LanieJun 10, 2025

Really wishing there was a good textbook reading app for someone with both visual and cognitive #disabilities.

I just started a new course at Colorado Christian University, and this week's reading is 7 chapters from a book called Introducing Christian Doctrine—which is pretty heavy stuff. I've been struggling just to get through the first chapter.

I tried reading in Word with JAWS, but quick navigation keys keep getting disabled, and adding comments isn’t very accessible. So I switched to the ePub version in Bookworm, which lets me add bookmarks, named bookmarks, and comments. That’s been a huge help.

For notes, I’m using Joplin, which works well for organizing thoughts in Markdown. And when I hit a sentence I don’t understand—like “propounded dogmatically” (what even is that?)—I just open Copilot in the browser and ask for a plain-language explanation.

It’s not perfect, but it’s working. I just wish there were tools designed with both cognitive load and screen reader accessibility in mind. Reading theology is hard enough without fighting the tech too.

(My degree is in computer science, but theology is part of the core curriculum.)

#disability #multipleDisabilities #Accessibility #JAWS #ScreenReader #CognitiveDisability #ActuallyAutistic #Autism #Blind #Neurodivergent #NeurodivergentBlind #BookwormReader #JoplinNotes #Joplin #Markdown #TheologyStudent #Christian #ChristianUniversity #InclusiveTech #EdTech #AccessibleReading #DisabilityInEducation #StudyTools #ePub #AssistiveTechnology #MastodonEdu

@mastoblind @main @actuallyautistic @neurodivergentblind

Tarren (They/Them)Apr 2, 2025
@hzulla @Fuchskind And that #blind kid who got told "don't do X thing, people will think you're autistic" may have *[email protected]* been autistic. Not all #blindAutistics necessarily look like the classic autistic look either. Some of us look perfectly normal, and believe me when I say that some of us normal-looking #blind #autistics have spent a *bunch* of energy maintaining that normal appearance because it was expected, but are paying for it now.
***Hashtags and Mentions***
#ActuallyAutistic #NeurodivergentBlind #Autistic #Neurodivergent #Neurodivergence @actuallyautistic
Tarren (They/Them)Jan 31, 2025

Observation of the day: #OHC #Covid19 tests are *not* very accessible either for #blind or #dyspraxic users. All those tiny parts, so the dyspraxic me was struggling to hold the extractor steady while doing all the other stuff, and the test takes 15 minutes, so unless you have a *bunch* of minutes for Aira or something, you're using up a *bunch* of time figuring out how the thing works. I certainly wouldn't recommend them for #NeurodivergentBlind people. @neurodivergentblind

***Additional Hashtagsc***
#Accessibility #Neurodivergent #Dyspraxia

Tarren (They/Them)Mar 5, 2024
@actuallyautistic @neurodivergentblind Curious if this is an #ActuallyAutistic thing, a #NeurodivergentBlind thing, or just a me thing. Sounds that, when identified, don't remotely faze me will drive me up a wall if I can't either perceive or envision what is making them. It's almost like the unknown factor triggers me more than the sound itself.
Tarren (They/Them)Feb 13, 2024
#NeurodivergentBlind folx, I'm going to start posting more to @neurodivergentblind to hopefully build up some momentum for the group, but I'd like it to be all of our space, so please feel free to introduce yourself, and chime in with your own thoughts and questions.
Refreshing my own #introduction here since it's been a while, I'm an #Agender, #ActuallyAutistic, #ActuallyAuDHD, #Blind musician and creator with a passion for #accessibility in #gaming on tabletop, PC and moble.
For a question to kick things off: Are there ways that you feel the experience of being both #neurodivergent and #blind is different from being either or?
Tarren (They/Them)Feb 13, 2024
@TheQuinbox @adelinej Speaking of groups, I'm trying to get @neurodivergentblind going, and will probably start putting some questions and/or ideas up there to kind of build some activity up there. Any of these a.gup.pe groups, you join by following, and talk in them by mentioning. I feel like the #NeurodivergentBlind among us so far haven't really had a space, so I'm hoping to see that develop.
LeianoraJan 7, 2024
Tarren (They/Them): #NeurodivergentBlind group is live, a space for #neurodivergent #blind people to connect, share ideas, and learn from each other. To participate, follow @neurodivergentblind. If you mention that username, everyone following the group will see your posts.
If you feel comfortable, introduce yourself. I'm a #blind, #ActuallyAutistic, #AuDHD #nonbinary #musician whose other interests include #TTRPGs, #accessibleGaming on mobile and desktop, and #VoiceActing. All are welcome.
Tarren (They/Them)Jan 6, 2024
#NeurodivergentBlind group is live, a space for #neurodivergent #blind people to connect, share ideas, speak our truth, etc., and learn from each other along the way. To participate, just follow @neurodivergentblind. If you mention that username, everyone else following the group will see your posts.
If you do join/follow and would feel comfortable, feel free to introduce yourself so we can find each other and connect. I'll start out. I'm a #blind, #ActuallyAutistic, #AuDHD #nonbinary #musician whose other special interests include #TTRPGs, #accessible #gaming on both mobile and desktop, and #VoiceActing.
Whether you speak up a bunch, or observe more, all are welcome.
Tarren (They/Them)Jan 6, 2024
Hey Fedizens! I'm seeing groups forming through things like the a.gup.pe system (the one I'll be using) for #Neurodivergent, #ActuallyAutistic, #ADHD folks etc., but I have yet to see a space for #NeurodivergentBlind folx. So if you'd be interested in such a space, I'm creating @neurodivergentblind for those of us who are both to hopefully connect more. Please feel free to follow the group, and whether or not the group is for you, please boost so the group can reach all who would benefit from it.