The Inaugural Lecture of Professor Annalu Waller OBE: Who is disabled anyway? Towards an inclusive and accessible digital infrastructure

Assistive and Accessible Technologies (ATech) play a pivotal role in providing access to education, employment, and recreation for people with disabilities. Digital tools are often the primary means by which those with complex physical, intellectual, and/or speech impairment can learn and develop their potential. However, digital exclusion is amplified by inaccessible technologies and the failure to design digital environments that meet the needs of diverse users.

In her professorial lecture, Annalu will explore how ATech can help reduce the digital divide by enabling greater participation for people with disabilities and others at risk of digital exclusion. In particular, she will examine how inclusive design, universal accessibility standards, and advances in artificial intelligence can create more equitable digital experiences while highlighting the challenges that remain, including awareness, digital literacy, and inconsistent implementation of accessibility standards. Drawing on her lived experience as a user of ATech, her research and the concept of Human Assistive Technology Interaction, Annalu will argue that closing the digital divide requires more than affordable connectivity and technological innovation. It demands a commitment to accessibility by design, ensuring that all digital infrastructures and ecosystems empower individuals to participate fully in education, employment, civic life, and society.

Professor Annalu Waller OBE Biography

Annalu Waller was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Environment at the University of Salford in January 2026. Annalu came to Salford from the University of Dundee, where she held several academic and management posts including Head of Computing and Interim Dean for the School of Science and Engineering. She also served as an Honorary Chaplain within the University Chaplaincy Team.

Annalu has worked in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) since 1985, establishing the first Assistive and Accessible Technology assessment centre in Cape Town. Her MSc in Biomedical Engineering (Cape Town, RSA: 1988) focused on character prediction for single switch AAC users, while her PhD (Dundee, Scotland: 1992) provided the first AAC technology support for conversational narrative. Annalu’s primary research areas are human centred computing, natural language processing, personal narrative and assistive technology.

In recognition of her work in AAC, Annalu was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List in 2016 for services to people with Complex Communication Needs and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Fundamental to Annalu’s philosophy is co-creation and co-design in all she does. This involves taking an inclusive approach to education and research, ensuring that all delivery is grounded in accessibility for the diversity that characterises what it is to be human. Her research background in Assistive and Accessible Technology has resulted in the establishment of a sub-field of human computer interaction called Human Assistive Technology Interaction (HATI). HATI proposes that by embedding co-design with people with severe disabilities as a mainstream endeavour, technology innovation can benefit everyone in society.

At Salford, Annalu’s vision for the Faculty is to leverage technological innovation to benefit the lives of people in local communities by conducting human-centred, world-leading research in key areas, which will reflect the University and the Faculty’s core strengths.

Registration is from 5.30pm with the lecture starting promptly at 6pm.

This lecture will be live streamed via Microsoft Teams from 6pm . If you would prefer to attend online, please register for a 'Teams' ticket to receive the Live event link which will be emailed to you the day before the lecture.

This lecture will be recorded however the audience will not be shown. By attending this event in-person, you consent to this recording.

If you have any questions or access requirements please get in touch with the Events Team on events@salford.ac.uk or 0161 295 2313.

Description supplied by the event organiser.