#tech inclusion

[here-comes-the-moose]

So I was making myself a sandwich and I had a random thought that wouldn’t leave me alone (shocking I know), so I must ask:

How many times do we think Echo has had the Mom Experience™️ of being in the bathroom when one or more of your kids (the other members of the Bad Batch) show up and start having a full-blown conversation with you from the other side of the door?

[allthegeopolitics]

Axios reports that Meta is eliminating its biggest DEI efforts, effective immediately, including ones that focused on hiring a diverse workforce, training, and sourcing supplies from diverse-owned companies. Its DEI department will also be eliminated. In a memo leaked to the outlet, Meta said it was making these changes because the “legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing.” Meta is not alone: Microsoft and Zoom have also rolled back their DEI efforts. Lawsuits have emerged against programs that were targeted toward the Black and Latino communities. Meta also announced this week it would curb its efforts in fact-checking speech on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. And users don’t seem to be happy about it: Searches on Google related to deleting Meta accounts have skyrocketed since Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement.

Read on Tech Crunch

[mirandaindustries]

[emma-dennehy-presents]

Rome is burning and Nero is blaming DEI

[jamesthomas43024]

Leezaspace offers premier coworking spaces in Frisco, tailored for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses seeking a dynamic and professional work environment. Located at 14111 Kings Plaza, it provides flexible workspace solutions, including private offices, shared desks, and fully equipped meeting rooms. With high-speed internet, 24/7 access, and premium amenities, Leezaspace fosters productivity and collaboration without the overhead costs of a traditional office. Positioned near major commercial districts and highways, it’s a convenient hub for networking and business growth in Frisco’s thriving business community. Whether you need a dedicated workspace or a flexible desk, Leezaspace delivers the perfect blend of functionality and community in a modern, inspiring setting.

[spocksgotemotions]

i have so many wonderful friends who do absolutely amazing and important work and work with really cool people and then a couple days a week i put on silly little clown makeup and do the dumbest dances I can think of

[dysperdis]

Working on new sprite bases for my game, because the original ones were kinda slapped together just to get the character designs settled more than anything else. Here's the new templates I have so far (+ Steve's chair, because resizing the old one was easier than remaking it, which I unfortunately don't think is going to be the case for a lot of the other components...)

[thepomegranatewitch]

This week's mikveh art: I rewrote the traditional ketubah wording with the Lieberman clause to be between Klal Yisrael and the divine, and rewrote the Lieberman clause as a purification clause. Mimicking the vernacular and Hebrew ketubot style, I added in a poem and my poetic translation of the traditional immersion and shehecheyanu brachot to the left.

I am fascinated by the delineation between purity and holiness, and the fact no-one can be purified, technically, until a Temple is rebuilt. This opens so many possibilities for us!

Since technically all humans are related to humanity and thus ineligible to sign as witnesses, I had Lilith and a golem (I like to think it's the Golem of Prague) sign. I struggled to choose which name of Gd to write in (I collect them, all with shades of meaning) but settled on an ungendered or god-gendered version. In some places you will see the word 'god' or 'godself;' I use god as Elohim's pronouns. Since the month starts with the fresh crescent moon, and it's my name, I centered that at the top of the phases. The papercut is traced off a pomegranate blackwork pattern.

Text on image below image description.

