Emese Zagyi, a teaching assistant at the Institute for General Theory of Special Needs Education and a PhD student in the Disability Studies Doctoral Workshop, attended the University of Leeds Disability Studies Conference from April 14–16, 2026.
Held every two years, the Leeds Disability Studies Conference is one of the leading international professional forums in disability studies, playing a key role in shaping the European and global academic discourse in this field.
The 2026 conference focused on the dynamically changing nature of disability studies. Reflecting on the historical development of the field, the plenary speakers identified future research directions and key trends. In addition to British researchers, the event featured presentations by researchers from numerous countries, including Sweden, the United States, Japan, Portugal, Poland, South Africa, and Australia.
As part of a symposium examining issues of social media and Instagram representation as well as activism, Emese Zagyi presented the initial findings of her ongoing doctoral research and EKÖP research alongside researchers Dr. Julia Bahner and Bev Enion. Her presentation focused on how young adult women with congenital physical disabilities who consume social media content interpret the representation of disability and femininity on various social media platforms.
It was a wonderful experience to participate in the conference; it provided an opportunity to learn about current issues and research trends in disability studies, as well as to actively engage in international academic dialogue. In addition, I had the opportunity to strengthen existing international professional relationships and lay the groundwork for new collaborations.
This research was conducted with professional support from the Ministry of Culture and Innovation’s University Research Fellowship Program (code number EKÖP-25), funded by the National Research, Development, and Innovation Fund.