LibreOffice versions 3.6.0 and later have not correctly implemented the Java 
Access Bridge (JAB) modules used to expose the Java Accessibility API roles for 
Windows users.
 
It took me a little while to work out the testing methods, but the Oracle test 
utilities JavaFerret-32 and JavaMonkey-32 show that LibreOffice is not 
implementing the Java Accessibility API and therefore does not expose 
accessibility roles to Assistive Technologies.
 
Neither JAB v.2.0.2 or v 2.0.3, nor current JRE version 1.6u35 or 1.7u7 will 
make a difference.
 
I tested LibreOffice builds 3.6.0.4, 3.6.1.2, 3.6.2.2, and 3.6.3.1 none of 
which are functional.
 
In addition today I completed testing of ALL builds of LibreOffice from 3.4.5 
to 3.5.7rc2.  With exception of the 3.5.0 build they all correctly map Java 
Accessibility API roles to UNO Accessibility roles. 
 
The Java Accessibility API is not as comprehensive as the IAccessible2 role 
mappings provided by IBM Lotus Symphony 3.0.1, but it is functional for the 3.4 
and 3.5 releases of LibreOffice.  And, for these versions Windows  Assistive 
Technologies will work. For example, the Windows NVDA screen reader will 
function with cursor control and component announcements for the entire 
document tree.
 
Windows versions of LibreOffice 3.6, including the current build 3.6.3 rc1, are 
NOT USEABLE with Assistive Technologies and they have not been usable with 
Windows Assistive Technologies at any point.
 
For folks that I've mislead with my insistence that all is well with 
LibreOffice 3.6 and Java Access Bridge and JRE with use of Assistive 
Technologies like NVDA screen reader I was wrong--I apologize.
I've updated the FDO#53474 (http:  bug report 
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=53474 ) and would encourage folks 
to vote, i.e. comment on, the enhancement to implement IAccessible2 API  ( 
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Vote_for_Enhancement ) for Windows builds by 
incorporating the IBM contributed Symphony code base as a replacement of the 
Java Accessibility API as that is probably the fastest means of bringing 
Windows builds of LibreOffice to the same functional level as Linux builds that 
use the ATK AT-SPI accessibility APIs.
 
Stuart
 
 

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