DSpace Development Fund Request: Ensure Compliance with Web Accessibility Guidelines

[Maureen P. Walsh]

Hello DCAT,

As the DSpace Community plans for the next phase of development, we want to ensure that DSpace lives up to its promise as the software of choice for open access digital repositories by making it open to all, including users with disabilities.

Between now and December 31, 2023, funds donated to the DSpace Development Fund can be dedicated to ensuring compliance with web accessibility guidelines in DSpace, starting with remediation of the latest DSpace 7 release. 

By giving to the DSpace Development Fund, your institution will facilitate an accessibility audit of DSpace, as well as paid development to remediate accessibility issues. Donors will be recognized as DSpace Accessibility Champions in the DSpace wiki and in the DSpace newsletter.

Here are some ways you or your institution can support this DSpace Development Fund priority:

• The best way to support DSpace is through membership. If your organization is not a member yet, please join us, and if you like, we can dedicate this year’s membership dues towards the DSpace Development Fund priority of ensuring web accessibility compliance.

• If your organization is already a member, increase your membership fee one time only, or on a recurring basis. We'll count the increase in this year’s fee toward the DSpace Development Fund.

• If your organization can't commit to membership or would just like to contribute outside of the membership program in support of DSpace development, you can make a one-time contribution of any size to the DSpace Development Fund.

Would your organization like to contribute to this DSpace development priority in some other way? Contact us to discuss some options.

If you would like to know more and/or contribute to the DSpace Development Fund, please contact us at DSpaceD...@Lyrasis.org.  You can also visit the DSpace wiki for more information about the DSpace Development Fund and see a list of institutions that have already contributed.

DSpace continues to grow and evolve to sustain open repositories because of generous contributions of time and resources by the global DSpace community. Thank you for your continued support.

Thank you,

Maureen Walsh

Chair, DSpace Leadership and Steering Groups