AI, Accessibility, and Disabilities
Some of the following are ideas about AI use for students that need help with accessibility or to help overcome their disability in the classroom and in coursework:
1 - Use a deep-fake generator to produce an avatar, and or a voice over, to replace the student giving a speech.
2 - Use text to speech software to help a student present something aloud.
3 - Use an AI to summarize journal articles.
4 - Use Adobe Acrobat's built-in text to voice to have the computer read the article aloud.
AI can help overcome several accessibility issues in higher education:
- Reading, Writing, and Note-Taking: AI can assist neurodivergent students or those with learning difficulties who may struggle with these tasks.
- JamWorks - subscription based - recording of lectures - can highlight - AI assistance can summarize notes.
- OneNote - free from Microsoft (already installed) - record lectures - student takes note - NOT AI
- Otter.ai - subscription based - recording and transcription of lectures - AI assistance can summarize notes.
- Content Accessibility: AI technologies like text-to-speech recognition and auto-captioning can make content more accessible.
- Eightify - free? - summarize YouTube videos
- any frontier model - free - summarize YouTube videos
- Universal Design: AI can help create an environment that includes all people, regardless of ability or disability.
- Course Material Accessibility: AI can help ensure that course materials are accessible to all students.
Ethical use of AI by college students with disabilities involves:
- Authenticity, Accountability, and Access: University of Lincoln, "Ethical Considerations for AI"
- Awareness and Privacy: Jamworks, "AI in Education: a game changer for accessibility"
- Universal Access: Inside Higher Ed, "In an AI World, let disability access lead the way"
