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On the Definition of a Method for Specifying Accessibility Requirements: Early Insights from a Focus Group with Practitioners’

Year: 2025

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Accessibility remains a significant challenge in software development, often due to the lack of structured and actionable guidance for specifying requirements that address diverse user needs. This paper introduces Path4All, a lightweight and user-centered method that integrates Personas, User Stories (US), Behavior-Driven Development (BDD), and WCAG guidelines to support the clear and consistent specification of accessibility requirements. To gather early insights into the method’s applicability, we conducted a focus group with experienced software professionals who applied Path4All in a practical, scenario-based activity. The findings suggest that Path4All fosters empathy, improves requirement clarity, and promotes the production of actionable and inclusive specifications. Participants highlighted the method’s potential benefits, while also identifying challenges related to WCAG complexity, organizational culture, and the need for clearer role definitions. These initial results point to Path4All’s potential to support inclusive design practices from the early stages of development.

DOI: 10.5753/sbes.2025.11561

Authors: Renata Vinadé, Natalya Goelzer, Sabrina Marczak

Institution: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul

Language: English

Topic: Digital Accessibility for Disabilities

Subfield: Human Factors and Ergonomics

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Funders: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Awards: G1355036021, G2823776494, G5541784970