CFP: Social Media, Artificial Intelligence, and Disability in the Global South
Editors: Tafadzwa Rugoho (PhD), Ngozi Emmanuel (PhD), and Beth Haller (PhD)
Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 April 2024
Social media and artificial intelligence (AI) have become integral parts of modern society, influencing communication, information dissemination, and social interactions. However, the impact of these technologies on people with disabilities has received limited attention. This book aims to explore the intersection of social media, artificial intelligence (AI), and disability in the context of the Global South, with a focus on opportunities, challenges, and strategies for promoting inclusivity and empowerment. The rapid advancement of technology, particularly in the fields of social media and artificial intelligence (AI), has the potential to significantly impact the lives of people with disabilities in the Global South. This intersection presents both opportunities and challenges in terms of accessibility, inclusion, and empowerment. Understanding the dynamics between social media, AI, and disability in the Global South is crucial for harnessing the potential benefits and addressing the potential risks.
The book seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which social media and AI technologies impact individuals with disabilities in the Global South. Some of the key questions that this book aims to answer include: what is the level of exposure and usage of social media among people with disabilities in different countries of the Global South? What are the lived experiences of people with disabilities as social media users in countries of the Global South? How knowledgeable are people with disabilities about AI tools and how do these tools contribute to their independence, for example, AI voice technologies such as Siri and Amazon Echo? In what ways do people with disabilities use social media and AI technologies to navigate ableist societies? Overall, the book seeks to examine both the potential benefits and the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing and utilizing these technologies in diverse cultural, social, and economic contexts. The book also aims to explore strategies and best practices for promoting inclusivity, accessibility, and empowerment in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Topics of Interest:
Contributors are invited to submit original research chapters addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:
� Accessible Design and User Experience
� The role of AI in the development of assistive technologies that enhance the communication, mobility, and independent living of people with disabilities in the Global South
� Social Media, Disability Activism, and Advocacy
� Addressing Bias and Discrimination
� Digital Divides and Inequities
� Privacy, Data Protection, and Ethics
� Case Studies of Successful Inclusive Social Media Campaigns
� Digital Storytelling and Representation of Disability
� Collaborative Approaches to Accessibility
� Social Media Influencers and Disability Advocacy
� Awareness, exposure, knowledge and usage of AI tools
� AI-Powered Assistive Devices and Accessibility Solutions
� Challenges of Linguistic and Cultural Diversity
� Policy and Legal Frameworks for Inclusive Digital Environments
� Social Media, AI, and Mental Health Support
� Training and Digital Literacy Programs
� Ethical Considerations in AI-Driven Disability Assessment
Submission Guidelines:
Authors are invited to submit an extended abstract (250-300 words) outlining the objectives, methodology, and key findings of their proposed chapter. The abstract should clearly indicate the relevance to the book's theme and the specific topic of interest. Please include the author's bio of less than 100 words and contact information.
Important Dates:
Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 April 2024
Notification of Acceptance: 15 May 2024
Full Chapter Submission: 30 September 2024
Review and Revision Period: 30 October 2024
Final Chapter Submission: 20 December 2024
Submission Process:
Please submit your abstract as a word document to docrugoho@yahoo.com also copy ne83@leicester.ac.uk . All submissions will undergo a peer-review process to ensure the quality and relevance of the chapters. Selected abstracts will be invited for full chapter submission, which should adhere to the provided formatting guidelines. Should you have any further inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us at docrugoho@yahoo.com
Editors:
Tafadzwa Rugoho (PhD) is currently at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He taught at several universities. He holds several qualifications in the areas of development, health, policy, law, sociology and management. Tafadzwa has authored more than 30 book chapters and scientific papers. He edited a book titled "Media and Disability- A Global South perspective. He coedited two books titled Disability and Intersectionality, Perspectives from the Global South and Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescents with Disabilities. Tafadzwa is a disability activist.
Ngozi Emmanuel (PhD) holds a PhD in Media and Communication from the University of Leicester, England and has recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the same University. Her research explores the representation of disabilities in media and the intersection between cinema, ableism, and disabilities in the global south. One of the highlights of Emmanuel’s disability research and advocacy is the production of a toolkit for representing disabilities in television and cinema, which enabled her to further co-produce a Toolkit on-the-go with the Global Alliance for Disabilities and Media (GADIM), a US-based organisation. Emmanuel has received funding from agencies such as the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to fund her research and disability advocacy.
Beth Haller (PhD) is Professor Emerita at Towson University in Maryland, USA. Haller is co-director and co-founder of the Global Alliance for Disability in Media and Entertainment (www.GADIM.org), which works to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of mass media internationally. Haller’s new book, Disabled People Transforming Media Culture for a More Inclusive World (Taylor & Francis), was published in 2023. Haller is co-editor of the 2020 Routledge Companion to Disability and Media. She is the author of Representing Disability in an Ableist World: Essays on Mass Media (Advocado Press, 2010) and the author/editor of Byline of Hope: Collected Newspaper and Magazine Writing of Helen Keller (Advocado Press, 2015).
