Patrick Garvin
@patrickmgarvin.bsky.social
Accessibility enthusiast and UX/UI front-end developer. Creator of @a11yawareness.bsky.social. Occasional MU J-school lecturer. Former Boston Globe graphics reporter/developer.
I've long fanboyed over @albertocairo.com, ever since I was a young newspaper infographic artist starting out. And I've fanboyed just as much over @frank.computer during my time in accessibility. That they are part of a project together is not surprising. This is so so so so so good.
You can catch my full, open course on accessibility in visualization here:
openvisualizationacademy.org/courses/acce...
openvisualizationacademy.org/courses/acce...
1.1 Introduction - Accessibility in Data Visualization
- Open Visualization Academy
openvisualizationacademy.org
January 31, 2026 at 3:01 AM
I've long fanboyed over @albertocairo.com, ever since I was a young newspaper infographic artist starting out. And I've fanboyed just as much over @frank.computer during my time in accessibility. That they are part of a project together is not surprising. This is so so so so so good.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
The line-up of instructors is incredible! Such a great set of brilliant people, all with deep expertise. So thankful that the OVA managed to assemble this crew of folks to deeper our field's understanding of advanced, complex, and vitally important parts of data visualization.
Our instructors include @hannahdormido.bsky.social @frank.computer Hiram Henriquez @laurenfklein.bsky.social , @kanarinka.bsky.social Joy Victor, Ray Balise, @lmelgar.bsky.social @rodolfoalmd.nucleo.jor.br @ebertini.bsky.social and many others who will be producing content in 2026 and 2027 7/x
January 30, 2026 at 6:12 PM
The line-up of instructors is incredible! Such a great set of brilliant people, all with deep expertise. So thankful that the OVA managed to assemble this crew of folks to deeper our field's understanding of advanced, complex, and vitally important parts of data visualization.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
"Day after day, photographers and reporters have been showing us – often at risk to their personal safety and comfort and sometimes their lives – the ferocity and brutality of this administration’s treatment of immigrants and protesters."
Links/subscriptions free. Do not comment before reading.
Links/subscriptions free. Do not comment before reading.
Bearing witness to the truth
Rash criticism of the media only strengthens the power of the Trump administration
fightthefire.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 11:46 PM
"Day after day, photographers and reporters have been showing us – often at risk to their personal safety and comfort and sometimes their lives – the ferocity and brutality of this administration’s treatment of immigrants and protesters."
Links/subscriptions free. Do not comment before reading.
Links/subscriptions free. Do not comment before reading.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
If you believe in American democracy, this is a very good time to stand up for the free press
January 30, 2026 at 8:07 PM
If you believe in American democracy, this is a very good time to stand up for the free press
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
I get tired of saying it, but I’ll say it again: the nature of oppression in America is that they workshop it first on Black, Latino, Asian & Native people.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
The arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are a test for every MSM member with a platform. If you are not voicing your outrage at this blatant violation of the First Amendment, you are utterly discredited as a journalist.
January 30, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I get tired of saying it, but I’ll say it again: the nature of oppression in America is that they workshop it first on Black, Latino, Asian & Native people.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
But it is always, in the end, coming for everyone.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
What I'm talking about, and what non-white people have been talking about for a very long time, is how it's only when white people start getting hurt or dying that people start to be characterized as "heroes" and "martyrs".
January 26, 2026 at 8:14 PM
What I'm talking about, and what non-white people have been talking about for a very long time, is how it's only when white people start getting hurt or dying that people start to be characterized as "heroes" and "martyrs".
Weather events can have huge impacts that disrupt people's lives. This is especially true disabled people and/or people with complex medical needs. It's key that information about weather events be delivered accessibly. Here are things to keep in mind when communicating news about weather.
Thread 🧵
Thread 🧵
January 24, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
Weather events can have huge impacts that disrupt people's lives. This is especially true disabled people and/or people with complex medical needs. It's key that information about weather events be delivered accessibly. Here are things to keep in mind when communicating news about weather.
Thread 🧵
Thread 🧵
January 24, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Weather events can have huge impacts that disrupt people's lives. This is especially true disabled people and/or people with complex medical needs. It's key that information about weather events be delivered accessibly. Here are things to keep in mind when communicating news about weather.
Thread 🧵
Thread 🧵
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
Strongly believe that how we talk about potential cognitive decline matters because it can make it harder for non-famous people to accept they need help because aging can be so stigmatized.
