Understanding How Accessibility Practices Impact Teamwork in Mixed-Ability Teams that Collaborate Virtually

2026-02-03

AI Summary

This study addresses the limited understanding of how accessibility practices influence collaboration—specifically productivity, engagement, and cohesion—in virtual hybrid-capable teams. Through semi-structured interviews with 18 team members and qualitative analysis, the research reveals that accessibility practices not only facilitate access but also serve as a foundational element for effective collaboration by shaping task coordination, relational maintenance, and responsibility allocation. Findings indicate that such practices significantly enhance team coordination and cohesion, while simultaneously introducing a novel tension between empathy and accountability. Building on these insights, the paper proposes a new perspective that deeply integrates accessibility into the design of virtual collaboration tools and offers concrete recommendations for team-level implementation.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: AI for Accessibility
• Multiagent Systems: Teamwork
• Game Theory and Economic Paradigms: Coordination and Collaboration

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics for personalization
• Responsible Web: Algorithmic accountability and transparency on the web
• Security and Privacy: Data transparency and provenance

Abstract

Virtual collaboration has transformed how people in mixed-ability teams, composed of disabled and non-disabled people, work together by offering greater flexibility. In these settings, accessibility practices, such as accommodations and inclusive norms, are essential for providing access to disabled people. However, we do not yet know how these practices shape broader facets of teamwork, such as productivity, participation, and camaraderie. To address this gap, we interviewed 18 participants (12 disabled, 6 non-disabled) who are part of mixed-ability teams. We found that beyond providing access, accessibility practices shaped how all participants coordinated tasks, sustained rapport, and negotiated responsibilities. Accessibility practices also introduced camaraderie challenges, such as balancing empathy and accountability. Non-disabled participants described allyship as a learning process and skill shaped by their disabled team members and team culture. Based on our findings, we present recommendations for team practices and design opportunities for virtual collaboration tools that reframe accessibility practices as a foundation for strong teamwork.

Problem

• accessibility practices
• mixed-ability teams
• virtual collaboration
• teamwork
• inclusion

Innovation

• accessibility practices
• mixed-ability teams
• virtual collaboration
• teamwork dynamics
• inclusive design