Getting Involved

[Benson Muite]

On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 8:49 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote:
> Well I don’t think it would be useful particularly for UAA, it’s just I
> feel a collaboration could be set up depending on the person. And with
> everything going on federally, a lot of folks at my work are pretty mad,
> it’s the reason why I got my article. What I’m going to do is reach out to
> the engineers/tech departments, to see if anyone is interested in working
> on this project. Along with connecting with student clubs, I am also going
> to install and test what I can with the applications you sent.

Thanks.

>
> Oh, about the mentoring program you mentioned. I don't think it's a good
> fit for me since I have dyscalculia. I've tried with no luck to learn
> coding. It's just not my thing, what it would be testing along with setting
> up times to chat around ideas, along with networking which i am scary good
> at.

We do use mailing lists, apps also have chat channels, typically on Matrix or IRC.
For Season of KDE, making students and people new to open source aware of it
would be helpful.  It provides a structured way for people to contribute improvements
to software that they use, these need not be limited to coding contributions.

In the US, many applications require accessibility testing reports before they can be
used in an institution.  This can be a barrier to adopting open source software since
the administrative burden of procuring software which has accessibility testing done
is low compared to getting open source software and improving it to meet accessibility
standards for which the financial cost would likely be ultimately lower, thereby allowing
institutions to make more effective use of their limited funds.

>
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 21:37 Benson Muite <benson_muite at emailplus.org>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 7:58 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote:
>> > I have heard of him, and it’s one of the reasons why I want to get
>> > involved, at the moment I don’t think the university allows Linux to be
>> > used, but I could be wrong. At the moment, I am running KDE on my Steam
>> > Deck. But I’m planning on purchasing a think-pad x1 carbon Gen 10 soon.
>> One
>> > area I’d like to see get added is dictation. There's an abandoned project
>> > here --> https://github.com/abb128/LiveCaptions that could be forked
>> into a
>> > simple dictation tool, it's surprisingly, very accurate.
>>
>> This seems to build on another library which maybe worth incorporating into
>> KDE applications:
>> https://github.com/abb128/april-asr
>>
>> There are ongoing discussions withing KDE about using tools trained on
>> data of unknown origin.
>>
>> >
>> > Outside of that, I would need to look because right now there's not a
>> lot,
>> > and disability itself is a spectrum. without seeing what you are already
>> > working on, giving feedback might be hard. But I am more than willing to
>> > test anything you can give me, as long as you make the install process
>> easy
>> > or give me command props.
>>
>> KDE applications are listed at:
>> http://apps.kde.org
>> Some will work on Windows and Mac. Applications that might be useful in a
>> university
>> setting include:
>> - https://apps.kde.org/labplot/
>> - https://apps.kde.org/ktechlab/
>> - https://apps.kde.org/accessibilityinspector/
>> - https://apps.kde.org/krita/
>> - https://apps.kde.org/okular/
>> - https://apps.kde.org/kdenlive/
>> - https://apps.kde.org/digikam/
>> - https://apps.kde.org/glaxnimate/
>>
>> It seems there are faculty members familiar with open source software:
>> https://pradeeban.github.io/
>>
>> Maybe you could contact them to see if there are ways to also involve
>> students in
>> improving software accessibility?  Season of KDE (
>> https://mentorship.kde.org/sok/)
>> would be one structured way to do this for KDE software that is useful at
>> UAA.
>>
>> Krita, Kdenlive and Glaxnimate may also be useful to people in your art
>> department:
>>
>> https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/art
>> and to the student clubs in the art department:
>>
>> https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/art/clubs/
>>
>> Finally, in terms of testing, is there a KDE application you use and would
>> be willing to help
>> test? One-off contributions are welcome, but sustained involvement is most
>> helpful.
>>
>> >
>> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 20:28 Benson Muite <benson_muite at emailplus.org>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Tue, Jun 3, 2025, at 11:15 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote:
>> >> > Good evening, I am interested in becoming a tester, and help
>> collaborate
>> >> > together on ideas to ensure accessibility in future kde iterations.
>> Nate,
>> >> > one of the board members, let me know about your sub-group, and I
>> >> emailed a
>> >> > few folks listed as contacts. Just didn't hear back, figuring reaching
>> >> out
>> >> > directly to this email would be more effective.
>> >> >
>> >> > Before getting involved though, I should introduce myself. I am the
>> >> > disability advisor for The University of Anchorage Alaska, and while
>> I am
>> >> > doing this on my own time. I do hope to get the university involved
>> since
>> >> > we have a very active disability, and accessibility work groups at
>> UAA.
>> >> >
>> >> > Recently, the university wrote a article about me which goes in detail
>> >> > about myself you can read about it here...
>> >> >
>> >>
>> https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2025/05/chd-disability-advisor-bridger-r-reed-lewis.cshtml
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > I'm very passionate about what I do, and I believe Steam OS as a whole
>> >> > could be a massive benefit to ensure a better market share, this comes
>> >> with
>> >> > some challenges though because while steam os is great for gaming,
>> once
>> >> > it's released to the masses later this year.
>> >> >
>> >> > The OS as a whole will have some disadvantages mainly the lack of
>> >> > accessibility tools, which as someone with a disability has been the
>> >> > largest reason they haven't moved fully to linux. Ended up on Macs
>> >> because
>> >> > of how much i hate windows, but once thing apple has about them is
>> there
>> >> > gold star for supporting disabilities in there OS.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks for your interest. Are there any KDE applications that you use
>> where
>> >> support could be better?  Do you have any computer labs where linux is
>> used
>> >> or KDE applications are used?
>> >>
>> >> KDE e.V. recently appointed Ritchie Frodomar as accessibility engineer:
>> >> https://mail.kde.org/pipermail/kde-community/2025q2/008193.html
>> >>
>> >> >
>> >> > I also want this in Linux, and I'm here to help along
>> >> > with assisting with networking with professionals to ensure
>> >> communications
>> >> > and collaboration with developers/companies alike. Let me know if you
>> >> have
>> >> > any questions, and I hope to chat with you soon.
>> >> >
>> >> > Sincerely,
>> >> >
>> >> > Bridger R. Reed-Lewis
>> >> > Disability Advisor | Advocate | Speaker
>> >> > He/Them
>> >>
>>