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Steph Driver

@stephdriver.bsky.social
123 followers 159 following 347 posts

Personal profile. A11y specialist working on Janeway at the OLH. #Knitter #ActuallyAutistic #ADHD #IAmWriting with guest posts from #AssistanceDog Archer 🦮 was @driver_steph on the other.

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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 8h
frustratingly un-joined-up thinking!
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
As long as there is enough nuance that people *will* disclose because they feel confident that there will be common sense, that sounds good. If you have rules most people feel are too harsh you end up with “open secrets” as the norm and that masks abuse too.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I do agree some students are extremely vulnerable and the power imbalances can be significant. But I also think it’s not as clear cut as nothing between *any* student and *any* staff member. Staff and students being non-exclusive groups doesn’t help - GTAs, staff development schemes etc.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I think it gets a bit messier than that. E.g non-academic staff and semi-remote students. Quite possible to be say a school-based PGCE student, on campus one evening a week. Meet someone miles away from the university, not even know they work there say as a finance officer or grounds keeper.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Having a been a mature student, known many mature students who married to staff (prior to study). And known plenty of postgrad couples not in same year of study where one would then work at the university while the other finished, or GTA work while studying. I don’t see it as clear cut.
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The Anti-Christ Brosnahan @chrisbrosnahan.com · 29/09/2026
As a non-fan, this is a fantastic bit of explanation. Hoo-boy. This is one spicy meatball right here.
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Ann Memmott @annmemmott.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
About 30,000 autistic ppl in the UK have Type 2 Diabetes, aren't on insulin, & use wearable monitors (CGMs). These save lives for those who don't spot low-sugar events / can't cope with endless painful finger prick tests each day etc. The NHS has removed funding. Now, have to pay ~ £1500/yr. /
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I think I’d probably support an “AI driving test” as the lesser evil. I don’t like adding red-tape to anything for disabled people and AI can be fantastic as an assistive technology, so I’m reluctant but overall it could help reduce the damage. I do feel lucky AI came in after my formative years.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I regard the problem as the human use of AI and the majority perception that it is not a tool that needs skilled handling. Pushing work off onto others is disrespectful. But humans tried to push work onto others long before AI. AI made it easier, making disrespect for others more visible.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Getting anything useful takes time to develop the skillset. And you will be less productive initially, and make more mistakes as you learn how and most importantly *when* to use it. And all that applies to any tool. AI is just predictive text on steroids. It’s a tool. Not a being.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
It’s a human-behind-AI problem. Human skill = AI Useful unthinking human = AI Mess I’m a software engineer. AI has changed my industry out of recognition. But there still are productive ways to work and ways to mess up, tasks that must be human, and those that could be AI.
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Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.eurosky.social · 24/09/2026
UKRI using AI to triage grant proposals is deeply, deeply insulting. What an enormous lack of respect for the huge amount of work that goes into writing a grant
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
“You don’t want me using a microphone my voice is too loud” - presenter from a disability charity at a conference with “Accessibility” in the title and many disabled presenters and delegates.
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Dave Walker @davewalker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
New cartoon: The RNLI
Cartoon titled “The RNLI: Some of the people they help,” showing six scenarios involving people rescued by the RNLI. Including a man caught by the tide, a YouTuber swimming without preparation, a middle-lane driver, a neighbour with different political opinions, a superyacht owner who forgot to refuel, and people crossing the Channel in a small boat. The final caption reads, “All human beings – all deserve saving.”
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
As a counterpoint to nomative determinism, I cannot get a driving license. Cycling was my freedom to move faster than walking pace. Then an injury began to take away my ability to walk and it became what stood between me and being house-bound. We need more reseach on non-driving cyclists!
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Island Press @islandpress.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
E-bikes give low-vision, disabled, and non-driving people the freedom cars can't. But new laws are cropping up requiring a driver's license to ride an e-bike. Anna Zivarts, author of When Driving Is Not an Option, on the importance of accessible e-mobility: buff.ly/wqd0lMf @nondriver.bsky.social
When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency by Anna Zivarts. Foreword by Dani Simons. Island Press.
