New Workgroup Aims to Make Linux Accessible to People with Disabilities

The Free Standards Group has announced a new workgroup dedicated to establishing standards that will make Linux and Linux-based applications accessible to persons with disabilities. The Accessibility Workgroup includes experts on accessibility issues, developers of graphical user interface (GUI) desktop environments for Linux, and Linux developers from major companies. First-year goals for the workgroup include the adoption of the Assistive Technology Service Provider Interface (AT-SPI), the development of shared input/output (I/O) for AT devices, and the standardization of keyboard accessibility for persons unable to use a keyboard or mouse.