Courage in the Public Eye
A Higher Education Forum
From Lived Experience to Institutional Action
Saturday, 5 December 2026 | 2.00–5.00 pm | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
About the Forum
What does it mean to thrive in academia when our institutions are not always designed to recognise the different abilities, experiences and circumstances of those who work and study within them?
Courage in the Public Eye is an in-person higher education forum bringing together academics with lived experience, university leaders, researchers and other stakeholders to explore disability, neurodivergence, health, inclusion and institutional responsibility.
Through personal perspectives and open dialogue, the forum seeks to move beyond awareness towards meaningful conversations about how universities can create more inclusive, responsive and supportive academic environments.
The Conversations
The forum brings together six interconnected perspectives on lived experience and academic participation:
ADHD & Neurodivergence
Recognising different ways of thinking, working and contributing within academic environments.
Tenacity in Toxic Environments
Exploring resilience, institutional cultures and the responsibility to create healthier academic workplaces.
Beyond Accessibility: Everyday Inclusion
Moving beyond formal accommodations towards inclusive everyday practices.
Stroke & Academic Life
Understanding changing abilities, professional identity and continued academic contribution.
Parkinson’s & Adaptation
Navigating evolving physical capabilities while maintaining academic engagement and purpose.
Institutional Perspectives: Responsibility & Change
Examining how universities can translate understanding into policies, practices and meaningful action.
From Lived Experience to Institutional Action
Personal stories can challenge assumptions, generate understanding and open important conversations. But awareness alone is not enough.
This forum invites participants to consider what universities can do differently, how institutional practices might evolve, and how we can recognise academic excellence and contribution in ways that embrace human difference.
Our ambition is not simply to discuss inclusion, but to encourage the conversations and connections that make change possible.
Meet Our Speakers
Our forum features individuals bringing personal experiences, professional insights and institutional perspectives to the conversation.
Join the Conversation
Saturday 5 December 2026
Time: 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (venue to be advised)
Format: In-person higher education forum
We welcome academics, postgraduate researchers, university leaders, human resources professionals, disability and inclusion advocates, and others committed to creating more inclusive academic environments.
Supporting the Conversation
Academic Warriors welcomes engagement from universities, organisations and institutional partners who share our commitment to inclusive academic participation.
We also welcome conversations with potential sponsors interested in supporting the forum and helping extend its reach and impact.
Together, we can help move the conversation from lived experience to institutional action.