January 20, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Strongly believe that how we talk about potential cognitive decline matters because it can make it harder for non-famous people to accept they need help because aging can be so stigmatized.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
AI captions do not conform to #WCAG they usually require a lot of work to make them usable
The highest-risk areas for real harm are: (1) named entities/numbers, (2) multi-speaker attribution, (3) timing/readability, and (4) hallucinated “corrections.”
#deaf #multimedia #justsayin #a11y
The highest-risk areas for real harm are: (1) named entities/numbers, (2) multi-speaker attribution, (3) timing/readability, and (4) hallucinated “corrections.”
#deaf #multimedia #justsayin #a11y
January 19, 2026 at 1:38 PM
AI captions do not conform to #WCAG they usually require a lot of work to make them usable
The highest-risk areas for real harm are: (1) named entities/numbers, (2) multi-speaker attribution, (3) timing/readability, and (4) hallucinated “corrections.”
#deaf #multimedia #justsayin #a11y
The highest-risk areas for real harm are: (1) named entities/numbers, (2) multi-speaker attribution, (3) timing/readability, and (4) hallucinated “corrections.”
#deaf #multimedia #justsayin #a11y
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
The fact that CBS didn’t report this incident tells you everything.
NYT publishes audio of Karoline Leavitt threatening CBS over its Trump interview: “He said, ‘If it’s not out in full, we’ll sue your ass off.’” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/b...
‘We’ll Sue’: White House’s Warning to CBS Is Sign of a New Media Status Quo
www.nytimes.com
January 17, 2026 at 9:33 PM
The fact that CBS didn’t report this incident tells you everything.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
rare to see an american politician speak in these terms and it rocks
“When I speak about making our city more affordable, my vision is not limited to the homes that we live in or the child care that we’re making universal — it’s also a vision where we make it possible for working people to afford lives of joy, of art, of rest, of expression.”
Handing Out Free Tickets, Mamdani Says Theater Should Not Be ‘a Luxury’
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:48 AM
rare to see an american politician speak in these terms and it rocks
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
Last year I made a mental health choice to stop bearing witness to every outrage. I see so much awful shit as part of my job. It take a toll.
You do not need to watch the video. Read accounts from trustworthy sources. Don’t confuse ignorance with refusing to be traumatized into numbness
You do not need to watch the video. Read accounts from trustworthy sources. Don’t confuse ignorance with refusing to be traumatized into numbness
January 9, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Last year I made a mental health choice to stop bearing witness to every outrage. I see so much awful shit as part of my job. It take a toll.
You do not need to watch the video. Read accounts from trustworthy sources. Don’t confuse ignorance with refusing to be traumatized into numbness
You do not need to watch the video. Read accounts from trustworthy sources. Don’t confuse ignorance with refusing to be traumatized into numbness
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
For every horrible design choice that is made in an app you use, think of me (and other designers), in a meeting going "no that's a horrible choice" and it happening anyways.
That's product design some days.
That's product design some days.
January 9, 2026 at 7:58 PM
For every horrible design choice that is made in an app you use, think of me (and other designers), in a meeting going "no that's a horrible choice" and it happening anyways.
That's product design some days.
That's product design some days.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
Just found out my wife might be losing her job, so I'm desperately searching for work. Contract, full-time, freelance, whatever. Press, PR, consulting, anything. I have 16 years of editorial experience and have been writing about games for 13. Reviews, news, previews, guides, etc. RTs appreciated.
January 8, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Just found out my wife might be losing her job, so I'm desperately searching for work. Contract, full-time, freelance, whatever. Press, PR, consulting, anything. I have 16 years of editorial experience and have been writing about games for 13. Reviews, news, previews, guides, etc. RTs appreciated.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
We've removed the paywall from this guide so everyone can access it. 👇 Stay safe.
Just days into 2026, the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has sparked protests around the US.
If you’re planning to protest, here’s how to safeguard your digital security.
If you’re planning to protest, here’s how to safeguard your digital security.
How to Protest Safely in the Age of Surveillance
Law enforcement has more tools than ever to track your movements and access your communications. Here’s how to protect your privacy if you plan to protest.
www.wired.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:35 PM
We've removed the paywall from this guide so everyone can access it. 👇 Stay safe.
