Invisible Barriers: Disability Rights and Public Sector AI

As governments adopt artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and service delivery, disability rights and accessibility are increasingly becoming central governance concerns rather than niche technical issues. Yet many AI systems are still built on datasets, assumptions, and design practices that fail to account for the diverse ways people interact with technology, including through screen readers, voice navigation, captioning, alternative input devices, and other assistive technologies. These invisible barriers can unintentionally exclude people with disabilities from public services, employment opportunities, education systems, healthcare access, and civic participation.

This workshop moves beyond high-level discussions of responsible AI to focus on practical public-sector challenges and decisions. Participants will examine how AI-enabled systems can either improve or undermine accessibility depending on how they are designed, procured, implemented, and monitored. Drawing on emerging public-sector guidance, accessibility initiatives, and disability-rights research, the session explores practical strategies agencies can use to build more accessible, equitable, and trustworthy AI-enabled services.