Fedora has been shipping with a broken screen reader for nine years

Fedora, a major Linux distribution, has been shipping with a broken screen reader for nine years, highlighting a systemic issue in the tech industry's approach to accessibility. Screen readers are crucial for individuals with disabilities to use computers effectively. While major proprietary operating systems offer functional screen readers, Fedora and other Linux distributions with Wayland default to broken screen readers. The lack of accessibility features in Fedora sparked a debate, with accusations of gaslighting and inadequate responses from the Fedora Project. Aral Balkan, a vocal advocate for accessibility, faced backlash and misinformation, leading to a detailed response addressing personal attacks and misrepresentations. The incident sheds light on the challenges faced by marginalized communities in tech and the importance of prioritizing accessibility in software development. Despite the drama, Balkan remains committed to advocating for accessibility and challenging ableist norms in the industry.