Open Accessibility - Making F/OSS and Beyond More Barrier-Free

Explore accessibility challenges and solutions in F/OSS software and communities through this 40-minute conference talk from the 38th Chaos Communication Congress (38C3). Learn why accessibility in Germany is primarily limited to websites, while desktop software, online communication, and general IT systems remain largely inaccessible or severely restricted for people with disabilities. Examine the technical, social, societal, and legal deficits contributing to this situation, and discover fundamental improvements through standards, individual engagement, processes, and community organization. Speaker Irmhild Rogalla discusses how current accessibility issues are often addressed through temporary individual workarounds that become obsolete with software updates, and presents approaches for creating more sustainable, accessible solutions in open source environments. Participate in an interactive session that welcomes questions, discussion, and suggestions for improving digital accessibility.