Speakers
MEET THE SPEAKERS OF THE International Disability Conference (WDRC 2026)
The speakers at the 11th World Disability and Rehabilitation Conference (WDRC 2026) represent a distinguished assembly of global experts in disability, rehabilitation, mental health, inclusive education, assistive technology, and disability policy.
Bringing together leaders from research, practice, advocacy, industry, and policymaking, International Disability Conference 2026 feature world-renowned speakers who will deliver keynote addresses, plenary sessions, and interactive workshops focused on innovative approaches and real-world solutions for disability inclusion.
Keynote Speaker of WDRC 2026
Prof. Tom Shakespeare
Professor of disability research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
Prof. Tom Shakespeare is a globally respected scholar in disability research and medical sociology, currently serving as Professor of Disability Research at the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. With a distinguished career spanning academia, international development, and public engagement, he has led major research programmes across Africa, South Asia, and the UK, focusing on disability inclusion, global mental health, and social justice.
A former technical officer at the World Health Organization, Prof. Shakespeare was a key contributor to landmark publications such as the World Report on Disability (2011). His expertise has shaped national and international policy, including providing evidence to UK parliamentary committees and global inquiries.
He is a Fellow of the British Academy, a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and a widely recognized public intellectual through his long-standing contributions to BBC Radio. With nine authored books, seven edited volumes, and over 100 journal articles, he remains one of the most influential voices in contemporary disability studies.
Mrs. Maulani. A Rotinsulu
Secretary General, ASEAN Disability Forum, Indonesia
Mrs. Maulani Agustiah Rotinsulu is a distinguished disability rights expert and advocate with over three decades of experience advancing the rights, inclusion, and empowerment of persons with disabilities at national, regional, and international levels. She is the Secretary-General of the ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF), where she provides strategic leadership and helps shape disability-inclusive policies across Southeast Asia.
She also serves as Chairperson of the Indonesian Association of Women with Disabilities, an organisation she helped found to promote gender-responsive disability advocacy. Mrs. Rotinsulu has played a key role in advising the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs on disability rights and in supporting the ratification and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
She has contributed to capacity-building initiatives, facilitated regional training on human rights and inclusion, and represented civil society at high-level forums, including humanitarian finance discussions and regional disability summits. Her work bridges grassroots advocacy with policy and institutional change to ensure that disability inclusion is central to sustainable development and human rights efforts across the Asia-Pacific region.
Plenary Speakers for The International Disability Conference 2026
Dr. Libby Callaway
National Assistive Technology Alliance Chair, Australian Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Association (ARATA) & Deputy Director, RAIL Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Associate Professor Libby Callaway is a registered occupational therapist who has worked in policy and practice for over thirty years in Australia and the USA. Libby currently works across the Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre and Occupational Therapy Department at Monash University, as well as clinically in her community-based private practice, Neuroskills. Libby has just completed a six-year role as the voluntary President of the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA) – the national non-profit peak body for assistive technology stakeholders in Australia – and then augural strategic executive advisor to ARATA. In Australia, Libby sits on various government advisories, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Industry Chief Executive Advisory Group and the NDIS Home and Living Policy Steering Committee, and the Assistive Technology subcommittee of the Australian Government’s Evidence Advisory Committee.
Dr. Joseph Carlton Barry Sr
University of Kentucky, USA
Dr. Joseph Carlton Barry Sr. is an educational consultant at Helping Us Make a Nation (HUMAN), Ohio, and a Research Assistant at the University of Kentucky, USA. He currently serves as Principal Investigator and Lab Lead at the University of Kentucky, where his work focuses on disability policy and educational equity while mentoring a diverse network of researchers and educators.
Dr. Barry has held several leadership roles in disability advocacy and education governance, including serving as a former Board Member of the Fayette County Public School Board’s Equity Council Committee, former President of the Disability Organizing Group for Initiating Total Equality (California), and Chairman of the Board for Resources for Independent Living for Sacramento and Yolo County.
