Understanding mindsets, skills, current practices, and barriers of adoption of digital accessibility in Kuwait's software development landscape

Zainab AlMeraj (Lead / Corresponding author), Dari Alhuwail, Rumana Qadri, Shok Shama, Michael Crabb

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The responsibility for creating accessible software within the development of digital services is important for multiple reasons, mainly equity and inclusion. However, adopting and sustaining the development of accessible digital solutions has always been challenging, more so in countries that are relatively new to the concept of universal design, and physical and digital accessibility, and where legal sanctions are not yet established. This work investigates the technology scene in the State of Kuwait and analyses the responses of computing professionals with regard to their skills, best practices and procurement of accessible tech and to their level of awareness toward people with disabilities. The findings reveal a low level of awareness among tech professionals with regard to disabilities and digital accessibility-related standards. The findings also highlight a lack of available guidance for developing inclusive design and accessibility. Additionally, time constraints, lack of training, legal enforcement and fundamentals concepts during undergraduate and higher education contributed to observed weaknesses. Participants were keen to learn more and benefited from flyers and free professional development courses offered as incentives for survey completion.

Original languageEnglish
Number of pages25
JournalUniversal Access in the Information Society
Early online date11 Mar 2023
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 11 Mar 2023

Keywords

  • Barriers
  • Digital accessibility
  • Kuwait
  • Mindset
  • Software development
  • Software engineering

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software
  • Information Systems
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Computer Networks and Communications

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