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Crystal Preston-Watson

@scopicengineer.bsky.social

4.9K followers 670 following 3K posts

Accessibility agitator in the streets, Accessibility agitator in the sheets. 24/7/365 absurdist. https://crystalprestonwatson.com/ https://a11ysavvy.com/

crystalprestonwatson.com

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · Dec 26

Here is a non-exhaustive list of books, sites, and courses I recommend for those new to digital accessibility or those already in the field who seek to continue their education. These are the resources I constantly use to further my understanding and knowledge

A very long thread below 👇

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 17h

Also we can update an old meme:

Pee Is stored in the balls and autism lives in the penis.

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 18h

The autism stems from when one or both parents have V-cut abs. The V acts as an arrow to tell the autism to infect the baby.

Honestly this is what it sounds like every time something is linked as the cause of autism.

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 22h

Hahaha this is perfect

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 1d

I had to pause when I first got the text but I know she's sincere lol

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks to the friend who compared me to Columbo "short, one good eye, most people thought he was annoying and weird, but he was good at what he did" when expressing my doubts about staying in accessibility. I'm gonna to take this as weirdly inspiring because I like the show.

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 1d

I'm sorry that you're having to deal with that. What's funny is the more they deprioritize accessibility the harder they make it on themselves to automate or have it "done" by AI. It takes a human going in and having to juggle and balance all these disproportionate areas and tasks.

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you. I'll reach out soon so we can chat.

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 1d

I know that isn't gonna change any industry or field I go to due to my identity but at least I could potentially collect a bigger paycheck and only burnout every two years lol

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 1d

I'm gonna be honest that shit feedback I got this past spring got to me because it confirmed what I already know is that if I don't work at 150% perfect it's gonna be seen as failure by some. That I don't belong in the space I inhabit.

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 1d

I've been thinking about getting out of accessibility professionally. Between tech trying to abandon the practice every chance they get causing a scarcity of jobs, feeling like an outsider around many a11y professionals, and the constant battle against burnout.

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 2d

Please note: This is not a platform for requesting free consulting or paid work. I will not review internal company code or any proprietary material. However, I do offer a limited amount of pro bono work specifically for non-profits and charities.

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 2d

Originally focused on LinkedIn but decided to open the offer up here as well.

I'm holding office hours for anyone seeking to begin or improve their understanding of digital accessibility.

Wednesdays 10 am–3 pm MT through November 19th

If interested I'll DM you a Calendly link to sign up

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 2d

I can't believe I'll be around for the death of the Internet. I bet it feels just like how people that saw the Colossus of Rhodes fall during an earthquake in 226 BC felt.

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 2d

I will go John Wick if Kurzgesagt is taken away from me.

AI Slop Is Killing Our Channel

YouTube video by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell

youtu.be

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 2d

A good drag name would be Jerri Manor. If you use it please credit me or I'll sue.

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 3d

One good thing about being laid off is I am no longer obligated to fly to DC during the government shut down to be a rep at a conference this week.

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 3d

One of my favorite topics to discuss on the rare occasions that I get slightly buzzed is space junk. So I can't wait until the next time I have a cocktail because I'll have update info.

WIRED @wired.com · 3d

Old rocket parts and decommissioned satellites are whizzing around in low Earth orbit, where they risk colliding with the ever-growing constellations of modern satellites being launched. www.wired.com/story/taking...

Taking These 50 Objects Out of Orbit Would Cut Danger From Space Junk in Half

Old rocket parts and decommissioned satellites are whizzing around in low Earth orbit, where they risk colliding with the ever-growing constellations of modern satellites being launched.

www.wired.com

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 3d

Are they not offering hoodies with the ranger patch anymore?

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 3d

Receiving rejection emails doesn't so much discourage me, but instead turns me, little by little, into Dennis Reynolds.

Dennis Reynolds (character from the TV show, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) screaming and holding zip ties while standing next to an open trunk of a car. The caption text: "The golden god is not taking questions! I am the golden god!"

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 4d

I think by narrowing down the concept to an isolated action that humans do than tech being sapient helps to start that disassociation 2)

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 4d

I agree that humanization is incorrect. Unfortunately it has been and then reinforced through media. This and that humans have a habit of humanizing inanimate objects to understand them makes it difficult to get people to abandon this thought at once. 1)

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 4d

I was hoping that the Bad Bunny SNL episode was going to be mostly in Spanish so I could practice listening. As it probably would be slightly slowed down.

Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 4d

Algorithms, agents, models, etc only simulate a portion of human cognition. Thinking, and even then only what we understand at the current time. Honestly even thinking doesn't fit perfectly but is a better fit than intelligence.

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 4d

We shouldn't call it Artificial Intelligence. We still don't understand a lot about human brain/intelligence. A better term might be Artificial Thinking. Intelligence isn't just processing knowledge but also incorporating lived experience, feeling and emotion. Concepts where machines are excluded

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Crystal Preston-Watson @scopicengineer.bsky.social · 6d

'Peter Thiel told me this when we were sucking blood out of orphans in the alley, "With great power comes great responsibility"'.

This is the quality improv you're missing out on when you don't come see me in Batman LIVE in Denver. Only two more shows after tonight

Batman LIVE! An Immersive Comedy Experience

Friday, October 17, 2025 - Batman Live! A Parody Immersive Comedy Experience* is a parody-packed, interactive experience blending improvisation, audience ...

risecomedy.com