Getting Involved

[Bridger Reed-Lewis]

Thank you, I wasn't aware of those barriers. While I am aware that the
university has strict rules around applications. I believe there could be a
way to get around it, if it's used in an educational and
collaborative environment. The person I need to check with about this, I am
going to send them an email tomorrow since it's pretty late. Oh, and I
tried accessing the IRC and Matrix but the channel isn't accepting anyone
else, is there a way for me to get around that? I think it'd be a lot
easier then email

On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 10:03 PM Benson Muite <benson_muite at emailplus.org>
wrote:

>
>
> 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
> >> >>
> >>
>
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