From Awareness to Action: How Developers Engage with Accessibility Innovation in LLM-Assisted Development

• Thayssa Águila da Rocha UFPA / Zup Innovation https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8026-4003
• Luciane Silva UFU https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2827-7886
• Ana Duarte Zup Innovation
• Marcelle Pereira Mota UFPA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9226-9020
• Gustavo Pinto UFPA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7598-2799

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/washes.2026.24015

Resumo

Developers often struggle to design truly accessible digital solutions in corporate environments. In these environments, accessibility is usually treated as a compliance requirement rather than an innovation opportunity. By analyzing 14 LLM-based accessibility project proposals and focus group discussions with 9 participants at a Brazilian tech company, we found that inclusive innovation can emerge particularly when initiatives are led by People with Disabilities (PWD) themselves. If organizations adopt similar participatory approaches, accessibility would evolve from an afterthought into a driving force for technological excellence and cultural transformation.

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