[NFB-Krafters-Korner] Fwd: [Knit Dishcloth Class] FW: [ACB-Crafters] Accessible Patterns Index

[Valerie Alcaraz]

I'm glad you shared this, Cathy. :) I thought many folks would like this resource when I first saw it, and I am also for helping blind crafters regardless of connections to specific groups. This is a pretty neat site. :)
Also, if you or anyone else is interested in some art resources I've gotten from my art teacher at Braille Institute and if it's all right to share them here, I can share them in some way. I'm doing the same for a few other groups or folks I know as well, I just am not sure of the logistics here. :) Also, my art teacher gave me her permission to share these things as many of the links are videos she's made herself.
It may take some time because I'm involved in lots of things at the moment, but we can find a way for it to benefit folks who are interested.
Take care,
Valerie

> On Apr 25, 2021, at 3:17 PM, Cathy Flesher via NFB-Krafters-Korner <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
>> 
>> 
>> Hi all,
> 
> For those who are political, please excuse this post. I do believe however that this resource can be helpful to all blind crafters regardless of their affiliation.
> 
> I have looked at this site and there are many free and pay for patterns in crochet, and needle knit and loom knitting. They are all accessible. I know I have been wishing for a resource like this for years. Well, now here it is!
> 
>> 
>> 
>> From: KnitDishClothClass at groups.io <KnitDishClothClass at groups.io> On Behalf Of Dixie
>> Sent: Friday, April 9, 2021 9:59 AM
>> To: KnitDishClothClass at groups.io
>> Subject: [Knit Dishcloth Class] FW: [ACB-Crafters] Accessible Patterns Index
>> 
>> 
>> Hello ABC Crafters,
>> 
>> Some of you may know me already. I am Renee Van Hoy, a loom knitting designer. In recent years I have been working with designers of needle knit, crochet and loom patterns to create accessible patterns for the blind and print challenged. At first these patterns were all being indexed in the Ravelry database. Ravelry created a special search tag called "low vision" to help locate the patterns. Every pattern has to have a note describing what accessible features is has. 
>> 
>> https://accessiblepatternsindex.com/
>> 
>> But, Ravelry is hard to navigate, so last fall I started a project called the Accessible Patterns Index. I taught a class on writing accessible patterns for a design school which gave me the money to pay for the first year of website hosting for the index, and then raised enough money through small donations to ensure the next 5 years are secure.
>> 
>> The designers have been amazing. They are writing patterns in a format totally unique. The screen reader patterns have very few abbreviations so they will read clearly. Even the "large print" or low vision patterns will read more easily, with no charts and clear formatting that shouldn't mess up the screen reader. These still have a lot of abbreviations. 
>> 
>> I've been slowly adding patterns to the index, but there are several hundred entries there now. I will be adding the craft books from the NLS and Bookshare, and the Horizons for the Blind catalog has already been added. But I think the real gems are the new formats for the knitting, crochet and loom knit patterns. We are also beginning to add patterns for color blind accessibility and video captioned for the deaf.
>> 
>> I hope you will visit the index. You can sign up for a weekly update to see new pattern entries. https://accessiblepatternsindex.com/
>> 
>> There will be more things coming soon, including the first fully accessible magazine issue - written to read clearly with a screen reader, and that includes all directions for charts to be fully written out!
>> 
>> Renee
>> 
>> Renee Van Hoy
>> Accessibility Consultant​
>> Renee Van Hoy Designs & Consulting
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Accessiblepatternsindex.com
>> 
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