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Autistic Realms (Helen Edgar) @autisticrealms.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Equality Act 2010 requires service providers, including the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy to make reasonable adjustments. By refusing to consider relaxing the 100-hour placement rule, the BACP is failing to ensure fair access Please sign and share tinyurl.com/2zj2k9x7
change.org
Sign the Petition
Amend the BACP's 100 Placement Hours Rule to Accommodate Disabled Students
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TandemKate @tandemkate.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Hooboy. It’s that time of year where year 13 students need to start applying for courses or jobs. My 2p-worth of experience for anyone that age or their families: Degree apprenticeships! TL:DR - not like applying for degrees…
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Cllr Ed Lamb @edwardlamb.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
It's all set out quite nicely here, Martin. I think Cycling UK are concerned that the ban could spread to other (or all!) parts of the rail network. Hopefully there is a sensible way forward www.cyclinguk.org/news/cycling...
cyclinguk.org
Cycling UK to challenge Merseyrail e-bike ban
Merseyrail recently announced that it would ban electric bikes from its entire network – a move that will have a devastating impact on e-bike users. Supported by the Cyclists’ Defence Fund, we are set...
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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Decision to order level boarding trains is ‘massive victory’ for disabled campaigners #LevelBoarding www.disabilitynewsservice.com/decision-to-...
disabilitynewsservice.com
Decision to order level boarding trains is ‘massive victory’ for disabled campaigners
Disabled campaigners say the government’s decision to lease 29 battery-electric trains that will allow level boarding for disabled passengers at stations across the north of England is a “massive v…
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Today I’m at the @rnib.bsky.social for the Accessible Publishing Conference. Making my list of people here to buttonhole to talk technicals with a view to Janeway accessibility and enjoying a fascinating discussion on dyslexia friendly books.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Can they even do that unilaterally? It looks far more complicated on the government website. www.gov.uk/derecognise-...
gov.uk
Derecognise a union
How to apply for a union to be derecognised when an employer or a worker wants union to stop negotiating
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Looking beautiful #Wivenhoe
Photo near sunset, along a wide pedestrian path between river and houses with a jogger running in the twilight.Photo along an estuary at lowish tide, sailing boats along the edge if the deeper water channel have just got wet, but are a long way from floating. The water is completely calm, reflecting the delicate masts all in a line.
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Open Journals Collective @ojcollective.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Open Journals Collective's Executive Director Caroline Edwards @theblochian.bsky.social was recently interviewed by Research Professional about our $711,900 grant from the Gates Foundation! You can read more at: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
researchprofessionalnews.com
Gates cash ‘vote of confidence’ for diamond open access initiative - Research Professional News
Open Journals Collective receives over £500,000 to accelerate shift towards alternative scholarly publishing
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Yes. Tried that. Their report form failed on submission so no idea if they got it and had to go through too many questions to get that far to start again.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
There really should be fines for this. @colchestercycling.bsky.social
Photo showing dott bike parked in the middle of the pavement, with far too little room to pass on either side.
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Scott Pack @meandmybigmouth.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Spotted on an afternoon walk. Reader, I waited till I got home to have a pee.
This is a photograph of an office doorway. It's down a few steps off of a reasonably busy street. It's a blue door with a big glass panel, and there's some text printed on the glass which reads: "By urinating here, you irrevocably consent to being filmed, recorded, and, without further notice, published on smalldicks.com."
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
way back when DSA was (for some home boroughs) done via the university direct, I was handed a carbon pad to pass to another student so I’d have a carbon copy of their notes. So it was hit n miss. Probably better on technical side than an outsider, but zero control on clarity.
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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Happy 60th anniversary to the brilliant universe of Star Trek, and all who made it possible. Live long and prosper. 🖖
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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
We don't use billionaire donors. We're powered by you. We can win in Holborn & St Pancras. But only with your help! 👇🏽
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Professor Caroline Edwards @theblochian.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
MAJOR NEWS! @ojcollective.bsky.social has been awarded $711,900 by the Gates Foundation to grow support infrastructure for community-governed journals! So pleased to share this news: it'll help nearly 300 journals in 2026 and brings OJC's fundraising total to £1,974,355 so far this year. #openaccess
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Martin Paul Eve @eve.gd · 31/08/2026
[I am currently on a social media break and in hospital. I am still posting about health and/or things I have written.] My thoughts on (not) using AI detectors. eve.gd/2026/08/31/o...
eve.gd
On (not) using AI detectors
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Yes, I was thinking that. I think a labyrinth with a centre wouldn’t either, despite by definition having one though path.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I don’t see how that proves you can get to the centre. But I’m looking forward to experimenting and finding out.
