For 14-year-old Makenzie Gilkison from suburban Indianapolis, spelling can often prove to be a challenge. A word like rhinoceros might end up as ‘rineanswsaurs’ due to her struggle with dyslexia. ‘I just assumed I was stupid,’ she recalled, reflecting on her grade school years.
Fortunately, assistive technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) has played a crucial role in helping her keep pace with her classmates. Last year, Makenzie was honored with a spot in the National Junior Honor Society, largely thanks to various AI-enabled tools including a customized chatbot and a word prediction program. ‘I would have just probably given up if I didn’t have them,’ she expressed.
AI holds the potential to assist countless other students facing visual, speech, language, and hearing impairments. Across the nation, schools are striving to incorporate AI into their classrooms, especially to benefit students with disabilities.
In a bid to make cutting-edge technology accessible, the U.S. Education Department is prioritizing the integration of tools such as text-to-speech and alternative communication devices. New regulations from the Department of Justice further require that mobile apps and online content be accessible to all students, regardless of their disabilities.
Despite the promising advancements, concerns linger regarding the potential misapplication of these technologies. Educational experts highlight the importance of ensuring that while utilizing AI, students continue to engage in learning. ‘We’re meeting students where they are,’ said Alexis Reid, an educational therapist in Boston.
For students like Ben Snyder, a 14-year-old freshman from Larchmont, New York, AI has become an integral part of his homework assistance. ‘Sometimes in math, my teachers will explain a problem to me, but it just makes absolutely no sense,’ he shared. By inputting problems into AI tools, he receives multiple explanations that resonate with him.
In an effort to strike a balance between AI’s capabilities and genuine skill development, educational institutions are wary of technology that may perform too much of the work for students. ‘If a special education plan sets reading growth as a goal, the student needs to improve that skill—AI can’t do it for them,’ warned Mary Lawson, general counsel at the Council of the Great City Schools.
While concerns remain, it is acknowledged that AI can significantly level the learning field for students facing disabilities. Tools vary from summarizing complex text to transforming difficult literature into digestible formats.
AI is not only evolving its educational applications but is also being embraced by those beyond special education needs. A law in Iowa mandates that students performing below proficiency levels receive individualized reading plans, and the state invested $3 million in an AI-driven tutoring program that employs digital avatars to assist struggling learners.
As the landscape of education technology continues to change, the integration of AI seems poised for growth. Educational leaders emphasize that despite existing hurdles, the potential to foster independence and learning autonomy through technology is immense.
In the words of Makenzie’s mother, Nadine, who oversees technology integration in her district, ‘Now we don’t need to wait anymore.’
- 0 Comments
- Assistive Technology
- Learning Disabilities