Mastodawn

NEW: Programs for #Students With Hearing and Vision Loss Harmed by Trump’s Anti-Diversity Push
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Federal funding for organizations that help students with hearing and vision loss across eight states will stop at the end of the month, according to letters sent by a top #Education Dept. official and obtained by ProPublica.

#news #kids #trump #government #DEI

https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-dei-students-education-deaf-blind-grant-funding?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-mastodon-post&utm_content=9-10

Programs for Students With Hearing and Vision Loss Harmed by Trump’s Anti-Diversity Push

Citing concerns about DEI, the U.S. Department of Education has halted funding for programs that support students with combined hearing and vision loss in eight states. “How low can you go?” one advocate asked. “How can you do this to children?”

ProPublica

Kathy Blackburn Sep 1

Scalzi Aug 31

They're just like people!

Chatbots can be manipulated through flattery and peer pressure | The Verge

https://share.google/Qpwvf3erUoRSC3tCx

Chatbots can be manipulated through flattery and peer pressure

Researchers were able to manipulate ChatGPT into breaking its own rules through peer pressure and flattery.

The Verge

Kathy Blackburn Aug 30

Pratik Patel Aug 30

Why in the hell am I forced to stop using MDashes in my writing because stupid LLMs are fond of MDashes? Apparently, if I don't want to be seen as someone who writes using LLMs, the latest advice is to stop using MDashes. So, now we're forced to cator to machines. There are lots of examples of how we're being asked to change our human behavior to suit machines.

I realize this shows up as a bit of a wine; I also hope that it shows up as something we need to consider.
#AI #LLMs #tech

Kathy Blackburn Aug 30

David Goldfield Aug 29

Comments Needed to Stop republican Attack on Section 503 Proposal will gut rules about federal contractors hiring disabled workers https://www.lflegal.com/2025/08/comments-needed-to-stop-republican-attack-on-section-503/

Comments Needed to Stop republican Attack on Section 503

Comments are due on September 2d to stop a republican attack on a longstanding rule in the United States called Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 503 helps disabled people get hired by federal contractors. Here's what the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) says abo

Law Office of Lainey Feingold

Kathy Blackburn Aug 28

Show thread

K. A. Andrews Aug 27

See thread for details. I was finally able to get somebody who knew what they were doing to update my information for me apart from my legal name. She was the third person I spoke with about this issue. I'll have to send in proof of my name change by mail, which is annoying, but I can't blame #Synchrony for that. I tell you what though... Getting this updated should not have been this hard. I now have no spoons for anything else at this point. Please guys, please provide alternatives to the self-ID scan methods for verification. We visually impaired people really, really have a hard time with that sort of thing, and not all of us have sighted assistance we can call on at any time we want! #A11y #Blind #VisuallyImpaired

Kathy Blackburn Aug 16

Mendi Aug 15

I'd like to call out the #Kroger in #Avon #IN for not once but twice denying set up of #ScriptTalk so I can have accessible medication labels. Thank you for telling me that my access to my health information is not important to you. I will be moving my prescriptions now.

Kathy Blackburn Aug 16

Steve Herman Aug 15

Mississippi writer and bestselling author Greg Iles has died at the age of 64 after battling multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. His passing marks the end of a remarkable literary career deeply rooted in the American South, yet reaching readers worldwide. https://magnoliastatelive.com/2025/08/15/mississippi-writer-and-new-york-times-best-selling-author-greg-iles-dies-at-64/

Mississippi writer and New York Times best-selling author Greg Iles dies at 64 - Magnolia State Live

Mississippi writer and New York Times bestselling author Greg Iles died Friday morning at the age of 64 after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. His passing marks the end of a remarkable literary career deeply rooted in the American South, yet reaching readers worldwide.

Magnolia State Live

Kathy Blackburn Aug 5

Joe Steinkamp Aug 4

LLMs break into networks with no help, and it’s not science fiction anymore - it actually happened https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/ai-llms-are-now-so-clever-that-they-can-independently-plan-and-execute-cyberattacks-without-human-intervention-and-i-fear-that-it-is-only-going-to-get-worse

AI LLMs are now so clever that they can independently plan and execute cyberattacks without human intervention — and I fear that it is only going to get worse

AI model replicated the Equifax breach without a single human command

TechRadar

Kathy Blackburn Aug 5

Joe Steinkamp Aug 5

Society tells me to hide my disability, doctors tell me to prove my disability. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/bringing-visibility-to-invisible-disabilities/202507/the-paradox-of-invisible-disabilities

The Paradox of Invisible Disabilities

“You don’t look disabled.” In this post, I expose the painful truth behind that phrase and the double bind of living with an invisible disability.

Psychology Today

Kathy Blackburn Aug 2

Pitermach Aug 1

Regarding the poorly communicated shutdown of the Envision AI app in favor of Ally which for now doesn't offer a lot of Envision's functionality, we now have official word that Envision's features will be ported over to Ally. Hopefully all of the features will be included before the app is phased out completely.