I know that my feed is probably more represented by these "chronically online" news folks than most folks, but the number of media-adjacent folks who share screenshots is not negligible, whether it's from a Times headline they're tsk-tsking or a Truth Social post they are mocking.
Bluesky has no shortage of "chronically online" folks who are plugged into the news, whether they are news consumers, reporters, editors, thought leaders, professors, etc. Screenshots of articles are common images to share throughout the day.
Too few of these images are shared with alt text.
Too few of these images are shared with alt text.
January 8, 2026 at 5:41 PM
I know that my feed is probably more represented by these "chronically online" news folks than most folks, but the number of media-adjacent folks who share screenshots is not negligible, whether it's from a Times headline they're tsk-tsking or a Truth Social post they are mocking.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
If you struggle to remember alt text:
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to add alt text before posting any images. Go to "Settings," then "Accessibility." Select the checkbox for "Require alt text before posting."
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to add alt text before posting any images. Go to "Settings," then "Accessibility." Select the checkbox for "Require alt text before posting."
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
If you struggle to remember alt text:
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to add alt text before posting any images. Go to "Settings," then "Accessibility." Select the checkbox for "Require alt text before posting."
Bluesky has a setting that will remind you to add alt text before posting any images. Go to "Settings," then "Accessibility." Select the checkbox for "Require alt text before posting."
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
For those who struggle to get started and feel overwhelmed, Veronica Lewis has a great methodology for how to write alt text. This methodology has been referred to as "the Capybara Method."
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
For those who struggle to get started and feel overwhelmed, Veronica Lewis has a great methodology for how to write alt text. This methodology has been referred to as "the Capybara Method."
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
Whether you are posting on your own individual account, or posting on the account for an organization, there are resources and tools to help.
Veronica Lewis has several resources on her site, including this post on how to add alt text on social media.
veroniiiica.com/how-to-add-a...
Veronica Lewis has several resources on her site, including this post on how to add alt text on social media.
veroniiiica.com/how-to-add-a...
How To Add Alt Text On Social Media | Veroniiiica
Make your social media posts accessible to users with visual impairments by adding alt text to images— learn how to add alt text on social media and why
veroniiiica.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Whether you are posting on your own individual account, or posting on the account for an organization, there are resources and tools to help.
Veronica Lewis has several resources on her site, including this post on how to add alt text on social media.
veroniiiica.com/how-to-add-a...
Veronica Lewis has several resources on her site, including this post on how to add alt text on social media.
veroniiiica.com/how-to-add-a...
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
Bluesky has no shortage of "chronically online" folks who are plugged into the news, whether they are news consumers, reporters, editors, thought leaders, professors, etc. Screenshots of articles are common images to share throughout the day.
Too few of these images are shared with alt text.
Too few of these images are shared with alt text.
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Bluesky has no shortage of "chronically online" folks who are plugged into the news, whether they are news consumers, reporters, editors, thought leaders, professors, etc. Screenshots of articles are common images to share throughout the day.
Too few of these images are shared with alt text.
Too few of these images are shared with alt text.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
A lot of big breaking news stories involve visuals, such as timelines of events, photos, memes, and screen shots. All of those images need alt text. All of them. Don't leave out people who use screen readers.
This is true every day. And it's true this week, especially.
This is true every day. And it's true this week, especially.
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
A lot of big breaking news stories involve visuals, such as timelines of events, photos, memes, and screen shots. All of those images need alt text. All of them. Don't leave out people who use screen readers.
This is true every day. And it's true this week, especially.
This is true every day. And it's true this week, especially.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
This video analysis is damning. The federal agent who shot and killed Renee Good was never in any danger, was not injured in the slightest, and fled the scene shortly after.
Video: Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
An analysis of footage from three camera angles show that the vehicle appears to be turning away from a federal officer as he opened fire.
www.nytimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:14 PM
This video analysis is damning. The federal agent who shot and killed Renee Good was never in any danger, was not injured in the slightest, and fled the scene shortly after.
Reposted by Patrick Garvin
what you clearly see, CLEARLY, is a driver who is spooked by the agents grabbing her door, takes steps to drive away, and is immediately shot as moves her vehicle *away* from the agents.
Forensic analysis of objective video evidence. This is how you serve readers searching for clarity.
January 8, 2026 at 1:12 PM
what you clearly see, CLEARLY, is a driver who is spooked by the agents grabbing her door, takes steps to drive away, and is immediately shot as moves her vehicle *away* from the agents.