wszelkim

Wszelkim is an open-source software project and community initiative focused on digital accessibility and inclusive communication. The name, derived from the Polish form of a word meaning “to all” or “for everyone,” signals the project’s aim to make digital content usable by a broad audience, including people with disabilities, non-native speakers, and low-literacy users.

Purpose and scope: Wszelkim provides a modular platform that combines readability improvement tools, multilingual translation pipelines, and accessibility enhancements such as keyboard navigation, screen-reader compatibility, and high-contrast themes. It offers an API, client libraries, and a plugin system to integrate into websites, learning platforms, and NGO portals. The project emphasizes user-tested interfaces and open data.

History: The project was founded in 2022 by a coalition of developers, linguists, and accessibility advocates in Poland. After an initial release as a browser extension, it expanded into a platform with cloud-hosted services, an inline translation widget, and an open glossary contributed by volunteers. Development is community-driven, with governance based on meritocratic contributions and transparent roadmaps.

Technology and features: Core stack includes JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js for backend, and a React-based frontend. It uses open standards and adheres to WCAG recommendations where possible. Notable features include adjustable reading levels, machine translation with human-curation option, text-to-speech, and screen-reader-friendly markup generation.

Reception and impact: Wszelkim has been adopted by several non-profit organizations and educational institutions seeking to reach diverse audiences. Critics note that, as an early-stage project, translation quality varies and requires ongoing community involvement. The project continues to solicit multilingual volunteers and partner organizations.

See also: Accessibility, Inclusive design, Open-source software, Language technology.