The Dilemma of Building Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Solutions for Workplace Accessibility
Yoonha Cha, Victoria Jackson, Karina Kohl, Rafael Prikladnicki, André van der Hoek, Stacy M. Branham
TL;DR
This study investigates how blind and low-vision software professionals build and use DIY tools to address workplace accessibility gaps. Through semi-structured interviews with 30 BLVSPs and thematic analysis, it identifies four core themes: the DIY tools themselves, motivations for DIY-ing, impacts on work, and effects on the BLV community, and introduces the Double Hacker Dilemma to describe the tension between waiting for organizational solutions and self-built workarounds. The findings reveal a wide array of tools (55 identified) and a strong drive for independence and equity, yet they also highlight uncompensated labor, organizational friction, and fragmented sharing ecosystems. The paper argues for interdependent company practices and a centralized, accessible platform to share tools and knowledge, with the aim of democratizing accessible software development and reducing the burden of DIY labor on individuals while increasing overall workplace inclusion.
Abstract
Existing commercial and in-house software development tools are often inaccessible to Blind and Low Vision Software Professionals (BLVSPs), hindering their participation and career growth at work. Building on existing research on Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Assistive Technologies and customized tools made by programmers, we shed light on the currently unexplored intersection of how DIY tools built and used by BLVSPs support accessible software development. Through semi-structured interviews with 30 BLVSPs, we found that such tools serve many different purposes and are driven by motivations such as desiring to maintain a professional image and a sense of dignity at work. These tools had significant impacts on workplace accessibility and revealed a need for a more centralized community for sharing tools, tips, and tricks. Based on our findings, we introduce the "Double Hacker Dilemma" and highlight a need for developing more effective peer and organizational platforms that support DIY tool sharing.