Proposal

APrIGF 2026 Session Proposal Submission Form
Part 1 - Lead Organizer
Contact Person
Mr. Udit Pandey
Email
Organization / Affiliation (Please state "Individual" if appropriate) *
Internet Society Accessibility standing group
Designation
Capacity Development and Outreach Officer
Gender
Male
Economy of Residence
India
Stakeholder Group
Academia
Part 2 - Session Proposal
Session Title
Assistive Technology for Meaningful Participation and Successful Integration in Education and the Workplace
Thematic Track of Your Session

  • Option

    • Primary: AI Governance for Good
    • Secondary: Universal and Meaningful Connectivity
Session Format
Panel Discussion (60 minutes)
Where do you plan to organize your session?
Hybrid (with onsite moderator and speakers both online and offline, with online moderator for questions and comments from remote participants)
Specific Issues for Discussion
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence are increasingly shaping how people learn, communicate, and work. However, many persons with disabilities across the Asia-Pacific region continue to face barriers in accessing education, developing skills, and securing meaningful employment. While assistive technologies have created new opportunities for participation, challenges relating to accessibility, affordability, awareness, and implementation continue to limit their impact. This session will explore how assistive technologies can support persons with disabilities across different stages of life, from school education and higher education to vocational training and employment. The discussion will examine barriers faced by persons with disabilities in accessing learning opportunities, acquiring relevant skills, transitioning into the workforce, and progressing in their careers. The session will bring together speakers from different backgrounds and countries within the Asia-Pacific region to discuss practical experiences, challenges, and solutions. It will also explore how digital technologies and AI-enabled tools can improve accessibility and participation when designed and implemented inclusively. The discussion will conclude with a focus on policy implementation, good practices, and recommendations that can strengthen inclusion and enable meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in education and the workplace. In line with the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us,” the session will centre the lived experiences and expertise of persons with disabilities.
Describe the Relevance of Your Session to APrIGF
This session contributes to the APrIGF 2026 theme, “Safeguarding a Resilient Internet in Times of Crisis,” and the tracks AI Governance for Good and Universal and Meaningful Connectivity by examining how assistive technologies and digital innovations can support the inclusion of persons with disabilities in education and employment. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted society’s dependence on digital technologies, online education, and remote work while exposing major accessibility gaps. Many educational resources, examination platforms, workplace systems, and online services remained inaccessible to persons with disabilities. AI-powered assistive technologies were often unavailable or unaffordable, limiting meaningful participation. The session relates to AI Governance for Good by examining how AI systems can empower or exclude persons with disabilities depending on their design and implementation. It will explore accessibility barriers, bias in AI systems, inaccessible digital platforms, and the need for inclusive and responsible technology development. The discussion also contributes to Universal and Meaningful Connectivity. Many persons with disabilities rely on internet-based assistive technologies, including OCR tools, environmental description applications, navigation services, and remote assistance platforms. During crises or connectivity disruptions, access to education, employment, information, and independent living can be significantly affected. Meaningful connectivity therefore requires accessibility, affordability, and usability in addition to Internet access. By bringing together perspectives from education, employment, disability advocacy, and policy, the session will share practical experiences and good practices from across the Asia-Pacific region. It will highlight the gap between disability policies and lived realities while generating recommendations to strengthen accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful participation.
Methodology / Agenda (Please add rows by clicking "+" on the right)
Time frame (e.g. 5 minutes, 20 minutes, should add up to the time limit of your selected session format) Description
5 Minutes Introduction and scene setting by the onsite moderator (Suvasini Shrestha). The moderator will introduce the session topic, explain its relevance to APrIGF 2026 themes and tracks, introduce the speakers, and outline the discussion format. The online moderator (Kiran Harisinghani). Will welcome remote participants and explain how they can engage throughout the session.
7 Minutes Speaker 1 (Udit Pandey): Education. Discussion on challenges and opportunities for persons with disabilities in school and higher education and the role of assistive technologies in supporting participation and learning
7 Minutes Speaker 2 (Manique Gunaratne): Employment and Vocational Training. Discussion on barriers and opportunities in vocational training, employment, workplace accessibility, and career progression.
7 Minutes Speaker 3(Gunela Astbrink): Policy and Good Practices. Discussion on disability inclusion policies, implementation gaps, and examples of successful practices from the Asia-Pacific region.
7 Minutes Speaker 4(Georgina Naigulevu): Technology, Innovation, and Bridging the Gap. Discussion on assistive technologies, AI-enabled accessibility tools, and strategies for improving participation in education and employment.
20 Minutes Audience Interaction and Q&A. Questions and comments will be invited from both onsite and online participants. The onsite moderator(Suvasini Shrestha) will facilitate discussion from the venue, while the online moderator (Kiran Harisinghani) will ensure meaningful participation from remote attendees.
7 Minutes Closing Reflections and Key Takeaways. The moderators will summarize the key discussion points, highlight recommendations emerging from the session, and conclude the discussion
Moderators & Speakers Info (Please complete where possible) - (Required)

