Helpful Resources & Tips

Development Tools

Code Editors & IDEs

• Visual Studio Code - My go-to editor with excellent accessibility features and extensions
• Cursor - AI-powered code editor that’s been game-changing for productivity
• GitHub Codespaces - Cloud development environments

Version Control

• GitHub Desktop - Visual Git client that makes version control accessible
• Conventional Commits - Standardized commit message format
• GitKraken - Another excellent visual Git client

Design & UI Tools

• OKLCH Color Picker - Perceptually uniform color space (what I use for this site!)
• Coolors - Color palette generator
• Adobe Color - Professional color scheme tool
• Google Fonts - Free web fonts with excellent accessibility
• Font Pair - Google Fonts pairing suggestions
• Type Scale - Typography scale calculator

Learning Platforms

Free Resources

• freeCodeCamp - Comprehensive coding bootcamp, completely free
• MDN Web Docs - The definitive web development reference
• Coursera - University courses (many free options)

Paid Platforms

• Frontend Masters - High-quality web development courses
• Pluralsight - Technology training platform
• Udemy - Affordable courses on almost any topic

Development Communities

• Dev.to - Developer blogging and community platform
• Stack Overflow - Q&A for programming questions
• GitHub - Open source code collaboration

Accessibility & Deaf Resources

Accessibility Tools & Testing

• WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluator - Free accessibility testing tool
• axe DevTools - Browser extension for accessibility testing
• Color Oracle - Color blindness simulator
• Colour Contrast Analyser - WCAG color contrast checker
• NVDA Screen Reader - Free screen reader for testing
• JAWS Screen Reader - Professional screen reader (trial available)

Accessibility Learning & Guidelines

• WebAIM - Comprehensive accessibility training and resources
• A11y Project - Community-driven accessibility knowledge base
• Deque University - Professional accessibility training courses
• WCAG Guidelines - Official Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
• Inclusive Design Principles - Core principles for inclusive design

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Communities

• Deaf in Tech - Community for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in technology
• National Association of the Deaf - Advocacy and resources for the deaf community
• Hearing Loss Association of America - Support for people with hearing loss
• r/deaf on Reddit - Active deaf community discussions
• r/hardofhearing on Reddit - Community for hard of hearing individuals

Communication & Accessibility Tools

• Otter.ai - AI transcription service for meetings and conversations
• Live Transcribe - Real-time speech transcription (Android)
• Microsoft Translator - Real-time translation with conversation mode
• Google Live Caption - Automatic captions for media
• Be My Eyes - Visual assistance app connecting blind/low-vision users with volunteers

Sign Language Resources

• ASL University - Free ASL lessons and dictionary
• Signing Savvy - ASL dictionary with video demonstrations
• HandSpeak - ASL dictionary and learning resources
• The ASL App - Mobile ASL dictionary

DIY & Making

Electronics & Hardware

• SparkFun - Electronics components and excellent tutorials
• Adafruit - Great for beginners with detailed guides and learning resources
• Digi-Key - Comprehensive electronics component supplier
• Mouser Electronics - Another excellent component supplier
• CircuitLab - Online circuit simulator
• Falstad Circuit Simulator - Free browser-based circuit simulator

3D Printing & CAD

• Thingiverse - Free 3D printable designs
• Printables - Prusa’s 3D model repository with high-quality designs
• MyMiniFactory - Curated 3D models
• Fusion 360 - Free for personal use CAD software
• Tinkercad - Browser-based 3D design for beginners
• FreeCAD - Open source CAD software

Woodworking & Traditional Making

• Steve Ramsey - Woodworking for Mere Mortals - Excellent beginner woodworking videos
• Ana White - Free woodworking plans and tutorials
• Instructables - DIY tutorials for everything
• Make: Magazine - Maker culture magazine and projects

Tools & Equipment

• iFixit - Repair guides and quality tools
• Harbor Freight - Affordable tools for hobbyists
• McMaster-Carr - Professional hardware and fasteners

General Tools & Productivity

Communication & Writing

• DeepL - Superior AI translation service
• Grammarly - Writing assistant (great for catching errors)
• Hemingway Editor - Makes writing bold and clear

Project Management & Notes

• Linear - Beautiful issue tracking and project management
• Notion - All-in-one workspace for notes and planning
• Obsidian - Knowledge management with linking
• Todoist - Task management with natural language processing

File Management & Utilities

• 1Password - Secure password management
• Alfred - Productivity app for macOS (launcher, workflows)
• CleanMyMac X - Mac optimization and cleaning
• Dropbox - Cloud storage and file synchronization

Browser Extensions

• uBlock Origin - Efficient ad blocker
• Honey - Automatic coupon finder
• LastPass - Password manager browser extension
• Pocket - Save articles to read later

Last updated: January 5, 2025

Note: I regularly update this list as I discover new tools and resources. If you have suggestions for additions, feel free to contact me!