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Meet the Presenters

Laura Lesmana Wijaya and Ailing Xiao

Laura Lesmana Wijaya, born into a deaf family in Jakarta, Indonesia, is a passionate advocate for sign language teaching, interpreting, education, and community empowerment. She holds a Higher Diploma in Sign Language Teaching and Sign Linguistics, along with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sign Linguistics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

As the leader of the Sign Language Centre in Indonesia (Pusbisindo), Laura has expanded the organisation to 15 branches since 2017, providing vital sign language education and employment opportunities for over 100 deaf instructors. She also conducts research at the University of Indonesia’s Sign Language Research Laboratory and leads the Sign Language Interpreter Development division at the Centre for Sign Language Interpreting Service, affiliated with the Indonesian Association for the Welfare of the Deaf.

Laura’s advocacy extends across multiple sectors, including mental health, women’s rights, and education for marginalised communities. She is also the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Sports Association of the Deaf, demonstrating her deep commitment to community empowerment.

Ailing Xiao is a sign language interpreter and coordinator for a multinational company. She relocated from China to Spain after completing her master’s degree in linguistics with a focus on sign language policy and planning from Shanghai International Studies University. A late awareness of her identity as a GODA has deepened her commitment to engaging with the deaf community and supporting BIPOC individuals worldwide. Xiao brings valuable experience working with universities, research institutions, NGOs, and deaf communities throughout China, providing interpreting services in Chinese Sign Language, International Sign, Chinese, and English. She is actively involved in multilingual interpreting in international contexts and in projects related to SLI/T education.

This session navigates the intersection of interpreting performance and accessibility, examining how AI-generated captions can simultaneously enhance professional interpreting and empower deaf professionals in real-time communication contexts.

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