Image description: a ketubah with a background of bright blue and white waves, centered on a photo of the moon. The moon has a white glow. White hamsot in the corners, white pomegranate blackwork in a circle, and white moon phases starting with a rosh chodesh moon at center top circling the moon and text in center mimic papercutting. The ketubah text on right of the moon has a yellow cast to black font and is shaped like a crescent. The remaining space to left is a poem with a purple gray cast. The ketubah is signed in thin cursive Hebrew by Lilith, and childishly large block print Hebrew by the golem. The bottom centered pomegranate holds the artist's signature in red.

~~~

Ketubah text:

On the third day of the week, the third day of the month in the year two thousand four hundred and forty eight since the creation of the world, the era according to which we count here at the slopes of Mount Sinai that Elohim Eloheinu said to Klal Yisrael children of Abraham and Sarah through the line of Yitzhak and Rivkah’s son Yaakov and his wives Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah.

“Be My people according to these laws I have given you, and I will cherish, honour, support, and maintain you in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who cherish, honour, support, and maintain their wives faithfully. And I here present you with the marriage gift of these teachings of connection, which belongs to you, the law of Moshe and Yisrael; and I will also give you your food as manna and the seven sacred species, tallitot, and necessities, and live with you as your god according to universal custom. And Klal Yisrael, these people consented and became god’s people. The trousseau that they brought to god from their house in silver, gold, valuables, clothing, furniture, and bedclothes, their stiffneckedness and chutzpah and thankfulness and dedication, all this Elohim accepted in the sum of themselves, and Elohim the bridegroom consented to increase this amount from god’s own property with the sum of six hundred and thirteen teachings of connection, making in all one covenant. And thus said Elohim, the bridegroom: “The responsibility of this marriage contract, of this trousseau, and of this additional sum, I take upon Myself and My heirs after me, so that they shall be paid from the best part of My property and possession that I have of and beneath the whole heaven, that which I now possess or may hereafter create. All My property, real and personal, even the glory which is My raiment, shall be mortgaged to secure the payment of this marriage contract, of the trousseau, and of the addition made to it, during My lifetime as Ein Sof, from the present day and forever.” Elohim, the bridgegroom, has taken upon godself the responsibility of this marriage contract, of the trousseau and the addition made to it, according to the restrictive usages of all marriage contracts and the additions to them made for the children of Yisrael, according to the institution of our sages of blessed memory. It is not to be regarded as a mere forfeiture without consideration or as a mere formula of a document. We have followed the legal formality of symbolic delivery between Elohim Eloheinu, the bridegroom and Klal Yisrael children of Abraham and Sarah through the line of Yitzhak and Rivkah’s son Yaakov and his wives Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah, and we have used as a garment legally fit for the purpose a rainbow, to strengthen all that is stated above, and everything is valid and confirmed.

And both together agreed that if either party in this marriage shall ever become impure, then either spouse may invoke the cleansing of the gathering of the living waters, in a naturally occurring or duly kosher humanmade gathering, to immerse three times as is appropriate under Jewish purity and holiness law; and if either spouse shall fail to honour the purifying powers of the gathering of these living waters or to live in accordance with this cleansing power, then the other spouse may invoke any and all remedies available in healthy community power to enforce acknowledgement of the cleansing powers of this first creation and this solemn abligation.

Attested to [Lilith] Witness

Attested to [GOLEM] Witness

~~~

Poetry text: Note that in order for a ketubah to be kosher, there must be a clearly defined shape to the text with no space to alter the contract. This text is not exactly what appears on the image so as to make it screen reader friendly. All open space has been replaced with words in a font half the size to fill it. These are bracketed so you know what words are repeated to fill the space. They exist between stanzas and in stanzas separating the lines.

[purity holiness] You will never be pure. Oh, sure, one day, perhaps, the stars may align, the calf be born, the stones relaid - but until then see the foxes, jackals, among the ruins. You will never be pure. [purity wholeness] But how wonderful a world of possibilities opens! Instead of pure you can be holy wholly human. [wholeness purity] Your body is your body is the image of God. your choices are your choices are yours. [purity holiness] Immerse, and cleanse yourself. Start anew. Emerge from the womb of the earth trailing amniotic rain. Be wrapped dry in clean white linen, welcomed by name, and your holiness affirmed. [immerse] Return to the head of it all: the gathering of the roiling sea, moon tugging at your blood, lungs sealed shut, as waves push you back, back, back to shore as sun sets orange. [purify immerse] You will never be pure like the moon is not pure: shifting phase to phase above us. like oceans are not pure: glimmering gold and silt and teeming life. like forests are not pure: ancient and fecund and noisy. like gardens are not pure: a riot of life and species cocreating. like birth and death are not pure: bodies riding the cycle. like storms are not pure: winds and rain and lightning. like deserts are not pure: so dry but filled with life when you breathe. like art is not pure: messy with emotion. You will never be pure: but you are holy. [holy] We long to re-enter living waters and they long to hold to us, gift us their slippery purity now we have forgotten to breathe them - only hold them in our veins - but more than that we long to exit the waters and stride forth onto surety. [holy] Blessed are You, She Who Contracts our god, Sovereign of Space Time, who has blessed us with these teachings of connection and invites us to immerse. Blessed are You, She Who Contracts, our god, Sovereign of Space Time, who has blessed me with my life, held me, and accompanied me to this moment.

