Ariana Aboulafia
@arianaaboulafia.bsky.social
disability rights activist.
tech policy’s biggest swiftie.
views my own. 🏳️🌈⚖️
tech policy’s biggest swiftie.
views my own. 🏳️🌈⚖️
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
CDT’s @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social pens a new op-ed in @techpolicypress.bsky.social examining how surveillance tech is creating chilling effects for disabled protestors, limiting their ability to exercise their First Amendment rights safely and fully.
Surveillance Tech Heightens Chilling Effects for Disabled Protestors | TechPolicy.Press
AI surveillance, mask bans, and biometrics threaten disabled people’s ability to exercise their right to assemble peaceably, argues Ariana Aboulafia.
www.techpolicy.press
December 17, 2025 at 2:09 PM
CDT’s @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social pens a new op-ed in @techpolicypress.bsky.social examining how surveillance tech is creating chilling effects for disabled protestors, limiting their ability to exercise their First Amendment rights safely and fully.
my latest piece for @techpolicypress.bsky.social focuses on how #surveillance tech can chill the first amendment-protected rights of disabled people to engage in protest.
protest is a vital check on authoritarianism, and everyone should be able to access it.
www.techpolicy.press/surveillance...
protest is a vital check on authoritarianism, and everyone should be able to access it.
www.techpolicy.press/surveillance...
Surveillance Tech Heightens Chilling Effects for Disabled Protestors | TechPolicy.Press
AI surveillance, mask bans, and biometrics threaten disabled people’s ability to exercise their right to assemble peaceably, argues Ariana Aboulafia.
www.techpolicy.press
December 16, 2025 at 3:29 PM
my latest piece for @techpolicypress.bsky.social focuses on how #surveillance tech can chill the first amendment-protected rights of disabled people to engage in protest.
protest is a vital check on authoritarianism, and everyone should be able to access it.
www.techpolicy.press/surveillance...
protest is a vital check on authoritarianism, and everyone should be able to access it.
www.techpolicy.press/surveillance...
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
In other news, the whole thing about Calibri v. TNR isn't about a font face, it's about the fact that Calibri is easier for people with some disabilities to read.
They think any accommodation, however painless, should stop.
They think any accommodation, however painless, should stop.
December 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
In other news, the whole thing about Calibri v. TNR isn't about a font face, it's about the fact that Calibri is easier for people with some disabilities to read.
They think any accommodation, however painless, should stop.
They think any accommodation, however painless, should stop.
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
The department under Blinken in early January 2023 had switched to Calibri, a modern sans-serif font, saying this was a more accessible font for people with disabilities because it did not have the decorative angular features and was the default in Microsoft products.
Rubio orders diplomats to return to using Times New Roman, ousting Calibri | CNN Politics
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor Antony Blinken's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move, according to an internal d...
www.cnn.com
December 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The department under Blinken in early January 2023 had switched to Calibri, a modern sans-serif font, saying this was a more accessible font for people with disabilities because it did not have the decorative angular features and was the default in Microsoft products.
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
“Among licensed special education teachers, 57% said they used AI to help with IEPs or 504 plans during the 2024-2025 school year, according to a new report from CDT. That’s up 18% from just one year prior.”
Concerns Raised As Teachers Increasingly Use AI To Write IEPs
The number of teachers using AI to develop individualized education programs for students with disabilities is surging, but so too are questions about what role the technology should play.
www.disabilityscoop.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
“Among licensed special education teachers, 57% said they used AI to help with IEPs or 504 plans during the 2024-2025 school year, according to a new report from CDT. That’s up 18% from just one year prior.”
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
• To Reduce Disability Bias in Technology, Start With Disability Data (by
@arianaaboulafia.bsky.social, @mbogen.bsky.social, @bonnieswenor.bsky.social: cdt.org/insights/rep...
Huge congrats to all CDT teams and partners who made this work possible.
@arianaaboulafia.bsky.social, @mbogen.bsky.social, @bonnieswenor.bsky.social: cdt.org/insights/rep...
Huge congrats to all CDT teams and partners who made this work possible.
Report – To Reduce Disability Bias in Technology, Start With Disability Data
This report was also authored by Bonnielin Swenor, Director of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center. Introduction When people with disabilities interact with technologies, there is a risk that they will face discriminatory impacts in several important and high-stakes contexts, like employment, benefits, and healthcare. For example, many jobs use automated employment decision tools […]
cdt.org
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
• To Reduce Disability Bias in Technology, Start With Disability Data (by
@arianaaboulafia.bsky.social, @mbogen.bsky.social, @bonnieswenor.bsky.social: cdt.org/insights/rep...
Huge congrats to all CDT teams and partners who made this work possible.
@arianaaboulafia.bsky.social, @mbogen.bsky.social, @bonnieswenor.bsky.social: cdt.org/insights/rep...
Huge congrats to all CDT teams and partners who made this work possible.
