Do I keep it, or throw it through the nearest window?
For the past several months, I’ve been doing some functional testing with something I can’t say too much about. I’ll say that it involves AI large language models and leave it there. While this isn’t accessibility testing, when you’re a disabled person literally EVERYTHING (Blind folks, the word everything is in all caps) is damn accessibility testing. So, here I am accessibility-ish testing this thing which must not be named, and I start noticing a trend. Its AI, but it is biased as hell! 80 percent of what it says assumes the person it’s speaking to is non-disabled. It’s never even been taught to think about disabled people.
Cue the growling at machines and swearing I’m so famous for, and also, cue some really, really big feelings about how AI that’s supposed to make my life better is acting like 90 percent of the non-disabled people I interact with every day. I put on my neuro-typical mask and took it for a while, I really did. Then, there came a cold Sunday morning in early 2025 when I decided I’d freaking had enough.
When I reach I’ve had enough point, it usually means I just go brood and bitch to someone who’ll listen, but this felt bigger… so much bigger. I sat down to write, thinking I’d just compose myself a frustrated rant to get it out. Then I’d delete it and move on. That’s not what happened though, not at all. What came out was this little gem of an article called “Help! Even my AI is ableist!”
Suddenly, I’d written something with power, something that elevated the frustration running through me into actionable advice. I decided to publish it on my LinkedIn profile, and soon after, AT Newswire picked it up with my permission. And, to wrap up this post I’d love to share this AI hot take with all of you. If you read it and find yourself with more questions than answers, let’s talk about it. Always feel free to reach out.