Using Artificial Intelligence to improve special education

Using Artificial Intelligence to improve special education

Artificial intelligence has the potential to be an effective instrument in the assistance of children with special education needs. One way AI can be utilized in this context is through adaptive learning systems, which can personalize training to the needs and skills of individual students by altering the difficulty and substance of the material provided depending on data on a student’s performance. AI can also be used to help students with special education requirements by providing communication and interaction methods like text-to-speech and speech-to-text systems.

By examining data on academic achievement, behavior, and other aspects, AI can also be used to identify kids who might require special education assistance. But it’s crucial to proceed cautiously with the usage of AI in this situation and to take into account the particular demands and skills of each individual learner. Moreover, it’s critical to understand that AI algorithms should only be used as one tool among many in the process of identifying kids who could require special education services. They should not be used as a substitute for certified educators’ and other professionals’ professional evaluations and assessments.

There are several ways in which AI can help these students, including in testing, content descriptions, and webpage interactions. One example is the use of advanced speech synthesis technologies, based on machine learning models, to improve the user experience for students with disabilities who rely on assistive technologies. AI techniques can also be used to automatically describe images, allowing subject matter experts to refine the content or determine whether it should be written from scratch. AI-based tools can also be used to help with interactions for students who are unable to see content, such as a “seeing” AI that could help students who find webpage content to be visually stimulating by reading aloud headings on a page.

Let me list some websites / online tools offering great service to Children with special needs

  • IXL Worldwide is a dynamic, immersive website offering adaptive learning for students with disabilities
  • Co:Writer: This AI-powered writing tool helps students with special education needs to write more independently by providing word prediction, vocabulary support, and other writing support features.
  • Typing Pal: This web-based typing tutor uses AI to provide personalized instruction and support for students with special education needs, including those with physical disabilities.
  • Hear2Read: This web-based tool uses AI to provide text-to-speech support for students with special education needs, including those with dyslexia and other reading difficulties.
  • Dyslexia Games: This web-based platform uses AI to provide personalized instruction and support for students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties through a series of interactive games.
  • Read&Write for Google Chrome: Boost reading and writing confidence across all types of content and devices, in class, at work, and at home.
  • Dyslex.ie: It helps the dyslexia community of all ages boost their confidence and level the playing field, empowering them to increase their reading ability with our free intuitive and automatic software.

However, AI-based design and development is often driven by the needs and behaviors of the “average user,” and people with disabilities may fall outside of this experience. As a result, it is important to carefully consider the unique needs and abilities of each individual student when using AI in education.

Also the potential for bias in the data used to train AI algorithms and the possibility of relying too heavily on AI to make these decisions. It is important to ensure that the use of AI in education is guided by ethical principles and does not perpetuate existing inequalities or disadvantage certain groups of students.

While full automation may not be feasible at present, significant progress has been made in using AI to assess compliance with accessibility guidelines. As more organizations adopt this practice, the assessment of compliance will become more efficient and streamlined. As we continue to explore the use of AI in improving accessibility, we will discover additional ways in which it can help ensure that students with disabilities have access to high-quality learning experiences.

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