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
Honored projects include:
• Building a Disability-Inclusive AI Ecosystem with @aapd.com (by @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social + Henry Claypool)
• Building a Disability-Inclusive AI Ecosystem with @aapd.com (by @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social + Henry Claypool)
Building A Disability-Inclusive AI Ecosystem: A Cross-Disability, Cross-Systems Analysis Of Best Practices
This report is co-authored by AAPD’s Henry Claypool. In 2021, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) released a report entitled “Centering Disability in Technology Policy: Issue Landscape and Potential Opportunities for Action.” This represented a significant milestone in a partnership between AAPD and CDT to […]
cdt.org
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Honored projects include:
• Building a Disability-Inclusive AI Ecosystem with @aapd.com (by @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social + Henry Claypool)
• Building a Disability-Inclusive AI Ecosystem with @aapd.com (by @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social + Henry Claypool)
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
Celebrating purpose & mission-driven work from CDT in 2025. 🎉
Three CDT policy projects were recognized at the 5th Annual Anthem Awards — earning Silver across categories spanning DEIB and Responsible Technology. cdt.org/insights/cdt...
Three CDT policy projects were recognized at the 5th Annual Anthem Awards — earning Silver across categories spanning DEIB and Responsible Technology. cdt.org/insights/cdt...
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Celebrating purpose & mission-driven work from CDT in 2025. 🎉
Three CDT policy projects were recognized at the 5th Annual Anthem Awards — earning Silver across categories spanning DEIB and Responsible Technology. cdt.org/insights/cdt...
Three CDT policy projects were recognized at the 5th Annual Anthem Awards — earning Silver across categories spanning DEIB and Responsible Technology. cdt.org/insights/cdt...
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
CDT joins the disability community in honoring the life of Alice Wong, who passed away Friday. A fearless disability justice leader and MacArthur Fellow, Alice built unapologetic spaces for disabled people to share their stories and shape policy.
Read more about her impact: www.npr.org/2025/11/...
November 18, 2025 at 12:49 AM
CDT joins the disability community in honoring the life of Alice Wong, who passed away Friday. A fearless disability justice leader and MacArthur Fellow, Alice built unapologetic spaces for disabled people to share their stories and shape policy.
Read more about her impact: www.npr.org/2025/11/...
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
Thanks for writing such a great chapter @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social — I learned a lot from you and I know our readers will too. #DigitalAccessibilityEthics #AI #disability #a11y #BookSky
exciting news! I wrote a chapter for this book, which introduces the first #DigitalAccessibilityEthics framework. my chapter focuses on how #AI tools impact disabled people at work, and how #accessibility ethics can build more inclusive workplaces.
pre-order here: www.amazon.com/Digital-Acce...
pre-order here: www.amazon.com/Digital-Acce...
November 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Thanks for writing such a great chapter @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social — I learned a lot from you and I know our readers will too. #DigitalAccessibilityEthics #AI #disability #a11y #BookSky
exciting news! I wrote a chapter for this book, which introduces the first #DigitalAccessibilityEthics framework. my chapter focuses on how #AI tools impact disabled people at work, and how #accessibility ethics can build more inclusive workplaces.
pre-order here: www.amazon.com/Digital-Acce...
pre-order here: www.amazon.com/Digital-Acce...
November 12, 2025 at 3:08 PM
exciting news! I wrote a chapter for this book, which introduces the first #DigitalAccessibilityEthics framework. my chapter focuses on how #AI tools impact disabled people at work, and how #accessibility ethics can build more inclusive workplaces.
pre-order here: www.amazon.com/Digital-Acce...
pre-order here: www.amazon.com/Digital-Acce...
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
while i have your attention
November 8, 2025 at 11:21 PM
while i have your attention
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
Democrats swept key elections on Tuesday, delivering a rebuke of President Trump’s second term and boosting the party’s hopes ahead of the midterms.
Here are some of the top wins:
Here are some of the top wins:
Five takeaways as Democrats sweep elections in New Jersey and Virginia
The party won the governor’s race in both states and a state attorney general’s contest that was up in the air, as voters delivered a rebuke of President Donald Trump.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Democrats swept key elections on Tuesday, delivering a rebuke of President Trump’s second term and boosting the party’s hopes ahead of the midterms.
Here are some of the top wins:
Here are some of the top wins:
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
“CDT published a brief on ‘the use of generative AI models to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) for disabled students.’"
October 2025 US Tech Policy Roundup | TechPolicy.Press
A roundup from Freedman Consulting and Tech Policy Press of the most important US tech policy developments in the federal government, Congress, and the courts.
www.techpolicy.press
November 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
“CDT published a brief on ‘the use of generative AI models to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) for disabled students.’"
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
November 3, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
Key findings from Civic Tech polling: 57% of teachers used AI for IEPs or 504 plans in 2024–25 — up 18 points from last year. CDT’s @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social outlines guidance for teachers, schools, disability advocates, & AI developers to help ensure equitable outcomes.
From Personalized to Programmed: The Use of Generative AI to Develop Individualized Education Programs for Students with Disabilities
Executive Summary The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools is becoming more commonplace, including the use of generative AI models to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) for disabled students. A recent poll from the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) found that 57% of teachers reported using AI to develop an IEP or 504 […]
cdt.org
October 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Key findings from Civic Tech polling: 57% of teachers used AI for IEPs or 504 plans in 2024–25 — up 18 points from last year. CDT’s @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social outlines guidance for teachers, schools, disability advocates, & AI developers to help ensure equitable outcomes.
