AI: A Revolutionary Tool for Students with Disabilities

For 14-year-old Makenzie Gilkison from suburban Indianapolis, spelling words can be quite challenging. A simple word like "rhinoceros" might turn into "rineanswsaurs" or come off sarcastically as "srkastik." Dyslexia makes it especially tough for her to sound out words, causing a drain on her energy and comprehension levels. Reflecting on her earlier school years, she said, "I just assumed I was stupid." However, thanks to assistive technology powered by artificial intelligence, Makenzie has found a way to keep up with her classmates.

Last year, Makenzie achieved a significant milestone by being named to the National Junior Honor Society. She attributes her success to various AI tools, including a customized AI chatbot, a word prediction program, and reading assistants that help her with tasks she previously struggled with. "I would have just probably given up if I didn’t have them," she stated.

Many students with different disabilities, including visual, speech, language, and hearing impairments, stand to benefit from AI technologies. Schools are exploring how to utilize AI effectively, especially for students with disabilities, and many are quick to integrate these solutions.

The U.S. Education Department is prioritizing the integration of new technologies for students with disabilities. They have directed schools to consider essential tools, like text-to-speech software and alternative communication devices, for students who need assistance. Additionally, new regulations from the Department of Justice will mandate that all applications and online material be accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Despite the advancements, there are concerns regarding how effectively students using AI are actually learning. AI can assist students by summarizing complex topics, organizing thoughts, or even translating difficult literature into more understandable language. Voice technology has improved too, offering natural-sounding computer-generated voices that can read text for visually impaired and dyslexic students.

Educational therapist Alexis Reid remarks, "I’ve noticed many students feel like they’ve discovered a cheat code in a video game with AI." However, she emphasizes that this is not deception; it’s about meeting students at their current levels of learning.

Ben Snyder, a 14-year-old freshman from Larchmont, New York, was recently diagnosed with a learning disability. He increasingly turns to AI for homework assistance. He explains that sometimes when his teachers explain math problems, they make no sense to him. By inputting these problems into an AI tool, he can receive multiple explanations and methods for solving them. He uses a program called Question AI, which helped him complete a book report outline in just 15 minutes—a task that would typically take him an hour and a half due to his challenges with writing.

While he appreciates the help, he believes writing an entire report using AI would be crossing the line into cheating, stating, "That’s just cheating." Schools face the challenge of leveraging the benefits of AI while ensuring they do not take away essential learning opportunities. Mary Lawson, the general counsel at the Council of the Great City Schools, emphasizes that if a special education plan sets reading growth as a goal, students need to continue improving that skill, as AI cannot do it for them.

Paul Sanft, director of a Minnesota-based center for assistive technology, believes that AI has the potential to level the playing field for students with disabilities. He acknowledges that some may misuse these tools, but he emphasizes that many students are simply trying to achieve what they could not do otherwise.

Another concern involves AI incorrectly funneling students into less demanding courses or unintentionally disclosing their disabilities. Luis Pérez, an expert in disability and digital inclusion, points out that if AI reveals a student's disability rather than them or their family, it raises ethical issues.

Schools are also deploying technology to assist students who may not qualify for special education services but still need academic support. In Iowa, a new law mandates personalized reading plans for about a quarter of students deemed not proficient. The state has invested $3 million in an AI-driven tutoring program that features digital avatars to intervene when students face difficulties.

More AI advancements are on the horizon. The U.S. National Science Foundation is funding research and development in this area. One initiative aims to create tools for children with speech and language challenges through the National AI Institute for Exceptional Education, located at the University of Buffalo.

Venu Govindaraju, director of the institute, mentioned that while their technology excels at solving postal applications with high accuracy, it struggles with children's handwriting recognition and speech-to-text technology, especially when dealing with speech issues.

Schools can find it challenging to navigate numerous educational tech programs efficiently. Richard Culatta, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education, noted that the nonprofit is working to simplify the process for districts to evaluate what they purchase and ensure it meets accessibility standards.

Makenzie wishes AI tools were more user-friendly. She has experienced features being turned off unexpectedly, leaving her without essential support briefly while tech teams investigate issues. These hurdles can discourage some students from using the technology at all.

Still, Makenzie’s mother, Nadine Gilkison, who oversees technology integration at Franklin Township Community School Corporation in Indiana, believes the potential benefits greatly outweigh the negatives. Her district recently introduced chatbots to assist high school special education students. The program has been quite emotional for teachers, who previously found it hard to give their students the help they needed. Nadine expressed optimism, saying, "Now we don’t need to wait anymore."

AI, Education, Disabilities, Technology, Students