Equitable AI Alliance

Putting Disability on the Agenda

An Initiative supported by the Zero Project and The Seneca Trust

Experts of the global and cross-sectoral Zero Project Network with significant experience in the development, implementation, and use of artificial intelligence, champion disability-inclusive AI at leading conferences worldwide.

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Thought Leaders with significant expertise and lived experience

Liaising with conference organisers to identify and place inspiring speakers

The Equitable AI Alliance places experts with direct experience of disability and technology at the heart of influential debates about opportunities and risks related to artificial intelligence.

In line with the Zero Project’s mission of creating a world with zero barriers for persons with disabilities, the Alliance’s objective is to steer decision-making in critical developments that are poised to fundamentally change our society.

A unique pool of experts:

Cross-sectoral

Public services, business sector, and civil society

Global

The Zero Project Network spans 180 countries

Lived experience

In combination with extensive expertise

Upcoming events:

  • Collage for the Second World Summit for Social Development, Doha 2025, with the event logo centered and surrounding photos of people, communities, technology, and Doha cityscape.

    4 - 6 November 2025 | Doha, Qatar

    Second World Summit for Social Development

    The United Nations General Assembly, through its resolutions, decided to convene the “World Social Summit” in 2025, under the title “the Second World Summit for Social Development."

  • Banner for OEB Global 2025, the annual cross-sector conference and exhibition on digital learning. Event dates: December 3–5, 2025, in Berlin. Tagline: Shaping the future of learning.

    December 4-5, 2025 | Berlin (Germany)

    OEB 2025

    The cross-sector conference and exhibition focuses on digital learning and brings together leaders, innovators, and educators to explore the future of learning technologies.

Most recent conferences:

  • Logo of the Equitable AI Alliance.

    October 30, 2025 | Online webinar

    Equitable AI Dialogues | How to ensure diversity and disability in the world of AI

    This webinar explored visions for inclusive and accessible Artificial Intelligence (AI), based on AI standards, ethics, and design for human diversity. 

  • Banner for the European Accessibility Summit 2025, organized by the European Disability Forum and supported by Microsoft. Includes circular logo with letter ‘e’ and the hashtag #EUAccessibilitySummit.

    14 October, 2025 | Brussels, Belgium

    European Accessibility Summit

    The Summit, taking place in Brussels and online on October 14th, will focus on advances in accessibility and to network with policymakers, industry leaders and disability advocates.

  • Banner for the M-Enabling Summit, promoting accessible technologies and environments. Event dates: October 6–8, 2025, at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

    6-8 October, 2025 | Arlington, Virginia (USA)

    M-Enabling Summit

     "Digital Accessibility Innovation—A Deep Dive into Next-Generation User Experiences" from the perspective of the latest tech trends for organizational inclusion.

  • GCPR 2025 event logo

    September 15-17, 2025 | London (UK)

    Global Conference on Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (GCPR 2025)

    Speaker: David Banes
    Topic: Implementing AI and Assistive Technologies for people with disabilities: opportunities and challenges

  • The Equitable AI Alliance logo alongside the webinar title

    July 30, 2025 | Online webinar

    Equitable AI Dialogues: How AI is Shaping Inclusive Workplaces

    This webinar from the Equitable AI Alliance explored AI's impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Focusing on the workplace, it highlighted examples of good practice where AI is unlocking the potential of employees with disabilities.

  • A photo showing the conference room with a U-shaped seating. Bianca Prins is seen speaking to the participants in the room; seated next to her are the other speakers representing the Equitable AI Alliance.

    July 7-11, 2025 | Geneva (Switzerland)

    WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025

    Speakers: Bianca Prins, Christine Hemphill, Jürgen Menze, Judith Hermetter
    Topic: AI for All? Inclusion, bias, and opportunity for persons with disabilities

Spotlighted resources

Join the AI discussion on LinkedIn:

‘Disability-Inclusive AI’ 

A public LinkedIn group to discuss artificial intelligence both as inclusive and dedicated tools for persons with disabilities. 

Join today

  • Slide titled 'Equitable AI Dialogues' featuring photos of three speakers: Jutta Treviranus from OCAD University, Kyle Keane from University of Bristol, and David Banes from Equitable AI Alliance. Text at the bottom reads 'Q&A: Use the Q&A feature in MS Teams to ask questions!' On the right, a video call interface shows five participants, including Ailing Xiao, Jutta, Kyle Keane, David Banes, and a representative from Zero Project Office.

