[libreoffice-accessibility] Subject: Re: [URGENT ACCESSIBILITY REQUEST] Feature Request: Urgent accessibility scaling and customization options for UI elements

Dear Michael,
Thank you very much for your prompt, thoughtful, and detailed response. I
truly appreciate your dedication to making LibreOffice more inclusive.
Regarding your comments and questions, I would like to provide some crucial
feedback based on my daily experience as a user with visual and mobility
impairments. I have compiled my thoughts into a supplemental list of
technical and philosophical suggestions below, which address why
system-level solutions are not sufficient:
1. Windows DPI Scaling Integration & The Problem of System-Wide Chaos:
You correctly pointed out that setting a higher scale factor in Windows
enlarges the UI. However, relying on Windows display scaling forces a
massive, system-wide change. Applying a high scaling factor globally alters
every single application and element on the computer, which ultimately
creates absolute visual chaos across the OS.
Furthermore, LibreOffice’s internal scaling (Tools > Options > View) has
severe technical limitations when interacting with native Windows DPI
scaling. At 150% or higher, the layout breaks, leaving menus distorted and
unreadable. The comparison to Windows scaling should only serve as a
benchmark; a fundamental pillar of open-source philosophy is the functional
autonomy of each application. A software suite as powerful as LibreOffice
should be self-reliant and capable of handling its own accessibility
scaling independently from the OS.
2. Percentage-Based Icon Scaling & The "Extra Large" Missing Preset:
You mentioned that an "Extra Large" preset already exists. However, I must
note that in the Greek localized version of LibreOffice which I use, this
option is nowhere to be found or does not display correctly.
More importantly, text-based descriptors ("Small", "Large", "Extra Large")
are highly subjective and restrictive for severe visual impairments.
Replacing these presets with an objective, percentage-based input (e.g., a
spin box or slider from 100% to 250%) will allow users with low vision to
achieve the precise adjustments they need.
3. Flexible Menu and Toolbar Scaling:
Currently, toolbar and menu font sizes feel locked in relation to each
other. Introducing a unified percentage scaling factor that enlarges fonts,
icons, and menus simultaneously would ensure a perfectly balanced, sharp
interface on modern high-resolution (HiDPI) displays, tailored to
individual accessibility needs.
4. Granular UI Customization (Individual Toolbar/Icon Scaling):
To significantly reduce eye strain during long working hours, users should
ideally be able to scale individual toolbars or specific high-frequency
icons independently (e.g., setting the Formatting Toolbar to 180% while
keeping others at 100%). Regarding the "Tools -> Customization -> Toolbars"
menu you mentioned, while it allows adding/removing buttons, it does not
solve the visual scaling and structural layout issues that occur under high
magnification.
5. Automated Dictionary and Spellcheck Updates:
Currently, updating language and spellcheck dictionaries requires users to
manually navigate, download, and install extensions. This creates
unnecessary technical barriers for disabled users. These updates should be
seamlessly integrated into the application's standard update process.
6. Built-in, Ready-to-Use Icon Themes:
Users should not have to manually locate, download, and copy external icon
packs into system directories. LibreOffice would benefit greatly from a
comprehensive, pre-installed gallery of distinct icon themes—specifically
tailored for high contrast and visibility—that can be applied with a single
click directly from the settings menu.
An Alternative Suggestion: A Dedicated Accessibility Edition?
If the development team is concerned that adding these heavy scaling and
customization options might bloat or overburden the standard version of
LibreOffice, perhaps an alternative route could be examined: creating
a specialized,
dedicated Accessibility Edition of LibreOffice. This fork or variant would
be specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of users with visual and
motor disabilities, ensuring total inclusion without affecting the core
main release.
Seamless Integration & Screen Reader Compatibility:
It is absolutely vital that all these UI enhancements strictly maintain and
enhance full compatibility with the NVDA screen reader, which I rely on
daily, and must not disrupt existing features like executing custom
text-cleaning macros.
A Crucial Philosophical Contradiction:
While LibreOffice constantly integrates brilliant, innovative features
(like text-cleaning macros), it simultaneously lacks these fundamental UI
accessibility options, making daily use very difficult for users with
visual impairments. Innovation should walk hand-in-hand with inclusion,
maintaining the functional autonomy that makes open-source software truly
unique and powerful.
Regarding the specific bug with the Toolbar Icon Replacement (Point 4 of my
previous email), I will follow your advice and open a dedicated ticket on
Bugzilla with exact steps to reproduce it, and I will share the link with
you.
Thank you again for your time and for opening this dialogue. I look forward
to your thoughts on these proposals!
Best regards,
Evangelos Vagias
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