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Disability IN-CLUSIVE sustainable & active travel -- Exeter @in-clusive.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Good!
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Tom Staniford @tomstaniford.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
RIP Dolly Parton. By all accounts one of the very good ones.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
I used to wear bone conduction. I switched to airpods because I often end up having a chat with someone as I cycle the trails and airpods will automatically stop playing when I speak and then resume after the conversation. I can hear about the same in low traffic but they also reduce peak noise.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
utterly agree. Audio only is so different from face to face conversation as so much is not communicated. And as the exception that proves the rule, I have found I can understand phone calls with friends who are registered blind.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Lovely day out on the South Bank.
Wide angle photo along the Thames with Houses of Parliament in the background.Photo of underside of the London Eye with River Boat pontoon and Houses of Parliament in the background.Photo of Millennium Bridge leading to St Paul’s Cathedral. Photo of three red London buses going over the bridge to Parliament.
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Stéphanie says… 🏴‍☠️🦈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @stephaniejane.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
You have to love the Quakers; they’ve stood by the trans community for many years. Their main spaces are inclusive, with some minimal, legally compliant, outlying provision for bigots somewhere else. And you’re going to see this more and more from SPs. Hey, GCs, you got exactly what you asked for.
These include respecting the dignity and lived experience of every person, ensuring compliance with the Equality Act, protecting disabled people's access to accessible facilities, and maintaining robust approaches to tackling harassment or discrimination.
The policy also states that Quakers will not require trans, non-binary or intersex people to disclose or prove their status in circumstances where such evidence is not demanded of others.
Under the arrangements confirmed by trustees, toilet facilities labelled with a 'female' sign remain available to cisgender women, trans women, and others for whom those facilities best align with their lived experience.
Similarly, facilities labelled with a 'male' sign remain available to cisgender men, trans men, and others for whom those facilities best align with
neveo experence
Self-contained single sex facilities, available to all users, are also available across the estate for anyone who is not comfortable in a trans-inclusive segregated space.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I feel your pain! Urgh.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
aka. The Excel 95 way to do it.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
If they are versions of same data please don’t manually diff. Create a new sheet, put in formula ‘=‘ click first cell on first sheet, another “=‘ and the first cell on second sheet. then drag this to same width and height of the data. You should get cells with True or False for whether they match.
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Nothings Monstered @nothingsmonstrd.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I recommend the daily art game Anthropeum, but if you play it regularly you may want to watch out for my giving away answers once I've played it. I won't make any posts from the game until after noon so people will have a chance to take it without my help. Anthropeum.com
anthropeum.com
Anthropeum
A daily game that challenges our understanding of human cultures. Ten objects. 5,000 years of human history. Guess where and when each artifact was made. See how you rank.
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Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I am happy to announce that I have become a patron of @transactualuk.bsky.social
ROBIN INCE
is the first-ever patron
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
PIP is doing the heavy lifting since Access to Work cut support. Cutting PIP further would result in more unemployment not less. (PIP cuts aren’t just an employment issue, but they keep arguing this is to increase employment despite those of us who are employed and get PIP shouting the opposite )
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Adrian Littlejohn @yorksfella59.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Personal Independence Payments should be available to all who genuinely need them... Please consider signing, my friends. Thanks! the.organise.network/campaigns/ne...
the.organise.network
Stop PIP reform being decided by budget, not need
Add your name:
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Norwich Cycling Campaign @norwichcycling.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Barriers have now been removed from all eight earmarked locations on the city's Pedalways cycle network, including here on Marston Lane on the Purple Pedalway. All places where the gap has been increased to at least 1.5m to allow non-standard bikes such as cargo bikes to use the network.
Two bollards across a cycle path. There is a wide gap either side.A farm gate across a cycle path. There is a narrow gap on one side.
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Steph Driver @stephdriver.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
They need to update it to the github cat falling off the unicorn. Then when they get it back up they could animate the cat ridding off into the sunset.
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Ernesto Priego @ernestopriego.com · 15/08/2026
I signed because I agree a public inquiry is needed. No just because of the media coverage but because of the lack of institutional duty of care too. goodlawproject.org/s/abb8a1
goodlawproject.org
Jason Arday: Demand a public inquiry now | Good Law Project
Commission an immediate public inquiry into how to ensure a responsible press given its contribution to Dr Arday’s tragic death.
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