The 38th annual South by Southwest (SXSW) conglomeration of festivals and conferences for music, film, education, and more starts next week in Austin, TX. And Scribely is going to be there! We are hosting a panel discussion called “Transforming Media for Disabled Audiences” that will feature Keely Cat-Wells (Making Space), Amanda Kauffman (GIPHY), and Lucy Edwards (Sunrise Entertainment & 84 World). We’re excited to be part of bringing accessibility in front of such influential audiences, and we hope that it will really help move the needle forward for accessible media.
But we’re not the only ones who will be speaking about accessibility, inclusion, social impact, and diversity. There will actually be 55 sessions with 161 speakers addressing these topics, which is incredible! We’ve curated the sessions below, organized by topic, as well as in this downloadable spreadsheet, which can be sorted as needed. Whether you’re attending live or planning to watch sessions later, we hope this makes it easier to figure the ones that are right for you.
Note: All times are listed in Central Time (CT), the time zone of Austin, TX, where SXSW is held.
SXSW Accessibility Sessions (15 sessions)
March 8
Designing Accessible Games for All to Play
- March 8 at 11:30am
- Salon 7 at JW Marriott
March 9
Disabled Artists and Filmmakers Meet Up
- March 9 at 10am
- Room 410 at Hilton Austin Downtown
Eliminating Inspiration Porn from Disability Stories
- March 9 at 11:30am
- Room 15 at Austin Convention Center
Transforming Media for Disabled Audiences
- March 9 at 11:30am
- Room 9C at Austin Convention Center
Accessibility: The New Key to Building Brand Engagement
- March 9 at 4pm
- Salon FGH at JW Marriott
Structures of Feeling: Imagining Disability as Design Lens
- March 9 at 4pm
- Salon 7 at JW Marriott
March 10
Tech Accessibility: A Key to Inclusion
- March 10 at 11:30am
- Salon J and Hilton Austin Downtown
Design + Accessibility: A Semi-Dark Experience
- March 10 at 2:30 pm
- Salon 7 at JW Marriott
March 11
Coding Accessibility: Developing Our Inclusive Future
- March 11 at 10am
- Salon K at Hilton Austin Downtown
Next-Level XR: People with Disabilities Unlocking New Worlds
- March 11 at 10am
- Manchester A at Fairmont
Designing a Disability-Forward Housing Future
- March 11 at 11:30am
- Salon A at Hilton Austin Downtown
March 12
Bringing Accessibility to XR Games
- March 12 at 10am
- Manchester GG at Fairmont
How Autonomous Vehicles Provide Accessible Transportation
- March 12 at 2:30pm
- Salon F at Hilton Austin Downtown
Everyone Will Become Disabled - If You're Lucky
- March 12 at 4pm
- Waller Room DEF at Austin Marriott Downtown
March 13
The Future of Tech-Enabled Accessible Mobility
- March 13 at 2:30pm
- Salon G at Hilton Austin Downtown
SXSW DEI Sessions (4 Sessions)
March 9
Forecasting Workplace: The Changing Landscape of DEI
- March 9 at 4pm
- Waller Room C at Austin Marriott Downtown
March 11
Navigating DEI Initiatives in 2024 and Beyond
- March 11 at 4pm
- Waller Room DEF at Austin Marriott Downtown
March 12
Mass Solidarity to Mass Loss: The Exodus of DEI Leadership
- March 12 at 11:30am
- Waller Room DEF at Austin Marriott Downtown
March 13
DEI in Tech: Restoring Commitments During Challenging Times
- March 13 at 10am
- Salon K at Hilton Austin Downtown
SXSW Diversity Sessions (16 Sessions)
March 8
Negate Hate: LGBTQ Brand Advocacy in a Time of Anti-Wokeness
- March 8 at 11:30am
- Salon FGH at JW Marriott
March 9
Defending Democracy: LGBTQ Activism and Power in 2024
- March 9 at 11:30am
- Salon A at Hilton Austin Downtown
Bad Workplace Culture is Giving Burnout
- March 9 at 2:30pm
- Waller Room DEF at Austin Marriott Downtown
Visibility Matters: Native Women Leaders Creating Change
- March 9 at 4pm
- Room 9AB at Austin Convention Center
March 10
Diversity in Gaming: What to do to get it right
- March 10 at 2:30pm
- Manchester GG at Fairmont
We're Here, We're Queer: LGBTQIA+ Meet Up
- March 10 at 4pm
- Room 408 at Hilton Austin Downtown
Human Rights Campaign Happy Hour!