[dinosaurwithablog]

In 1958, this split screen technique was very high tech. State of the art. People were very impressed with the effect. We've come a long way since this episode of Perry Mason, that's for sure. I enjoy seeing what was considered cutting edge technology in the past and comparing it to what we can do now. It's amazing what we have accomplished. Now, if we could prioritize these advancements and focus on helping others, we'd be doing great. We waste a lot of time, energy, and money on doing things that aren't as important as making sure every kid has food and clean water and a chance to have a good life. I think that would be a great place to start pouring millions of dollars into, don't you? Instead of advancing how we can kill people and destroy the world, we should start working on making the world a better, safer place for everyone in it. Just saying 😊😍

[allthegeopolitics]

Google will no longer have diversity hiring targets and will review its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, according to an email sent to employees that was seen by The Wall Street Journal.  Google now joins other tech companies rolling back DEI practices, especially as DEI practices come under fire from conservative groups. Amazon and Meta have also rolled back DEI measures in the past few months. 

Continue Reading

[moonthemagical]

My high school's sound crew is more trans inclusive then I thought?

So our crew leader (assigned male) recently changed their pronouns and name. Everyone in the crew (mostly guys) are all using her preferred name and pronouns :)

In other news, I'm going to help run sound for an assembly on Friday, so I'll let you know how it goes!

[prachicmi2]

Revolutionizing Mobility: The Rise of Automatic Stair Climbing Wheelchairs

In recent years, the development of automatic stair climbing wheelchairs has been a game-changer for individuals with mobility challenges. These innovative devices have opened up new possibilities for those who previously struggled to navigate multi-level environments, providing them with greater independence and improved quality of life. Automatic Stair Climbing Wheelchair incorporate advanced technology to safely and efficiently navigate staircases. These wheelchairs are equipped with specialized tracks or wheels that can securely grip and climb stairs, allowing users to ascend and descend with ease. The systems often utilize sensors and intelligent control algorithms to detect and adjust to different stair dimensions and angles, ensuring a smooth and stable ride. Get more insights on,Automatic Stair Climbing Wheelchair

[evaluateai]

How AI is Transforming Hiring for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in India

Imagine this: The job application of a highly qualified software engineer with extensive technical knowledge does not get past the initial screening process. This is not because they are incapable, but due to the traditional hiring systems that were not built keeping them in mind. This is not a hypothetical situation but a reality faced by millions of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across India. 

However, this long-standing reality is changing.  PWD candidates are now being recognised for their abilities, resilience, and preparedness thanks to AI-led, accessibility-first recruiting platforms like Evaluate Ai, as well as Rohini World's training initiatives and grassroots outreach. Through this collaboration, hiring procedures are being redesigned to be more human-centred, flexible, and inclusive, guaranteeing that opportunity is defined by ability rather than disability.

The Hidden Talent Crisis Nobody Talks About

According to the 2011 census, there are over 26.8 million people with disabilities in India, making it the largest country with PWD population. However, their employment rate is only about 36%. That's not just a statistic; it's a massive pool of untapped potential sitting right under our noses.

What many HR professionals fail to recognise is that the issue isn't a lack of talent. But it lies within the recruitment process itself.  

Traditional recruitment methods often create barriers that are not immediately apparent. Resume screening tools are unable to handle various formats. Conventional interview procedures assume that everyone communicates in the same way and overlook the need for other ways of communication. Moreover, office infrastructure is built in a way that expects everyone to travel and be available in a say way, and assessment tools do not assess individual potential.

But what if the same technology that is revolutionising every other facet of business can also be used to knock down these barriers?

Barriers in PWD hiring

Although businesses are increasingly discussing diversity and inclusion (DE&I), actual hiring progress for people with disabilities is still non-existent. An article from The Economic Times HRWorld in 2023 pointed out that structured hiring practices for PWD are still in their infancy, with only a few companies like TCS and Reliance leading the way.

Key challenges include:

Resume Barriers: People who do not have access to assistive technology, formal documentation, or typing skills may find job portals and resume-heavy applications uncomfortable.

Interview Bias: In-person or face-to-face interviews are still vulnerable to unconscious prejudice, which can be impacted by things like speech, appearance, or perceived aptitude.

