AI is a game changer for students with disabilities. Schools are still learning to harness it
Artificial intelligence holds the promise of helping countless other students with a range of visual, speech, language and hearing impairments to execute tasks that come easily to others
By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH
Published - Dec 26, 2024, 01:06 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 26, 2024, 01:06 PM EST
For Makenzie Gilkison, spelling is such a struggle that a word like rhinoceros might come out as “rineanswsaurs” or sarcastic as “srkastik.”
The 14-year-old from suburban Indianapolis can sound out words, but her dyslexia makes the process so draining that she often struggles with comprehension. “I just assumed I was stupid,” she recalled of her early grade school years.
But assistive technology powered by artificial intelligence has helped her keep up with classmates. Last year, Makenzie was named to the National Junior Honor Society. She credits a customized AI-powered chatbot, a word prediction program and other tools that can read for her.
“I would have just probably given up if I didn’t have them,” she said.
