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Liz Jackson Profile picture
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Feb 19 • 18 tweets • 10 min read
The @nytimes just published an article about the virtues of Alt Text. It is a necessary and belated piece, and one that they failed to address meaningfully during their problematic #ADA30 coverage. I know this, because I was involved. nytimes.com/interactive/20…
During our @nytimes #ADA30 consultancy, which I detailed in the attached thread, @alexhaagaard and I proposed that Alt-Text was an opportunity to build trust. We described the traditional use of photography in print journalism as a dark pattern.
Here's a screenshot of our proposal. It wasn't long after this that the @nytimes did more things than I can count to break our trust. It was an awful experience. The American public’s declining trust in journalistic medi
Posting again to make room for more alt text. Within UX design, there is a concept called “dark pattern
And one last post for alt text. Therefore, while recognizing this may not be practically fea
We ended up writing a version of these ideas after @NorthYorkArts finally gave us resources and a platform to do so. Those are available here
I say this for a few reasons. First, I frustrated by the way disabled people are celebrating the @nytimes hiring announcement of an 'accessibility coordinator.' Why can't we think about this a little more critically? The New York Times harms disabled people.
Second, @alexhaagaard's alt-text work is being featured in this brand new #CripRitual exhibit and it pains me to see how Alex continually gets left behind, despite all they have contributed in various disability spaces.
I know Alex has more to say about all of this and they will do so in their own time. And when they do, I hope you can join me in acknowledging what continues to happen to them.
As a preventative measure, please credit Alex Haagaard if you write about #TemporalAccess alexhaagaard.medium.com/notes-on-tempo…
Oh, and here's a post I wrote earlier this week about the @nytimes accessibility coordinator
One last thing. A side by side of @alexhaagaard's Instagram from 121 weeks ago and yesterday's @nytimes piece. I believe this piece is also featured in Alex's #CripRitual exhibit. White text on a black background - an instagram post - readsScreenshot of the NYTimes photo for their alt text article s
Just discovered the author of the piece follows me on Twitter. I feel ill.
Please read from Alex directly, in this thread
Also, here is the link to Alex’s #ShittyAltText exhibit. Mona Lisa is the second piece. Please consider sharing and supporting them 💜 cripritual.com/haagaard/
This whole fiasco is exactly why I will be speaking about #a12y during my #axecon keynote. Because there may be 11 letters between a and y in accessibility, but there are 12 letters between a and y in accountability.
If there is to be any #CitationalJustice, the @nytimes needs to post an apology with a link to Alex’s current #ShittyAltText exhibit. This cannot remain in the paper of record as is. @Megilllah I expect you will pursue this and am committed to holding you accountable to it.
Continuing to sift through various NYT harms and just remembered Alex posted this last week

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More from @elizejackson

Liz Jackson Profile picture
Feb 6
The TERF etymology of 'differently abled', a thread:
Some years ago, I decided to track down the history of the term 'differently abled'. It is a journey that took me all the way back to the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival in the 1970s. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_…
MichFest as it became known, was held annually beginning in 1976. It eventually shut down in 2015, a year after a large boycott due to its policy of excluding trans women. Michfest only admitted "womyn-born womyn".
Read 21 tweets
Liz Jackson Profile picture
Dec 3, 2021
I have been thinking a lot about how @alexhaagaard and I advise corporate employees to #ResistTheAnnouncement. The new Microsoft Surface Adaptive Kit offers an excellent case study as to why. Screenshot reads: I have been thinking a lot about how @alex
In 2019, Microsoft announced the Xbox Adaptive Controller through a massive holiday ad campaign. They then followed it up with a Super Bowl ad. The Xbox Adaptive Controller was absolutely everywhere.
Since that time, there has been little mention of the Xbox Adaptive Controller, and it has mostly faded from the public consciousness. So much so, that it led me to ask this question:
Read 9 tweets
Liz Jackson Profile picture
Jun 28, 2021
I'm looking for a creative disabled writer or poet who might be interested in writing Alt-Text descriptions for an organization on an as needed basis. Paid per description, either as income or in gift card format so as not to put benefits at risk.
Also, what would be a good rate for a single Alt-Text description? I imagine the monthly range of work required would be anywhere from five to twenty descriptions.
Would be a great gig for someone who hasn't been given their shot professionally, and could use a bit of a resume boost.
Read 6 tweets
Liz Jackson Profile picture
Nov 30, 2020
Sorry for the spoiler, but this is a great GBB thread
I also want to point out that they created a challenge that was entirely inaccessible to Laura. She was crying out, I need to go back and check, but I believe her words were that her brain does not work in a linear way. She said this multiple times, clearly in distress...
Laura is clearly neurodivergent, that’s what she was stating. But there were no efforts to accommodate her. And when you look at the shape of her patisserie, it is clear she was unable to fill in gaps that the other contestants were able to.
Read 8 tweets
Liz Jackson Profile picture
Nov 25, 2020
Because this is clearly going to make the rounds, this is an Alt Text thread. The image is a chart, containing four colored rows. The left most row is green, titled thriving, subhead "I got this". The next row is yellow and says surviving subhead "Something isn't right."
The next is orange and says struggling, subhead "I can't keep this up." And the right most row is red and says crisis, subhead "I can't survive this."
Thriving: Calm and steady with minor mood fluctuations. Able to take things in stride. Consistent performance. Able to take feedback and to adjust to changes of plans. Able to focus. Able to communicate effectively. Normal sleep patterns and appetite.
Read 9 tweets
Liz Jackson Profile picture
Nov 20, 2020
Check out this reveal Storefront with a sign that says we honor the Americans withShot from further away shows the sign is on a door that is u
Alt Text Update: awkwardly I didn't read the sign below the ADA sign, and didn't include it in my alt text. But comments have made me aware that I need to update this post with Alt Text that describes the second sign. Because holy shit. The sign reads:
"Due to HIPAA and the 4th Amendment, we can't legally ask you about your medical condition. If we see you without a mask, we will assume you have a medical condition and we will welcome you inside to support our business."
Read 4 tweets

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