An expert in disability studies and education policy evaluation, his research critically examines systemic barriers faced by faculty and students with disabilities in higher education. His work bridges education policy, social justice, and disability advocacy through both theoretical and empirical approaches.
Dr. Pubalin Das
Senior Psychologist & Professor, Singhania University, India
Title: “Protecting Dignity and Mental Health: Trauma-Informed Safeguarding and Sexual Abuse Prevention in Disability Inclusion”
Dr. Pubalin Das is a senior psychologist, academician, and trauma-informed mental health professional with over two decades of experience in clinical practice, teaching, and rehabilitation. She is currently a professor at Singhania University, India, and the Founder of Heart2Mind, a mental health initiative dedicated to trauma recovery, emotional resilience, psychological well-being, and inclusive mental health care. Her work includes supporting individuals with disabilities, focusing on their psychological well-being, trauma recovery, emotional regulation, and protection from abuse and exploitation.
Dr. Das has also worked extensively with prison populations, sexual offenders, and individuals affected by terrorism-related trauma, with a focus on rehabilitation, attachment-based interventions, and relapse prevention. Her work strongly emphasizes safeguarding vulnerable populations, including women and persons with disabilities, from psychological harm and abuse. She has collaborated with government bodies, correctional institutions, and organizations to provide mental health support, professional training, and policy-level advocacy. As an international speaker and trainer, Dr. Das integrates clinical expertise, academic leadership, and a deep commitment to advancing trauma-informed and inclusive mental health practices globally.
Please let me know if any further information is required. I look forward to contributing meaningfully to the conference.
Story tellers of WDRC 2026
Dr. Sunita Sivakumaran
Principal, Taarana School for Special Needs, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
Title: “Empowering Through Enterprise: The Story of Taarana Café and Merchandise”
Dr. Sunita Sivakumaran is an accomplished educational leader and advocate for inclusive learning, with over 30 years of experience spanning education management, legal scholarship, and community development. She currently serves as Principal of Taarana School for Special Needs in Malaysia, where she oversees strategic planning, curriculum innovation, and capacity-building initiatives that support children with diverse learning needs.
Her leadership has strengthened stakeholder partnerships, enhanced parent and caregiver training, and expanded vocational and alternative education pathways for neurodivergent learners. Dr. Sivakumaran is also an active speaker at international conferences, contributing thought leadership on inclusive education, disability policy, and sustainable education models.
Holding a PhD in Competition Law and certifications in sustainability and special needs care, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her work. Her research currently focuses on redefining disability classification within Malaysia’s Persons with Disabilities Act 2008, aimed at improving equity and access to services. Dr. Sivakumaran is also widely published, with academic papers, op-eds, and an upcoming book chapter on social-emotional learning and AI in education.
Prof. Harsha Kathard
Research Director
Inclusive Practices Africa Research Unit
University of Cape Town
South Africa
Speech Title: Disability Inclusion as a Pathway to Health Equity. Implications for Research, Practice and Education
Prof. Harsha Kathard is currently Research Director of Inclusive Practices Africa Research Unit at University of Cape Town. She is Professor in Disability Studies/ Communication Sciences and Disorders in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and a speech-language therapist and audiologist by profession. She is an NRF-rated scientist whose research focuses is underpinned by decolonial scholarship. Her studies foreground systemic disability inclusion across Education, Health and Economies & Employment sectors. She has graduated several master’s and PhD students across disciplines of Speech-language Pathology, Audiology, Health Sciences Education, Education, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Disability Studies. She serves as mentor to academics and students and has held several leadership positions during her career some of which include establishing the Department of Health Sciences Education at UCT; acting Deputy Dean, Undergraduate Education; Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Teaching and Learning, UCT; and Chair of Education Committee Speech-language hearing professions, HPCSA. She partners with community organisations, corporates and Govt to facilitate inclusive practices.