Open Source

Software whose source code is publicly available and can be freely used, modified, and distributed, typically developed collaboratively through platforms like GitHub. Open-source development models have significant implications for accessibility: they enable disabled users to report issues, suggest improvements, and contribute code directly, creating opportunities for co-design that proprietary software rarely offers. However, open-source projects often lack dedicated accessibility resources, and the community engagement required to surface accessibility issues can marginalize underrepresented disabled users.