Inflexible Scheduling: Fixed interview schedules and assessments that require candidates to travel do not cater to all types of disabilities, particularly those affecting mobility.

Generic Assessments: Physically challenged or neurodivergent individuals cannot be accommodated by one-size-fits-all aptitude exams.

Low PWD Outreach: The majority of businesses lose out on a large and varied pool of candidates because they do not have direct access to trained and vetted PWD talent.

No Inclusion Metrics; Inclusion initiatives, even in forward-thinking companies, are frequently untracked, making it challenging to monitor or enhance actual results.

As per Michael Page, organisations often lack awareness of how to design jobs and workplaces that are accessible, not just physically, but also cognitively and digitally.

The Inclusive Answer: Evaluate Ai × Rohini World

This collaboration is a novel approach that combines technological innovation with grassroots implementation to address these issues from start to finish.

Evaluate Ai offers state-of-the-art AI recruitment technology, featuring voice-driven mobile interviews, unbiased evaluations, and human-like AI interactions that make the hiring process feel more organic rather than mechanical.  

India's largest talent pool of persons with disabilities (PWD) is managed by Rohini World. It connects skilled individuals with inclusive employers and also provides upskilling opportunities for those in need.  

Together, they're creating something unprecedented: a hiring ecosystem where disability becomes invisible, and ability shines through.

How the partnership works

Finding Talent: Throughout India, Rohini World’s network finds qualified PWD candidates. No long application forms or resume gatekeeping—just talent identification.

Skill Building: Rohini World trains PWD candidates for careers that are in demand today. This ensures that the candidates are job-ready.

AI-Powered Assessment: Evaluate AI's platform conducts natural, conversational interviews. The interviews are tailored to accommodate various requirements of PWD employees. Evaluate Ai’s Hum.Ai.n Engine evaluates candidates based on their skills and potential. It strives to remove bias; thus, the status of the evaluations are not affected by the disability of the candidates.

Smart Matching: Instead of just seeing the resumes, the Evaluate Ai and Rohini World partnership is structured in a way that it matches people with businesses based on cultural fit and skill sets. A ranked list of eligible applicants is sent to employers for follow-up interviews.

Continuous Learning: Over time, the AI enhances its ability to recognise even more suitable matches by analysing successful placements.

Real-World Impact: What This Means for Your Organisation

According the Accenture (2023), inclusive hiring is not just the right thing to do, but also a smart business move. Companies that actively hire PWDs report:

1.6�� more revenue,

2.6× more net income,

2× greater economic profit

25% more productive (revenue per employee) 

Twice as many positive Glassdoor reviews

Conclusion: Inclusion at Scale is Possible

The partnership between Evaluate AI and Rohini World represents a transformation in PWD and inclusive hiring, going beyond a mere technological initiative. 

paradigm shift in inclusive hiring, not just a tech project. It demonstrates how inclusion can transcend HR strategy into everyday practice when technology is paired with empathy, accessibility, and execution. It shows how inclusive hiring can become a daily HR practice when technology is combined with empathy, accessibility, and effective execution.

If you're an employer looking to future-proof your workforce, now is the time to integrate AI with inclusion. The talent is out there. The tools are ready. The impact is measurable.

Are you ready to hire without barriers? Talk with our expert!

[jtwb768-babbles]

Can Artificial Intelligence Be Queer? Exploring Identity, Design, and Digital Bias

Beyond Binary Systems—Queering the Machine Artificial intelligence, once confined to the pages of speculative fiction and the chalkboards of theoretical mathematics, has evolved into one of the most influential forces shaping 21st-century society. From chatbots to facial recognition, from content curation to predictive policing, AI systems mediate the way we engage with reality. But as these…

[jaimedavid27]

Musing Mondays #5: The Cost of Convenience: How AI Voice Assistants Are Changing Customer Experience

Technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and with it comes a slew of innovations that promise to make our lives easier. One area where this is particularly visible is in the realm of customer service, where automated voice assistants are increasingly replacing human operators. While these systems are designed to streamline processes and improve efficiency, they can also introduce a host of new…

[narrivemedia]

Africa is behind in AI. They lack funding. They lack experts. Africa has far fewer billion-dollar companies compared to the U.S. or Europe. So, the argument goes, Africa needs to “catch up,” and AI will help Africa catch up! A sharp take from The Critic on AI hype, hope and hard quizes no one asks!