my arms, people just walking passed.
After a few hours, I was moved to a bed, where the two main people who saved my life and looked after me, was a Japanese man, and an Indian man.
When I came out of the danger zone, those two men had a little celebration with me, stood at the end of my bed, genuinely happy and relieved.
I remember noting at the time, that if they had an attitude of only people of their own "race" being worthy of medical attention, or that diversity was not allowed, then I would be dead.
This was emthasised by the fact that the white doctor took three days to get around to seeing me, looked through some paperwork, and told me that I should have died and was lucky to be alive, before moving on and was never seen again.
At one point, I could hear the black nurse receiving the most disgusting racist abuse by a patient she was trying to help. Then the nurse came to me, and actually apologised to me, for me having to hear it, bringing me headphones to block sound.
I refused them though, and said it wasn't right for me to block out something that she couldn't. I briefly touched her hand, looked up at her with a smile, and thanked her for helping to save my life.
You don't need to pay Apple or start a new subscription to unleash your creativity. We asked creatives what free software they use to get the job done and here are their picks.
Sent my feedback on public initiative for European commission and open source. Placed my name - I am proud and active on what I'm doing, talked as a blind european citizen.
Every european relying on accessibility should talk now.
Social media generally slows down at the holidays. Why? Because people are celebrating and spending time with their families.
I’m not one of those people.
Why? Because I’m having another Chronic Illness Christmas.
When you’re disabled and chronically ill, the holidays hit different.
They’re lonely. Isolating. Exhausting.
As a result many of us are excluded and left on our own.
When I created The Disabled Ginger I wanted to build a community where everyone felt included.
I wanted to reach across the internet and connect people so they could always have someone to talk to. Someone who understood them. Someone who could make them feel a little less alone.
This Christmas that’s my wish for all of you… that you feel a little less alone.
That you find comfort and joy in the small things, whatever they may be.
If you’re healthy, please remember that not everyone is. That many people are suffering this Christmas and could use a kind word or a bit of love.
As the Trump administration ordered agencies to eradicate “illegal” diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, we identified more than 1,000 nonprofits that removed such language from the mission statements in their tax filings.
💡Today, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the #CJEU reaffirms its commitment to #accessibility and #inclusion. From its website and buildings to its traineeships and recruitment, the Court continues its efforts to provide an open, supportive environment for all. 🤝
#Mexican President #ClaudiaSheinbaum confirmed she will not attend the upcoming Summit of the Americas, set to take place in the Dominican Republic in December after Cuba, #Venezuela, and #Nicaragua were excluded from the summit due to #US pressure.
#Sheinbaum also cited the need to attend to a national emergency in #Mexico after weeks of severe flooding that have caused dozens of casualties and widespread damage across the country.
Despite her absence, Mexico may still send a representative from the Foreign Ministry, she said.
📌 Watch how Sheinbaum responds to a journalist’s question about her refusal to attend an event in which the U.S. plays an outsized role.
If you have first hand experience of improving the diversity of a governance board of (currently all men) volunteers, I'd love to hear how you went about it, or resources which helped you, please.
What did you find helped make the role more attractive to a wider range of applicants to join?
(This is in the context of a Free software project, but broader contexts are welcome.)
#YESquote: Count Us In/Jason Kingsley - "You're an individual, an adult w/ #disability, who can...tackle any issue...B/c we are ppl who understand, knowing about our disability.
Ppl can change...realize you are an individual & #identity is important to you." #DownSyndrome#Inclusion bit.ly/3GZIuug
LIVEdammit is a mental health support site with stories, tools, free e-course, bookstore & inspiring wearables — for stubborn souls doing the work to stay here, stay human, & stay strong.
Disabled and neurodivergent lives are valid and sacred and we won't be ashamed and our value isn't about productivity or extraordinary savant skills or teaching you gratitude that you aren't like us - our value is. Just is.
It's our little silly revolution, but you don't expect how serious we are about it.
#YESquotes We Have Always Been Here/Samra Habib: "...As a #woman in this world it’s important to take up #space and make yourself heard, even if it intimidates and offends powerful men.” #Inclusion#Equality bit.ly/4dNgKF3
Visit LIVEdammit's #Pride bookshelf this month! bit.ly/3T5owRc https://bit.ly/4dNgKF3
LIVEdammit is a mental health support site with stories, tools, free e-course, bookstore & inspiring wearables — for stubborn souls doing the work to stay here, stay human, & stay strong.
GrapheneOS: Where Licenses Matter More Than People
GrapheneOS could have shipped real accessibility support. They had a screen reader. They had a libre speech engine — one they requested a feature from. They got that feature.
And then they said no.
Because the license was GPLv3.
They’ll ship sandboxed Google Play Services.
They’ll let you install GPLv3 software from their app store.
But a working screen reader for blind users?
Blocked. On principle.
This isn’t a technical limitation.
This is not a matter of priorities.
This is cruelty by ideology — and they’re proud of it.
So here it is. My full public dissection of the excuses, the hypocrisy, and the sheer contempt they’ve shown to the people who need privacy and security most: the disabled.
They chose licensing purity over basic humanity.
I chose to write this.