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AI is Changing Education for Students with Disabilities
AI-driven assistive technologies are enabling students with disabilities to overcome challenges and achieve academic success alongside their peers.
Date of writing
December 26, 2024
Time of reading
2 minutes
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing education by providing unprecedented support to students with disabilities, according to AP News. AI-driven assistive technologies are enabling these students to overcome challenges and achieve academic success alongside their peers.
Consider the experience of 14-year-old Makenzie Gilkison from suburban Indianapolis. Makenzie, who has dyslexia, found spelling and reading comprehension to be exhausting tasks. She recalls, "I just assumed I was stupid." However, the introduction of AI-powered tools, such as customized chatbots and word prediction programs, transformed her educational journey. These technologies read for her and assist in organizing her thoughts, enabling her to keep pace with her classmates. Makenzie credits these tools for her induction into the National Junior Honor Society, stating, "I would have just probably given up if I didn’t have them."
AI's benefits extend beyond dyslexia to assist students with various visual, speech, language, and hearing impairments. For instance, AI-powered real-time transcription and text-to-speech applications enhance learning experiences for students with hearing impairments, making classrooms more inclusive.
Ben Snyder, a 14-year-old freshman from Larchmont, New York, who was recently diagnosed with a learning disability, has been increasingly using AI to help with homework. He notes, "Sometimes in math, my teachers will explain a problem to me, but it just makes absolutely no sense. So if I plug that problem into AI, it’ll give me multiple different ways of explaining how to do that." He appreciates that AI can provide various explanations, aiding his understanding.
The U.S. Department of Education emphasizes the importance of integrating these technologies, advising schools to consider whether students require tools like text-to-speech and alternative communication devices. Additionally, new regulations from the Department of Justice mandate that educational institutions ensure their digital content is accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.
However, the integration of AI in education is not without challenges. Educators are tasked with balancing the advantages of AI assistance against the necessity for students to develop essential skills independently. Mary Lawson, general counsel at the Council of the Great City Schools, cautions that while AI can level the playing field, it should not replace the learning process itself. She notes that if a special education plan sets reading growth as a goal, the student needs to improve that skill, and AI can’t do it for them.
The National Science Foundation is investing in AI research to further support students with disabilities. Projects include developing tools to assist children with speech and language difficulties, aiming to create more inclusive educational environments.
In conclusion, AI is proving to be a transformative force in special education, offering tools that empower students with disabilities to achieve their full potential. As schools continue to adopt and refine these technologies, the focus remains on ensuring that AI serves as a complement to traditional learning, enhancing accessibility without compromising the development of fundamental skills.
Consider the experience of 14-year-old Makenzie Gilkison from suburban Indianapolis. Makenzie, who has dyslexia, found spelling and reading comprehension to be exhausting tasks. She recalls, "I just assumed I was stupid." However, the introduction of AI-powered tools, such as customized chatbots and word prediction programs, transformed her educational journey. These technologies read for her and assist in organizing her thoughts, enabling her to keep pace with her classmates. Makenzie credits these tools for her induction into the National Junior Honor Society, stating, "I would have just probably given up if I didn’t have them."
AI's benefits extend beyond dyslexia to assist students with various visual, speech, language, and hearing impairments. For instance, AI-powered real-time transcription and text-to-speech applications enhance learning experiences for students with hearing impairments, making classrooms more inclusive.
Ben Snyder, a 14-year-old freshman from Larchmont, New York, who was recently diagnosed with a learning disability, has been increasingly using AI to help with homework. He notes, "Sometimes in math, my teachers will explain a problem to me, but it just makes absolutely no sense. So if I plug that problem into AI, it’ll give me multiple different ways of explaining how to do that." He appreciates that AI can provide various explanations, aiding his understanding.
The U.S. Department of Education emphasizes the importance of integrating these technologies, advising schools to consider whether students require tools like text-to-speech and alternative communication devices. Additionally, new regulations from the Department of Justice mandate that educational institutions ensure their digital content is accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.
However, the integration of AI in education is not without challenges. Educators are tasked with balancing the advantages of AI assistance against the necessity for students to develop essential skills independently. Mary Lawson, general counsel at the Council of the Great City Schools, cautions that while AI can level the playing field, it should not replace the learning process itself. She notes that if a special education plan sets reading growth as a goal, the student needs to improve that skill, and AI can’t do it for them.
The National Science Foundation is investing in AI research to further support students with disabilities. Projects include developing tools to assist children with speech and language difficulties, aiming to create more inclusive educational environments.
In conclusion, AI is proving to be a transformative force in special education, offering tools that empower students with disabilities to achieve their full potential. As schools continue to adopt and refine these technologies, the focus remains on ensuring that AI serves as a complement to traditional learning, enhancing accessibility without compromising the development of fundamental skills.