Annual Disability Lecture 2026
Digital Accessibility at the Crossroads: Infrastructure, AI, and the Future We Build
Digital accessibility is at a crossroads. New laws commit to accessibility as a foundation for digital life, recognising that accessibility must be built into systems and infrastructure from the start. Artificial intelligence, by contrast, does not have the same settled direction. AI has the potential to build and scale accessibility, but it also risks reinforcing patterns of exclusion and creating new ones if left unchecked.
The Disability and Neurodivergence Advisory Group and the Equality and Diversity Unit are delighted to invite you to attend the 2026 Annual Disability Lecture, where Dr Sarah Lewthwaite will explore contemporary answers to long-standing questions about who technology serves. How do we ensure our universities, workplaces and wider digital society are accessible to all? How do we make sure that lived experience of disability is recognised and valued in the design and development process? These questions are not new, but the scale, speed, and nature of AI demands new answers. Sarah’s talk will draw on current research into digital accessibility, accessibility education and AI. She will consider key issues, conceptual tools, and research-led routes for positive action.
Dr Sarah Laithwaite
About the speaker:
Dr Sarah Lewthwaite is Principal Research Fellow in Education at Southampton Education School and Co-Director of Centre for Research in Inclusion, at the University of Southampton. She leads the “Teaching Accessibility” research agenda as a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow (2019-2028).
Event accessibility:
We want you to get the most out of attending this event. With this in mind, we’ve chosen a venue with accessibility features, and will also host online through Teams. In addition:
- There will be British Sign Language interpretation for in-person and online audiences.
- There will be automatic captioning. We are trialling automatic captioning this year, and we will ask for your feedback on this after the Lecture.
- Assistive listening will be available via Auracast. This modern system is compatible with the “T” (telecoil/loop) setting on hearing aids; please ask a steward on the day for a receiver and neckloop.
- The venue has level access, accessible toilets and other accessibility features.
- Stewards will be on hand to help with access.
- A quiet room will be available.
There is a space on the registration form to indicate your support needs.
You can contact us at equality@admin.ox.ac.uk to ask any questions, or to register if the registration form is not accessible for you.
Date and time: Monday 8 June 2026, 6pm to 8pm (The lecture and Q&A will be from 6pm to 7.30pm, followed by refreshments)
Location: Life and Mind Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3EL