- March 10 at TBD
- 4th street side, 4th floor outside at Austin Convention Center
March 11
The Importance of Diverse Voices in Podcasting
- March 11 at 10am
- Room 6AB at Austin Convention Center
The Rebirth of Pride Night in American Professional Sports
- March 11 at 11:30am
- Ballroom CD at Four Seasons
Black Creators & Artists Meetup
- March 11 at 4pm
- Room 408 at Hilton Austin Downtown
March 12
The Missing Diversity Conversation: The Power of Generations
- March 12 at 10am
- Waller Room C at Austin Marriott Downtown
Diversity, AI, and the Future of Hollywood
- March 12 at 11:30am
- Room 12AB at Austin Convention Center
Learning in Unexpected Ways: Power of Personal Narratives
- March 12 at 11:30am
- Waller Room C at Austin Marriott Downtown
Women in Music Annual Meetup
- March 12 at 11:30am
- Brazos Room at JW Marriott
Laughing Together: Mental Health & Comedy
- March 12 at 2:30pm
- Brazos I-III at Courtyard Marriott
The Power of LGBTQ+ Creators that Hollywood Can't Replicate
- March 12 at 4pm
- Room 5ABC at Austin Convention Center
SXSW Equity Sessions (5 Sessions)
March 9
Representation Matters: Improving Health Equity
- March 9 at 11:30am
- Onyx Ballroom 1 at The LINE
Unveiling the Truth of Social Equity in Cannabis
- March 9 at 4:30pm
- Salon B at Hilton Austin Downtown
March 10
How Design Thinking Protects White Supremacy
- March 10 at 10am
- Salon 7 at JW Marriott
Futurescape 2050: Charting the Course for Equity and Justice
- March 10 at 2:30pm
- Salon ABC at JW Marriott
March 12
Redesigning Tech for Equity Meet Up
- March 12 at 2:30pm
- Room 408 at Hilton Austin Downtown
SXSW Inclusion Sessions (10 Sessions)
March 8
On The Margins: Building The Future Of Digital Products
- March 8 at 11:30am
- Salon K at Hilton Austin Downtown
March 9
Designing a More Innovative and Inclusive Footwear Industry
- March 9 at 11:30am
- Salon 7 at JW Marriott
March 10
Unlimited Upside: Why Investing in Women’s Sports is a Win
- March 10 at 11:30am
- Ballroom CD at Four Seasons
Navigating Beauty's Divide for an Inclusive Tomorrow
- March 10 at 2:30pm
- Salon 1-2 at JW Marriott
Built for Billions: Lessons in Inclusive Design from India
- March 10 at 4pm
- Salon 7 at JW Marriott
Create Inclusive Beauty Communities By Knowing Your Audience
- March 10 at 4pm
- Salon 1-2 at JW Marriott
March 11
Beyond Tokenism: The 'Invisible Pathway to Promotion'
- March 11 at 10am
- Waller Room C at Austin Marriott Downtown
How to Practice Inclusive Motion Design
- March 11 at 2:30pm
- Salon 7 at JW Marriott
March 12
Tech For All: Unlocking Creativity with Inclusive Innovation
- March 12 at 10am
- Room 18CD at Austin Convention Center
March 13
Inclusive Content Creation: An Agency, Creator and Brand POV
- March 13 at 10am
- Room 5ABC at Austin Convention Center
SXSW Social Impact/Justice Sessions (5 Sessions)
March 8
Social Impact Founders Meet Up
- March 8 at 2:30pm
- Room 406 at Hilton Austin Downtown
March 9
Branding Movements: Advertising for Impact
- March 9 at 11:30am
- Salon FGH at JW Marriott
Featured Session: Masterclass: Storytelling for Social Impact
- March 9 at 11:30am
- Room 16AB at Austin Convention Center
March 10
Social Justice Meet Up
- March 10 at 11:30am
- Room 406 at Hilton Austin Downtown
March 12
Designing the Social Infrastructure of Community
- March 12 at 10am
- Salon 6 at JW Marriott
If you’re planning to come to our session, please make sure to say hi so we can meet you!
