This needs all the help with marketing it can get! Tag4Access, an accessibility initiative founded by 16-year-old Prisha Popli, is now available on the App Store and Google Play — a community-driven app she hopes will inspire Canadians to become accessibility advocates.
The app features an interactive map in which users can create tags and write about the accessibility barriers or features of a given area. These tags are then reviewed by volunteer accessibility leaders for verification, but also for identifying gaps to create community-led solutions with local accessibility groups.
A photo of Tag4Access interactive map (courtesy of Prisha Popli)
Popli said the app was born when her grandfather, who uses a walking stick and occasionally a wheelchair, was visiting Nova Scotia.
“When he was here in Nova Scotia visiting, we were trying to figure out whether certain places that we were taking him had certain accessibility features, like for example an accessible washroom,” she explained. “Even after checking Google and reviews, we still couldn’t get a clear answer.”
She said she noticed how hard it is to find accessible spaces around the city and took her idea to community members and advocate groups.
“I did reach out to local MLAs to ask them concerns that they’ve heard about accessibility and to pitch them the idea of Tag for Access to get their feedback,” Popli said. “Also a former member of the Nova Scotia Accessibility Advisory Board to see what she has to say about the idea and if there’s any potential improvement.”
She also launched a survey which received 1,200 responses from community members to see what types of accessibility barriers they have encountered. This community input proved the demand for a platform like Tag4Access.
Now that the app is up and running, Popli hopes more people will contribute tags so that there is an increase in accessibility information available around Canada. As she looks to the future, she sees Tag4Access changing the accessibility landscape for the better.
“In the long term, maybe a year from now, I want to make sure that everyday citizens are serving kind of as accessibility advocates to make sure that our cities are truly open for everyone,” she explained. “Maybe even having funding applications in progress with certain spaces in regards to accessibility improvements.”
Accessibility tags on the app (courtesy of Prisha Popli)
Anyone interested in volunteering with Tag4Access can reach out to tagforaccess@gmail.com. The app is available on Google Play and the App Store.
AppStore download:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tag4access-accessibility-map/id6775016946
Google Play Download:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tag4access.app

To call this song my latest ear worm would be to vastly understate its impact. I’ve been wondering when I would find the song that would perfectly, cathartically, excruciatingly, ecstatically and heart-breakingly capture and reflect my feelings living in this knife-edge, polarizing world. Dala, a pair of musical goddesses from Toronto, my home city, are gorgeous singers, and their latest album is their best writing yet in my opinion. I hope to sing this one day with my jam pals, but it’ll take a lot more listens and practices before I can do it without emoting too much to be able to sing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGo1ijc3oWI&list=RDRGo1ijc3oWI&start_radio=1

Lookie lookie! During the Artimus II lunar flyby two astronauts at a time were at the windows taking images and having conversations about what they were seeing. We didn’t hear those in the live coverage but all the astronauts described the conversations as incredibly fruitful, and the coverage made vague promises that maybe that audio would be available some day. Well that day arrived! This link is to the Artimus II audio page where you can download short and long versions of those recordings, plus lots of other stuff. Just downloaded it myself and can’t wait to listen! https://www.nasa.gov/artemisaudio/

I just released an update to my #iOS Intersector app that vastly improves the map data speeds and reliability. This is an app that simply identifies intersections when out and about, a common bit of orientation info we #Blind folks need when traveling. Intersector tells you about your nearest or upcoming intersections, tells you your compass direction, has a Scan mode where you can move your phone around to discover what intersections are immediately around you, and has a Live mode where it will speak your intersections as you walk or drive around. Great for figuring out where you are in a bus or a rideshare, or reorienting when coming out of a subway, etc. It has Siri shortcuts and an Apple Watch companion app. Check it out! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intersector/id6777891238

I had the coolest experience today. I went with a friend to the relatively new Biidaasige Park in Toronto. It's full of all manner of fun and beautiful things, but one of my favourites was this tactile labyrinth. I knew about these, line patterns drawn on the ground that one can walk through meditatively, but this was the first time I'd encountered a tactile one that I could explore independantly. The edges are raised about 5cm so my cane could track them easily.

If you're a man who feels overwhelmed or who feels like he isn't doing or being enough, I encourage you to find a men’s group. A good place to start is looking for local and/or online offerings at The ManKind Project or ARKA Brotherhood. (Links in the article)

Note: I also offer an online men’s group. I've been hosting this twice a month at 1pm Wednesdays (Pacific time) for past few years. Starting October 7 I'll be offering it every week. Sign up at https://www.sacredbodies.ca/lite/2x-monthly-mens-group

#Men #menshealth #masculinity

https://www.apprenticeshiptolove.com/short-an-open-heart-is-enough/

A discovery of almost cosmic proportions, to me at least. NASA has a YouTube playlist with 17 audio described videos in it. I know what I’ll be doing on my travel day next week!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_8hVmWnP_O3T25Dv3wet25p2Q9UJ2vVu

🎧 YouTube link to the recording of NASA's first virtual event targeted for the Blind and Low Vision Community. This two hour presentation is about the SLS rocket tests for the rockets that power the Artimis space craft. There’s a never before heard excerpt of conversation between astronauts on the far side of the moon, audio described video of a launch, some hard science, and a great panel discussion about space, astronomy and accessibility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG1RC_9_MAo

Ah the smug and righteous satisfaction of finally having got up and put away the heap of laundry on my bed. Now I can stretch my legs and scroll with virtuous pleasure.

To the Delegation from Scotland,

I am writing you as an American to ask humbly whether you might allow us the use of "wankstain". It's just that, Donald Trump has been fucking with our country for over a decade now, and there is a severe shortage of accurate ways to describe him.