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
How is AI changing education for students with disabilities? CDT Ariana Aboulafia’s new brief, From Personalized to Programmed, explores the rise of generative AI in developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and the legal, ethical, and practical implications. cdt.org/insights/fro...
October 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
How is AI changing education for students with disabilities? CDT Ariana Aboulafia’s new brief, From Personalized to Programmed, explores the rise of generative AI in developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and the legal, ethical, and practical implications. cdt.org/insights/fro...
IEPs are vital tools for disabled students, and research from @cdt.org shows that 57% of teachers are using #AI to create them. this brief unpacks the risks of using #genAI to develop IEPs (incl. under IDEA & FERPA) & provides recommendations on responsible use. more here! ⤵️
cdt.org/insights/fro...
cdt.org/insights/fro...
From Personalized to Programmed: The Use of Generative AI to Develop Individualized Education Programs for Students with Disabilities
Executive Summary The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools is becoming more commonplace, including the use of generative AI models to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) for dis...
cdt.org
October 30, 2025 at 2:13 PM
IEPs are vital tools for disabled students, and research from @cdt.org shows that 57% of teachers are using #AI to create them. this brief unpacks the risks of using #genAI to develop IEPs (incl. under IDEA & FERPA) & provides recommendations on responsible use. more here! ⤵️
cdt.org/insights/fro...
cdt.org/insights/fro...
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
hang this in the louvre (there's room now)
October 20, 2025 at 2:57 AM
hang this in the louvre (there's room now)
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
More Americans are biting their tongues, not because they don’t care, but because they’re afraid to speak.
From DEI to the war in Gaza, people are more afraid to speak their minds now than during the Red Scare, according to a political scientist who has been conducting surveys.
buff.ly/Ls2m7mv
From DEI to the war in Gaza, people are more afraid to speak their minds now than during the Red Scare, according to a political scientist who has been conducting surveys.
buff.ly/Ls2m7mv
Self-censorship and the ‘spiral of silence’: Why Americans are less likely to publicly voice their opinions on political issues
Nearly half of Americans say they feel less free to speak their minds.
buff.ly
October 13, 2025 at 2:30 AM
More Americans are biting their tongues, not because they don’t care, but because they’re afraid to speak.
From DEI to the war in Gaza, people are more afraid to speak their minds now than during the Red Scare, according to a political scientist who has been conducting surveys.
buff.ly/Ls2m7mv
From DEI to the war in Gaza, people are more afraid to speak their minds now than during the Red Scare, according to a political scientist who has been conducting surveys.
buff.ly/Ls2m7mv
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
CDT’s @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social penned a new @techpolicypress.bsky.social op-ed on the DOJ’s lawsuit against Uber, highlighting how tech companies should improve their policies impacting disabled users, & how policymakers should aim to dismantle structural barriers to accessibility.
DOJ’s Lawsuit Against Uber Illustrates the Limits of Tech Innovation for Accessibility | TechPolicy.Press
Ariana Aboulafia explains how DOJ's Uber suit not only highlights the challenges for disabled riders, but also the limits of tech’s promise of accessibility.
www.techpolicy.press
October 1, 2025 at 4:15 PM
CDT’s @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social penned a new @techpolicypress.bsky.social op-ed on the DOJ’s lawsuit against Uber, highlighting how tech companies should improve their policies impacting disabled users, & how policymakers should aim to dismantle structural barriers to accessibility.
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
The unusual ruling delivered a searing rebuke to the Trump administration on grounds of violating the First Amendment.
Judge Finds Rubio and Noem Intentionally Targeted Pro-Palestine Activists to Chill Speech
The unusual ruling considered the Trump administration’s targeting of students a clear violation of the First Amendment.
interc.pt
September 30, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The unusual ruling delivered a searing rebuke to the Trump administration on grounds of violating the First Amendment.
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
CDT's recommendations: employers should assess the usefulness and necessity of hiring technology; deployments should adhere to accessibility guidelines (eg WCAG); and human oversight should be incorporated into all stages of using the technology
September 26, 2025 at 8:52 PM
CDT's recommendations: employers should assess the usefulness and necessity of hiring technology; deployments should adhere to accessibility guidelines (eg WCAG); and human oversight should be incorporated into all stages of using the technology
Reposted by Ariana Aboulafia
Next up! The wonderful @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social at @cdt.org giving a talk on the exclusion of disabled workers by digitized hiring assessments.
Background: companies are incorporating hiring technologies into employment decisions, which poses risks of discrimination and poor accessibility
Background: companies are incorporating hiring technologies into employment decisions, which poses risks of discrimination and poor accessibility
September 26, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Next up! The wonderful @arianaaboulafia.bsky.social at @cdt.org giving a talk on the exclusion of disabled workers by digitized hiring assessments.
Background: companies are incorporating hiring technologies into employment decisions, which poses risks of discrimination and poor accessibility
Background: companies are incorporating hiring technologies into employment decisions, which poses risks of discrimination and poor accessibility