Getting Involved

[Bridger Reed-Lewis]

Okay I will do do that, thank you for the suggestions.

On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 11:06 PM Benson Muite <benson_muite at emailplus.org>
wrote:

> Most of KDE uses Matrix, so the onboarding experience will probably
> be easier.
>
> Due to your location, you might also consider making an account at:
> https://element.seattlematrix.org/#/welcome
>
> IRC has lighter hardware utilization requirements but takes a little more
> time to learn.
>
> Developers do also respond to mail about their applications on their
> mailing lists - these are publicly searchable and archived.
> https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo
>
> Would suggest creating an account on a Matrix server first, then
> adjusting depending on who you need to contact.
>
> Finally, you might also reach out to people who have used Linux
> in Alaska. For example:
> - https://aklug.org/
> - Jef Spaleta
> https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/introducing-fedora-project-leader-jef-spaleta
>
> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 9:32 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote:
> > K I’m going to get those setup, should I only do one or all?
> >
> > On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 22:23 Benson Muite <benson_muite at emailplus.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> On Wed, Jun 4, 2025, at 9:09 AM, Bridger Reed-Lewis wrote:
> >> > 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
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> For Matrix, accounts on other servers will allow you to access rooms on
> the
> >> kde matrix server. In addition to
> >>
> >>
> https://matrix.org/docs/chat_basics/matrix-for-im/#creating-a-matrix-account
> >> ,
> >> you could also make an account on one of the servers listed at:
> >> https://servers.joinmatrix.org/
> >>
> >> https://apps.kde.org/neochat/
> >> maybe helpful, in addition to other Matrix clients.
> >>
> >> For irc make an account at http://libera.chat
> >> https://apps.kde.org/konversation/
> >> maybe helpful, though there are many other choices for IRC clients.
> >>
> >> >
> >> > 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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