    Equitable AI Dialogues: How to ensure diversity in the world of AI

    Webinar recording

    Hosted by David Banes (Equitable AI Alliance), Jutta Treviranus (Inclusive Design Research Centre, OCAD University), and Kyle Keane (University of Bristol), this webinar explored visions for inclusive and accessible Artificial Intelligence (AI), based on AI standards, ethics, and design for human diversity.

  • A screengrab of the webinar: showing the slide with David's and Nakul's names, next to a gallery of both speakers, the sign interpreter, and Anja and Judith from the Zero Project.

    "Equitable AI Dialogues: How AI is Shaping Inclusive Workplaces"

    Webinar recording

    Hosted by David Banes (Equitable AI Alliance) and Nakul Gaur (Unilever), this webinar from the Equitable AI Alliance explored AI's impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Focusing on the workplace, it highlighted examples of good practice where AI is unlocking the potential of employees with disabilities.

  • A photo showing the conference room with a U-shaped seating. Bianca Prins is seen speaking to the participants in the room; seated next to her are the other speakers representing the Equitable AI Alliance.

    "AI for All?"

    WSIS+20 Forum 2025

    Exploring the intersection of AI and disability inclusion, the WSIS+20 Forum 2025 session focused on its impact in employment and financial services. It highlighted practical examples of how AI can enhance or hinder accessibility and discussed ways to promote more inclusive and equitable AI systems.

     

     

    Ask ChatGPT

  • Two people seated and holding microphones engage in a discussion at the inABLE Inclusive Africa Conference 2025. The event focuses on digital accessibility.

    Inclusive Africa Conference

    AI in Africa

    This session from the Inclusive Africa conference 2025 explored the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence across the continent and discussed how the disability community can actively engage with and benefit from these advancements to ensure no one is left behind.

  • Disability Ethical AI logo.

    Resources on Disability Ethical AI.

    Disability Ethical AI?

    The Disability Ethical AI? Alliance (DEAI) was founded by Susan Scott-Parker OBE at Scott-Parker International with IBM and Oxford Brookes University Institute for Ethical Artificial Intelligence. This is an informal thought leadership initiative that offers a wide range of resources on the topic of Disability Ethical AI.

Equitable AI Knowledge Hub

Risks and opportunities of AI:

Risks

If AI products are not inclusive by design, persons with disabilities risk exclusion from and discrimination in day-to-day life activities, workplace, education, and other spheres of life. Accessibility, inbuilt prejudice and inclusive design have to be addressed in the first stages of development, not added on later.

Moreover, failing to include persons with disabilities limits the potential for broader societal and economic gains, stifling innovation and creating barriers that negatively impact everyone by reinforcing inequality and reducing the overall diversity of ideas and perspectives that drive progress.

Opportunities

Conversely, AI holds immense potential to benefit everyone, both as inclusive and dedicated tools for persons with disabilities. 

The positive impact of disability inclusion goes far beyond accessibility, driving innovation, boosting the economy, and improving productivity for all. By creating solutions that empower individuals of all abilities, society as a whole becomes more dynamic, resilient, and prosperous.

Curated resources at the intersection of AI and disability inclusion

The Equitable AI Knowledge Hub offers evidence-based resources, perspectives and insights addressing key messages, challenges, and opportunities drawn from expertise in the field from across the globe.

This hub was created as part of the work of the Equitable AI Alliance, with the objective of bringing together expertise to unlock AI’s potential while addressing risks for persons with disabilities.

Find resources

Get in touch today!

A unique pool of cross-sectoral experts

“The global Zero Project Network of more than 10,000 experts from 180 countries is uniquely positioned to provide expertise at the intersection of disability inclusion, innovation, and artificial intelligence.”

David Banes, Head of the Advisory Board

Identify the right expert for your initiative

Are you organizing a conference on Artificial Intelligence? 
Connect with leading experts from the Equitable AI Alliance to ensure your project benefits from insights that champion disability inclusion in AI.

We offer tailored advice to suit your needs, with no hidden fees or charges.

Contact us here:

Contact Details

David Banes, Head of the Advisory Board

Email: david@davebanesaccess.org

Contact Details

Anja Günther, Operational Lead

Email: a.guenther@zeroproject.org

Advisory Board

Join the discussion on equitable AI on LinkedIn!

The “Disability-Inclusive AI" LinkedIn group is a forum to discuss artificial intelligence both as inclusive and dedicated tools for persons with disabilities.

Join the group

Join the discussion on equitable AI on LinkedIn!

The “Disability-Inclusive AI" LinkedIn group is a forum to discuss artificial intelligence both as inclusive and dedicated tools for persons with disabilities.

Join the group