Creative problem-solving: a study with blind and low vision software professionals
Creative problem-solving: a study with blind and low vision software professionals
Background: Software engineering requires both technical skills and creative problem-solving. Blind and low-vision software professionals (BLVSPs) encounter numerous workplace challenges, including inaccessible tools and collaboration hurdles with sighted colleagues. Objective: This study explores the innovative strategies employed by BLVSPs to overcome these accessibility barriers, focusing on their custom solutions and the importance of supportive communities. Methodology: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 BLVSPs and used refexive thematic analysis to identify key themes. Results: Findings reveal that BLVSPs are motivated to develop creative and adaptive solutions, highlighting the vital role of collaborative communities in fostering shared problem-solving. Conclusion: For BLVSPs, creative problem-solving is essential for navigating inaccessible work environments, in contrast to sighted peers, who pursue optimization. This study enhances understanding of how BLVSPs navigate accessibility challenges through innovation.
accessibility, accessible software development, blind, creativity, low vision, software professionals
51-56
Kohl, Karina
ab06970c-64a1-4ab2-b7d5-7e4080a69d35
Cha, Yoonha
51d42c5f-2020-4dc1-bf56-d9dde2ac9ee9
Jackson, Victoria
28beab06-6fae-46d3-ad73-1d29897680db
Branham, Stacy
79c305e0-6d9e-481a-979f-0a10e78f7bd1
van der Hoek, André
4c4cdeed-2314-47ad-ab7f-ae14026a028c
Prikladnicki, Rafael
7139f69b-6fba-4a68-b602-bb94ec835714
12 June 2025
Kohl, Karina
ab06970c-64a1-4ab2-b7d5-7e4080a69d35
Cha, Yoonha
51d42c5f-2020-4dc1-bf56-d9dde2ac9ee9
Jackson, Victoria
28beab06-6fae-46d3-ad73-1d29897680db
Branham, Stacy
79c305e0-6d9e-481a-979f-0a10e78f7bd1
van der Hoek, André
4c4cdeed-2314-47ad-ab7f-ae14026a028c
Prikladnicki, Rafael
7139f69b-6fba-4a68-b602-bb94ec835714
Kohl, Karina, Cha, Yoonha, Jackson, Victoria, Branham, Stacy, van der Hoek, André and Prikladnicki, Rafael
(2025)
Creative problem-solving: a study with blind and low vision software professionals.
In Proceedings - 2025 IEEE/ACM 18th International Conference on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering, CHASE 2025.
IEEE.
.
(doi:10.1109/CHASE66643.2025.00014).
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
Background: Software engineering requires both technical skills and creative problem-solving. Blind and low-vision software professionals (BLVSPs) encounter numerous workplace challenges, including inaccessible tools and collaboration hurdles with sighted colleagues. Objective: This study explores the innovative strategies employed by BLVSPs to overcome these accessibility barriers, focusing on their custom solutions and the importance of supportive communities. Methodology: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 BLVSPs and used refexive thematic analysis to identify key themes. Results: Findings reveal that BLVSPs are motivated to develop creative and adaptive solutions, highlighting the vital role of collaborative communities in fostering shared problem-solving. Conclusion: For BLVSPs, creative problem-solving is essential for navigating inaccessible work environments, in contrast to sighted peers, who pursue optimization. This study enhances understanding of how BLVSPs navigate accessibility challenges through innovation.
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Creative_Problem-Solving_A_Study_With_Blind_and_Low_Vision_Software_Professionals
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e-pub ahead of print date: 27 April 2025
Published date: 12 June 2025
Additional Information:
Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 IEEE.
Venue - Dates:
18th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering, CHASE 2025, , Ottawa, Canada, 2025-04-27 - 2025-04-28
Keywords:
accessibility, accessible software development, blind, creativity, low vision, software professionals
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 506878
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/506878
PURE UUID: 67128d44-be6e-46d6-91c4-6b1984cf7818
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Date deposited: 19 Nov 2025 17:44
Last modified: 20 Nov 2025 03:13
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Contributors
Author:
Karina Kohl
Author:
Yoonha Cha
Author:
Victoria Jackson
Author:
Stacy Branham
Author:
André van der Hoek
Author:
Rafael Prikladnicki
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