Strengthening Disability-Inclusive Technology Policymaking
Sponsored by the School of Information and the Goldman School of Public Policy
More than 1 in 4 adults in the United States have a disability. Their ability to participate in our digital society relies on policies that promote digital accessibility and disability-inclusive technology policies.
Join us for a timely discussion updating the status of recent disability-inclusive technology policy advances; reflecting on barriers and potential improvements in the technology policy ecosystem; and exploring the university’s role in advancing disability-inclusive policymaking and building inclusive pathways to technology policymaking careers. The conversation will explore updated technology priorities and new venues — including states — in which to pursue these priorities.
Panelists
Judy Brewer (moderator)
UC Berkeley Executive Fellow in Applied Technology Policy
Dr. Raja Kushalnagar
Professor & Director
Artificial Intelligence, Accessibility and Sign Languages Center
Gallaudet University
Marcie Roth
CEO
World Institute on Disability
Dr. Bonnielin Swenor
Endowed Professor of Disability Health and Justice
Director, Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center
Johns Hopkins University
About the Speakers
Judy Brewer
Judy Brewer is a School of Information and Goldman School of Public Policy Executive Fellow in Applied Technology Policy. Brewer specializes in digital accessibility technology policy, and previously led development of international standards on web accessibility at W3C. In her work as assistant director for accessibility at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under the Biden-Harris Administration, she focused on strengthening implementation of digital accessibility across federal, state, and local governments, including in education and health care; and promoting accessibility and equity in artificial intelligence.
Raja Kushalnagar
Dr. Raja Kushalnagar is a Deaf Professor with over 20 years of research experience in accessible computing. He is the director of the B.S. in Information Technology and the M.S. in Accessible Human-Centered Computing programs, and the Artificial Intelligence, Accessibility and Sign Languages Center at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. He has a Ph.D. in computer science, LL.M. in intellectual property and information law from the University of Houston and J.D. from Texas Southern University.
Marcie Roth
Marcie Roth is the CEO of the World Institute on Disability, advancing the rights of 1.3 billion people with disabilities worldwide. She brings over four decades of leadership in global human rights, accessibility and inclusion focusing on sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, early warnings, humanitarian action, climate justice and community resilience. She was appointed by President Obama to DHS FEMA 2009–2017 and is listed on the Forbes Magazine Fifty Over 50 Impact, and 2025 Accessibility 100 lists.
Bonnielin Swenor
Bonnielin Swenor, PhD, MPH is the Endowed Professor of Disability Health and Justice at Johns Hopkins University and founding director of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, which aims to shift the paradigm from ‘living with a disability’ to ‘thriving with a disability.’ Her work bridges disability policy and the ethical application of emerging technologies to advance data equity and accessibility. Drawing on her lived experience, she also works to improve the disability inclusion in STEM careers.
Tech Policy Week
UC Berkeley’s Technology Policy Week is a campus-wide celebration of research, teaching, and engagement at the intersection of technology and public policy.
Accessibility
ASL and CART services will be provided. If you require additional accommodations, please contact Dan Zhukov (dzhukov@berkeley.edu) by October 15.
Contact
If you have questions about this event, please contact Dan Zhukov at dzhukov@berkeley.edu.