[libreoffice-accessibility] Re: Subject: Follow-up: Missing Icon Pack Contrasts & The Accessibility Pitfalls of Floating Toolbars

Dear Evangelos,

On 2026-07-21 19:38, Vaggelhs Va wrote:
> I wanted to follow up on my previous email with two critical insights 
> derived from extensive, hands-on testing of LibreOffice. These points 
> highlight specific UX challenges faced by users with visual and motor 
> disabilities.

Thanks for providing more details. I've just replied to your earlier 
email and will add some more thoughts below.

> **1. The Missing Middle in Icon Themes (Contrast Without Universal 
> Darkness)**
> While LibreOffice includes various alternative icon packs, there is a 
> distinct gap in available styles. Currently, we lack an icon pack that 
> introduces high visual contrast—such as using the distinct coloration 
> found in text formatting icons—without forcing the entire interface to 
> become uniformly black. Having a high-contrast icon set that retains 
> standard interface lighting would be immensely helpful for low-vision 
> users who suffer from dark-mode disorientation.

As mentioned in my other email: That sounds like a good candidate for an 
enhancement request in Bugzilla.

> **2. The Critical Need for Stationary Customization vs. The Flaws of 
> Floating Toolbars**
> In my previous message, I emphasized the importance of a native "add/ 
> remove buttons" feature directly within the toolbars. I want to stress 
> why this must be a fixed, static option rather than relying on "floating 
> toolbars" (/αιωρούμενες γραμμές εργαλείων/).
>
>   *
>
>     **For Visual Impairments:**Low-vision users rely heavily on
>     structural muscle memory and a predictable, locked, and rock-solid
>     workspace layout. Floating toolbars disrupt this consistency,
>     creating more confusion than solutions.
>
>   *
>
>     **For Motor Impairments:**A floating toolbar demands high precision,
>     stability, and fine motor control with the mouse. For individuals
>     managing concurrent visual and physical disabilities—where limb
>     spasticity (/σπαστικότητα των άκρων/) is a daily challenge—
>     navigating an unanchored, floating interface element becomes
>     physically impossible.

From my experience, floating toolbars can usually be docked (made 
non-floatable) by pressing Ctrl and double-clicking on an empty area 
within the toolbar.
Does that help? Are there any particular toolbars for which that doesn't 
work?

Best regards,
Michael

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