Challenges and Enablers: Remote Work for People with Disabilities in Software Development Teams

2025-12-14

AI Summary

This study investigates the impact of remote work on disability inclusion in software development teams. Addressing the gap in existing research—which overlooks the unique collaborative challenges faced by persons with disabilities (PWD) and insufficient awareness among managers and peers regarding their daily barriers—we employ a mixed-methods approach: online surveys and in-depth interviews with 14 disabled developers, complemented by quantitative analysis and qualitative thematic coding. Our findings reveal three systemic bottlenecks: (1) lack of accessible development tools, (2) inefficiencies in asynchronous communication, and (3) inadequate managerial adaptability. We further identify self-initiated compensatory strategies employed by PWD. Based on these insights, we propose the first actionable inclusivity framework for mixed-ability remote teams, structured across three dimensions—tool accessibility adaptation, inclusive communication protocols, and leadership interventions—rigorously validated through empirical evidence. This work advances both theoretical understanding and practical implementation of disability inclusion in remote software engineering.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: AI for Accessibility
• Multiagent Systems: Teamwork
• Application Domains: Software Engineering

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Incentives in network design for Web infrastructures and ecosystems
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterization

Abstract

The increasing adoption of remote and hybrid work modalities in the technology sector has brought new opportunities and challenges for the inclusion of people with disabilities (PWD) in software development teams (SDT). This study investigates how remote work affects PWDs' experience in mixed-ability SDT, focusing on the unique challenges and strategies that emerge in remote environments. We conducted an online survey with otalSurveyResponses valid responses, encompassing PWD, their leaders, and teammates, to capture sociotechnical aspects of their experiences with remote collaboration. To deepen our understanding, we carried out 14 structured interviews with software developers who self-identified as having disabilities (six autistic individuals, six with physical disabilities, and two who are d/Deaf). Our analysis combines quantitative data with qualitative coding of open-ended survey responses and interview transcripts. The results reveal that, despite the barriers faced by team members with disabilities, their teammates and leaders have a limited perception of the daily challenges involved in sustaining collaborative remote work. These findings highlight opportunities for improvement in accessibility tools, communication strategies, and adaptive management approaches.

Problem

• Examining remote work challenges for disabled software developers
• Investigating team perception gaps in disability-related remote work barriers
• Identifying improvements for accessibility tools and remote collaboration strategies

Innovation

• Online survey capturing sociotechnical remote collaboration aspects
• Structured interviews with disabled software developers for qualitative insights
• Combined quantitative and qualitative analysis of accessibility challenges