With AI incorporated into reading tools, voice-enabled assistants and time-management solutions, educators are using assistive technologies to elevate student performance, according to an article in EdTech.
“Assistive technology is any technology that we use for a student to help them access their curriculum,” says Lauren Murphy Arner, associate director, School Services, at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
AI-powered assistive technology tools help remove learning barriers and serve as personalized scaffolding around students who may have a learning disability, be a multilingual learner, have temporary or situational challenges, or needs additional support.
Generative AI tools support speech and language learning. “A Gen AI assistant can anticipate what you might want to say next, and you can click on it, which expedites the speed of communication,” Murphy Arner says.
“We’re starting to see AI that can predict what the student is going to type or write, and then it will finish the phrase for them. This will help them with ideation, or generating ideas,” Murphy Arner says. “In the past, you’d see students not provide as much rich detail as they’re capable of providing because it does take such a long time to move through those language systems. With AI, we can see a more meaningful, robust communication.”
AI-powered tools adjust in real time to how a student is engaging with content. AI can break down complex text, reduce visual crowding, help students maintain focus through features like line highlighting and support deeper comprehension. This helps create a classroom environment where all students can thrive,” says Murphy Arner
Here are six activities and technologies that benefit from AI-powered communication tools:
1) Task breakdown and time management: “We have a lot of students who have difficulty with executive functions, difficulty looking at a task and knowing the steps to take to complete it,” Murphy Arner says. Students can leverage Gen AI as a partner starting with a simple prompt: These are the things I have to do today, and I’m having trouble figuring out what to do first.
“Some kids need schedules to help them study or to help them with time management. These tools will help optimize your time or give you those task breakdowns for each specific section,” she says.
2) Personalized learning: Personalized learning helps support reading comprehension through features like text decoding, syllable breakdown, adjustable spacing and line focus. Reading Coach is an AI-powered tool to build reading fluency and confidence by providing students with personalized practice and feedback in a safe, moderated environment.
3) Speech-generating devices: These specialized supports are evidence-based and enable individuals with complex communication needs to participate fully in communication. They support autonomy and meaningful interactions for students relying on symbols, word prediction or customized language systems to communicate.
“Generative AI can complement these technologies by helping personalize language supports and improve access,” Murphy Arner says. “It does not replace the guidance of a speech-language pathologist required to use them effectively.”
4) Translation and accessibility: AI-supported language tools enable students and educators to access real-time translations, captions and multimodal communication supports, such as dictation with advanced spelling and grammar checks and word suggestions. These tools especially help students with language, sensory or communication needs to ensure they fully understand and participate in class activities without stigma.
5) Summary and synthesis: AI tools can summarize or simplify content. “You have tools that can take something really complex and then break it down into plain language, which helps people who might have language disorders,” Murphy Arner says. “You might have a very complex topic — a science topic or a mathematical concept or something that is really technical. A student who has a language disorder might have difficulty with these extra words,” she says. “Gen AI can reduce the language burden to help them get to that main idea.”
6) Putting the tools to use: A spell-checker or text predictor initially created for students with dyslexia helps all students write more efficiently and accurately, for example. Focusing on the needs of the most diverse learners creates solutions that make education better for every learner.
EdTech
