Daniel Freitas

PhD Student

Daniel Freitas is a PhD candidate in Informatics at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. His doctoral research focuses on developing inclusive methodologies for conducting user research with individuals with Cerebral Palsy and Complex Communication Needs in the design of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technologies. He is supervised by Professor Carlos Duarte and Professor Jaime Ribeiro.

He holds a BSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico and an MSc in Human–Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University.

In parallel with his academic work, Freitas is a consultant at the MEO Foundation, where he leads projects at the intersection of technology, accessibility, and social impact. His research and professional interests include assistive technology design, inclusive HCI, and digital participation of people with disabilities across educational, clinical, and social contexts.