There are times, in these moments where I feel so... without self. Without purpose, without ambition, only gloom and shadow. All that I've done, all that I've said, all that I've tried to make. I have to remind myself of who I am, of what I've done. I graduated high school, after almost failing. I got a job doing what I'm somewhat good at. I found ways of teaching over the phone or online during lockdowns. I've participated in studies by big companies. I almost became a member of an accessibility program at a big company. I created that little ui-ux-accessibility thing on Github, detailing what is needed for UI's and experiences to be more accessible. Not that detailed, but a good first try for someone who's not done that before. I created the FossAbility space on Matrix and SourceHut, where I hoped people could come and work together. It fell apart, and I left it. I've used just about every platform out there besides the BSD's. Just about every screen reader from Window-Eyes to Cobra to Super Nova/Hal. I could write a basic HTML page in seventh grade. I am, even at the slightest bit, successful in what I do. I cannot code. I can do basics of sysadmin stuff. I can use the Linux shell in everyday sort of commands. I can even use Emacs, which is too much for even some blind Linux users. I can use Android and iOS. Mac and Windows. And train someone to use them, if given enough caffine. I should be proud of myself. But I always feel like I've not done enough. I should be a programmer. I should be able to use a Mac as my main computer. I should be able to live on an iPhone. I should be able to use Linux as my daily driver. I should have lost 100 pounds by now. I should be able to manage the Linux servers at work. All these. The need to work harder. The body's need for me to not push it any harder. I struggle with these things every day.

#BlindPride #blind #disability

What worthy recipients of the Jacob Bolotin award. I’m particularly delighted for Peggy Chong. When we chronicle and understand our history, it helps us to appreciate that we are on a continuum, and fosters #BlindPride. #NFB23

It is an indescribably powerful thing to walk into the hotel lobby and hear it full of tapping white canes. #BlindPride #NFB23

Renewed my JAWS certification for 2023.

https://support.freedomscientific.com/Services/TrainingAndCertification/JAWSCertifiedIndividuals

#JAWSCertifiedIndividual #JAWS #JAWS2023 #ScreenReader #FreedomScientific #Blind #Blindness #BlindPride #Accessibility #A11Y #Inclusion #Equality #IAmAble

@JonathanMosen @menelion @vick21 I support #BlindPride. However, in order to fully be prideful of being blind, we need to do away with the term "disabled" when referring to #BlindPride, because of the negativity behind that word, which is amazing that not too many people realize. We are not disabled because of our blindness, so we should not be refered to as such. Now I can understand feeling "disabled" if you will, when there's the initial loss of sight, if at one point you had sight. But this temporary "disability" can be overcome, if you truly wish it to be. Seeing people be successful despite certain handicaps,such as blindness only proves that blindness in itself is not a disability.