Parallel Session at HCI International 2027
Organisers: Dr Nigel Newbutt, University of Florida and Dr Marc Fabri, Leeds Beckett University
Extended Abstract Submission: 4th December 2026
Notification of Acceptance: 15th December 2026
Full Paper Due: end of January 2027
Conference Dates: 25th – 30st July 2027
Location: Estrel Hotel and Congress Centre, Berlin, Germany
Conference Website: https://2027.hci.international/duxu
Background
Building on insights emerging from our “Enabling Technologies for Neurodiversity at Work” session at HCII 2026, this new session focuses on the next generation of HCI research surrounding neurodiversity at work.
While the 2026 session highlighted training, employability, participation and inclusiveness, the 2027 session extends this discussion to the longer-term challenges of recruitment, career development, leadership, sustainable employment and the organisational adoption of neuroinclusive technologies.
Overview
This session explores how Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) research and design can advance neurodiversity inclusion in the workplace through innovative and enabling technologies. As organizations increasingly seek to build equitable, inclusive work environments, there is a growing need for evidence-based approaches that empower neurodivergent individuals (including those who identify as autistic, dyslexic, ADHD, dyspraxic, or otherwise neurodivergent), at every stage of employment.
Contributions are expected to reflect evidence-based best practices, propose new research frameworks, or present co-created technological solutions that enable neurodivergent people to thrive in professional environments. By bringing together diverse perspectives from research and practice, the session will explore the next generation of HCI approaches to recruitment, participation, career development, and leadership. We especially encourage contributions co-authored with neurodivergent researchers or self-advocates, reflecting participatory and community-informed design practice.
Themes and Topics
- Recruitment, onboarding, and transition into employment, including hiring processes, selection technologies, workplace adaptation, and pathways into professional careers.
- Workplace participation and access, including assistive technologies, communication tools, accommodations, collaboration systems, and inclusive working practices.
- Career development, progression, and leadership, including professional growth, mentoring, management practices, and neurodivergent leadership experiences.
- AI and emerging technologies for neuroinclusion, including generative AI, decision-support systems, workplace coaching tools, and the design of neuroinclusive intelligent systems.
- Critical perspectives on technology and work, including ethical considerations, algorithmic bias, privacy, unintended consequences, surveillance, disclosure, and barriers to adoption.
- Participatory, lived-experience, and evidence-based approaches, including co-design, community-led research, empirical evaluation, longitudinal studies, and impact assessment.
Session Format
The session will open with a brief synthesis framing, connecting this year’s contributions to the themes established in 2026, and will close with a brief, moderated, panel discussion, giving presenters and attendees the opportunity to connect findings across papers in real time.
Submission Details
Submissions should be prepared according to the general HCI International 2027 author guidelines and submitted through the official conference submission process.
Please note that you require an invite to submit your manuscript to this parallel session. To request an invite, contact session co-chair Dr Nigel Newbutt (nigel.newbutt@coe.ufl.edu).
Important dates
- Extended Abstracts (submitted through the regular HCII 2027 process): Dec 22nd 2026
- Author Notifications: early January 2027
- Full Papers: early February 2027
- Please refer to https://2027.hci.international/ for full author instructions and submission deadlines.
Given the proximity of the deadline, prospective authors are encouraged to contact the session chairs as soon as possible to discuss submission plans.
Peer-review
Each submission will undergo a single-blind peer-review by at least two reviewers. Accepted authors will be invited to submit a full paper (8-12 pages). For the full paper, detailed formatting instructions will be given on acceptance of manuscript.
Attending the conference
This parallel session will be held as part of DUXU: The 16th International Conference on Design, User Experience and Usability (https://2027.hci.international/duxu). DUXU is part of HCI International, a long-running conference series, and this year’s event will be hosted in Berlin, Germany.
The parallel session will be scheduled either on the 28th, the 29th or the 30th of July 2027. Please note that one attendee registration per paper is required by mid-February 2027. Attendance can be in-person or virtual. For registration fees and more information, please check the main conference website at https://2027.hci.international.