So far, we have used dipshit, dimwit, nitwit, halfwit, dunce, dummy, idiot, moron, imbecile, buffoon, fool, oaf, lout, clown, jerkface, simpleton, blockhead, bonehead, knucklehead, airhead, meathead, pinhead, numbskull, nincompoop, neanderthal, dolt, dullard, dunderhead, dunderpate, scoundrel, miscreant, troublemaker, menace, felon, rapist, con man, grifter, sexpest, both pedo and paedo, vermin, weasel, coward, rat, snake, worm, slob, hypocrite, charlatan, fraud, phony, liar, huckster, cheat, loser, failure, bozo, schmuck, schlemiel, schlamazel, schmoe, jackass, dumbass, asshat, scumbag, dirtbag, douchebag, douchecanoe, blowhard, loudmouth, wannabe, never-was, D-lister, degenerate, good-for-nothing, ne'er-do-well, twit, twat, twut, prat, wanker, tosser, git, berk, pillock, muppet, numpty, shit-for-brains, knobhead, asshole, rube, yokel, and boomer.

We feel that "wankstain" would make a fine contribution to this extensive list of attributes of our (derogatory) president.

We await negotiations.

Sincerely,
The Delegation from America

Just a reminder because I need to make money to live:

I am currently seeking clients.

I offer freelance services. Primarily ghostwriting, developmental editing, and copyediting, but I can also research, write book proposals, create outlines or synopses for an existing work, and coach.

I'm a trauma-informed writer with 16 years of experience who finds purpose in helping people find their personal voice.

Broadly, my specialties include religion, religious trauma, cult research, psychology, autism, social justice topics, the art of fiction and nonfiction narrative, and speculative fiction. I'm adaptable and know a little about a lot. I'm a member of the EFA, AoG, and SFWA.

My most recent ghostwritten book is Sexcommunicated, a memoir for sex therapist Natasha Helfer who spoke up in the Mormon community and was excommunicated for it. It is scheduled for publication (with co-byline) next spring.

Reach out!

(I do not use LLMs in my work, and prefer to not edit LLM-produced work.)

#FediHire #FediHired #writer #editor

Women make 23% more in a unionized trade than non-union counterparts. In a union, you cannot get paid less because you’re a woman, and that happens frequently in non-union work, so the wage gap is less.
https://people.com/woman-in-the-trades-says-women-can-make-over-usd40-an-hour-exclusive-12137269

TIL Osaka Ends Ties With Its Sister City San Francisco In Protest Of 'Comfort Women' Statue

https://www.npr.org/2018/10/04/654474739/osaka-ends-ties-with-san-francisco-in-protest-of-comfort-women-statue
#til #todayilearned
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1wsvh3c/til_osaka_ends_ties_with_its_sister_city_san/

It seems to me that there should be a simple home test for vaginal yeast infection. Like, can I slide litnis paper around a bit and get a reading or something? Serious question, any insights? I'd be curious to track my PH.

The Shake Shack corporate elite can go fuck themselves - 10:00AM is an insane time to stop serving breakfast. Nobody wants a burger at 10:15AM. Who do you monsters think we are? (guillotine emoji)

My dad is clearing out old telephony gear and it would be nice if it found a loving home.

Specifically he has 2 telco bays of DS1 channel banks with the talksets (order wire) and the wiring documentation.

As I understand it this will give you 24 64kbit/s timesliced channels (DS0s) over a T-1 line.

If this means nothing to you please forward to the telco nerd in your life.

You will need to arrange pickup from central Ohio.

#telco #vintagegear #telephony #att

"Give me the tuna, or the puppy gets it!"

🎨by gentlecat

Happy Equinox to all who take note. At my latitude of 43n, sunset was at an azimuth of 270 degrees. The equinox was at 8:20 Eastern, and I'm contemplating balancing on a knife edge.

LEETA: Can I get you something?

KLINGON 1 [bleeding profusely from a Bat'leth sticking out of his stomach]: loDnI'wI', jIrIQqu'lu'!

SUBTITLES: My brother, I am badly wounded!

LEETA: I don't know what you want.

KLINGON 2: rIQqu'pu' 'e' jatlh!

SUBTITLES: Today is a good day to die!

LEETA: I'm sorry, I don't understand.

JADZIA: Oh, stewardess! I speak Klingon.

LEETA: Oh, thank the prophets.

JADZIA: He said that he's in great pain but it's okay because today is a good day to die.

LEETA: All right. Would you tell him to just relax and I'll be back as soon as I can with Doctor Bashir.

JADZIA: [to the first Klingon] yIQeyHa'choH neH. tugh paw gharaq loDnal.

SUBTITLES: Just hang loose. Garak's weird husband will be here soon.

KLINGON 1: jIQIpbe! batlh bIquvHa! ra'ghach vIfe'ghach!

SUBTITLES: I am no fool! I understood her perfectly well. You have no honor.

JADZIA: bInojQo'! gagh neHbe' tlhInganpu', gagh Hevbe' tlhInganpu'.

SUBTITLES: Cut me some slack! Klingon don't want no gagh, Klingon don't GET no gagh.

KLINGON 2: yImev!

SUBTITLES: Just drop it!

JADZIA: tlhIngan chopwI' QIp. yab Hutlhbej.

SUBTITLES: Jive-ass Klingon ain't got no brains anyhow.

🎧 “Emily,” an original song in the subway.
This song is my homage to all the women who fought for my right to vote, many of whom worked tirelessly for decades,
and didn’t live long enough to see their goal achieved. Emily Davison was a British Suffragette who was imprisoned and tortured for her commitment to women’s
suffrage, and who died as the result of a political action. Thank you to all the brave women then and now who do the right thing; may we never take their
courage for granted. I sing this in the subway because it's the change I want to see in the world.
https://www.patreon.com/ChristineMalec/posts/emily-original-170308357?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link