  • Moderator (Primary)

    • Name: Suvasini Shrestha
    • Organization: Surevi Impact
    • Designation: Founder
    • Gender: Female
    • Economy / Country of Residence: Nepal
    • Stakeholder Group: Civil Society
    • Expected Presence: In-person
    • Status of Confirmation: Confirmed
    • Link of Bio (URL only): https://www.linkedin.com/in/suvasini-shrestha-31461654

  • Moderator (Facilitator)

    • Name: Kiran Harisinghani
    • Organization: Abha Healing Foundation
    • Designation: Content Research Intern
    • Gender: Female
    • Economy / Country of Residence: India
    • Stakeholder Group: Youth / Students
    • Expected Presence: Online
    • Status of Confirmation: Confirmed
    • Link of Bio (URL only): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiran-harisinghani-77a9a8339

  • Speaker 1

    • Name: Udit Pandey
    • Organization: Internet Society Accessibility standing group
    • Designation: Capacity development and Outreach Officer
    • Gender: Male
    • Economy / Country of Residence: India
    • Stakeholder Group: Academia
    • Expected Presence: In-person
    • Status of Confirmation: Confirmed
    • Link of Bio (URL only): https://www.linkedin.com/in/udit-pandey-b4ab64270?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

  • Speaker 2

    • Name: Manique Gunaratne
    • Organization: The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon
    • Designation: Manager – Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre
    • Gender: Female
    • Economy / Country of Residence: Sri Lanka
    • Stakeholder Group: Private Sector
    • Expected Presence: Online
    • Status of Confirmation: Confirmed
    • Link of Bio (URL only): manique.org/

  • Speaker 3

    • Name: Gunela Astbrink
    • Organization: GSA InfoComm
    • Designation: Principal
    • Gender: Female
    • Economy / Country of Residence: Australia
    • Stakeholder Group: Civil Society
    • Expected Presence: In-person
    • Status of Confirmation: Confirmed

  • Speaker 4

    • Name: Georgina Naigulevu
    • Organization: Tetra Tech International Development
    • Designation: Practice Lead - Inclusion and Locally Led Development
    • Gender: Female
    • Economy / Country of Residence: Fiji
    • Stakeholder Group: Technical Community
    • Expected Presence: In-person
    • Status of Confirmation: Confirmed
    • Link of Bio (URL only): https://www.linkedin.com/in/georginanaigulevu?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android

  • Speaker 5

    • Stakeholder Group: Select One
    • Expected Presence: Select One
    • Status of Confirmation: Select One
Please explain the rationale for choosing each of the above contributors to the session.
The proposed speakers and moderators bring a combination of professional expertise, advocacy experience, and lived experience from different parts of the Asia-Pacific region. Together, they represent perspectives from education, employment, vocational training, accessibility, disability rights, and policy. Each speaker has been assigned a distinct subtopic to ensure comprehensive coverage of the session theme while avoiding duplication. The discussion is structured to examine the journey of persons with disabilities from education to employment while highlighting practical solutions, assistive technologies, and policy considerations that can strengthen inclusion. The moderators have experience in accessibility and multistakeholder engagement and will facilitate meaningful participation from both onsite and online attendees. This approach reflects the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us” and supports a balanced, practical, and solution-oriented discussion.
Has AI been used to develop this proposal?
Yes
How:
AI was primarily used for grammar correction, language refinement, and sentence structuring. The content, ideas, and substantive inputs were developed by the session organisers.
Please declare if you have any potential conflict of interest with the Program Committee 2026.
No
Are you or other session contributors planning to apply for the APrIGF Fellowship Program 2026?
Yes
Upon evaluation by the Program Committee, your session proposal may only be selected under the condition that you will accept the suggestion of merging with another proposal with similar topics. Please state your preference below:
Yes, I am willing to work with another session proposer on a suggested merger.
APrIGF offers live transcripts in English for all sessions. Do you need any disability related requirements for your session? APrIGF makes every effort to be a fully inclusive and accessible event, and will do the best to fulfill your needs.
As this session focuses on disability inclusion and accessibility, we would appreciate accessibility accommodations that support meaningful participation by persons with diverse disabilities. These include an accessible venue with step-free access and accessible facilities for onsite participants, real-time captioning, and sign language interpretation for Deaf and hard-of-hearing participants. We would also appreciate ensuring that both onsite and remote participants can engage effectively through accessible participation mechanisms, including those used by screen reader users and other assistive technology users. As the session itself focuses on accessibility and inclusion, we hope it can serve as an example of good accessibility practices and meaningful participation for all attendees.
Number of Attendees (Please fill in numbers)
    Gender Balance in Moderators/Speakers (Please fill in numbers)
      Consent
      I agree that my data can be submitted to forms.for.asia and processed by APrIGF organizers for the program selection of APrIGF 2026.