Using a Library with a learning disability in the 2020s is a walk in hell. For starters most of em aren't ordering there own audio/ebook stocks anymore... They use corporate platforms Libby and Hoopla to provide those services.
These apps are often incompatible with the types of reading assistance software that readers with print disabilities use . They have to be compatible somewhat But the Sec 508 Regs have a major blindspot. Pardon the pun, when it comes to sighted users who are impaired in their ability to read...
The other problem with audiobook/ebooks is that. There are an increasing number of books/ other materials you just cannot obtain. Because of content exclusivity deals. E.g a Netflix exclusive movie or book is netflix only, and they mean it. Same with "Only on Audible" books, ditto with small/vanity presses that only publish on Amazon.
Bottom line there are less resources at the library that i can actually use as a disabled patron then there were ten years ago.
No idea how libraries are responding to these conditions, but i intend to write a public comment for my next district board meeting Any Library people know about this. And what if anything the public can do...
Ten years ago, on a day like today. I was just settling in for a movie. It was almost exactly this hour, or it was mid fire at any rate. Although that system for marking time would not be invented for another five years. It had been a long hard and lonely day like today. Full of arguments with college authorities, projects due with too little time to do them, and arguments with insurance companies. Almost exactly like today Ten years ago on a day not so different from today, I was feeling very lonely. All of my friends had graduated the previous year and moved away from our college town. And in my depression I had withdrawn from socializing online. had deleted my online presence, and only permitted two people to contact me from that life. Ten years ago today on this day that was indistinguishable from so many of the days before it and the days which followed. There was a knock at my window.
Had I been sane I would have pretended to be asleep, or busy. Knocks at my window at eleven o'clock at night, usually portended hours of thankless volunteer work, helping usually immigrant or other disabled students with computer science or other homework. I must have given assistance to dozens of people in those days. Only one of whom ever stayed in touch with me when my usefulness had expired.
Frankly I was getting tired of the thankless work on top of trying to pass my own course load with undiagnosed learning disabilties and mental health challenges of my own. But in those days all I had to cling to were my values, much like today.
Do not fail to give hospitality to strangers, for by this means some have entertained angels unawares.
Information is power, and like all power there are those who would keep it for themselves. To share is to fight.
Love is a movement, love is a revolution.
So I got off my tired ass went to the window, and gave an impromptu programming tutorial to a pink haired male athlete. The universe commanded and so I obeyed.
Ten years later on a day so like that day, my phone rings at an inopportune moment. But I gaze set the caller id and smile, and pick up. We talk for longer than we should ten years later that pink haired athlete and his wife are expecting their second child, and although it seems like the world has passed me by. Like I am stuck in place. His final words remind me that not all progress is measured in miles, or dollar signs
I love you M
You to, will see ya
I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now.
The reason why we loved the old Narnia is that is sometimes looked a little like this. Bree-hee-hee! Come further up, come further in!”
I was once asked on an irc channel what was the most "metal" catholic prayer i know was "metal" as an adjective has no fixed meaning. But these come to mind.
Oh Saving Victim
O Saving Victim, Open wide
The Gates of Heaven to us Below
Though Foes surround me on every side
Thine Aide Supply
Thy Grace Bestow
To thy great name be endless praise,
Immortal Godhead, One in Three.
Oh, grant us endless length of days,
In our true native land with thee.
Amen.
Preface for Our Lady of Good Counsel
It is truly right and just.
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
How generously you poured out
the gifts of your Holy Spirit
upon the Blessed Virgin Mary
to make her worthy
to be the Mother and companion of the Redeemer.
Enlightened by these gifts,
she sought your will unceasingly
and obeyed it with fidelity.
In her canticle of joy
she proclaimed the greatness of your mercy
and gave herself wholeheartedly
to your wise and loving plan
for renewing all things in Christ.
Through him the Angels of heaven
offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever.
May our voices be one with theirs
in their triumphant hymn of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
St Francis Prayer before the Crucifix
“Most High glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart.
Give me right faith, sure hope and perfect charity.
Fill me with understanding and knowledge that I may fulfill your command.”
At at times like this i wish i was a musician.. I just had a sound vision of a track that starts out as the national anthem 6 bars in there is an abrupt but somehow graceful transition to another piece of music. I'm thinking the Star Trek TNG theme.
Purely because that's my go to for optimistic future based on good moral values.
But the intent is to reject "patriotism" where that's used as a synonym for Jigoism/right wing values. And make clear that inclusive tolerance and service to the truth Are American values. I don't know how to bring something like this about though.
Here is a favorite of what i have managed to do musically nothing to do with the stuff i was discribing
there are those who say "Disabled People aren't oppressed"... According to one of my friends it is acceptable to punch such individuals in the face. Although providing education is preferred. Here's your education for today.
In order to access most US govt programs for disabled adults, your required to receive social security benefits.
Social Security Disability Benefits don't start until you've worked a job that pay social security payroll taxes for a certain number of years
For people that fall outside this requirement there's Social Security Insurance. Which pays about half as much. And has an "income and asset limit"
This limit is set by congress is not tied to inflation. It was last updated in 1984 and stand currently at $2k for a thirty day period.
This limit was always strictly enforced, but under Trump it got bad.
Real bad, like i'm required to tell the SSA if i sell my Magic the Gathering cards bad, small amounts of Mutual Aid are fine.. For now.. .But I can forget about replacing my positional support chair, any time soon...
Meaning that some of my people are in nursing homes right now. Because they don't have enough to make rent and if they ever were to get enough they'd be fined up to $5k for the first offense.
Which the SSA takes out of what it's giving you btw.
Yes, there's Sec 8 and ISS (in some states) but those take time and there are waiting lists, and the supply of housing for these programs is limited and so forth. I'm lucky I've a roof over my head for now.