AI tools are transforming education, offering neurodiverse students personalized support to overcome challenges like focus, planning, and communication. Experts believe these tools can simplify complex tasks, making learning more accessible.
Michelle Deal, a learning technologies expert from Landmark College in Vermont, highlighted how AI-driven resources can benefit students with conditions like dyslexia, ADHD, and autism.
For instance, generative AI can summarise complex texts, provide text-to-speech features, and offer tailored feedback to improve writing skills.
AI also aids time management, helping students plan and stay focused. Deal emphasised that these tools not only assist in learning but also encourage self-advocacy by teaching students how to identify their needs and request appropriate AI support.
Some colleges are starting to include AI in individualised education programs (IEPs). Deal suggested that professors and disability services work together to ensure AI tools are used as learning aids, not shortcuts, fostering trust and collaboration.
While the idea of every student having their own AI assistant remains a distant goal, the growing availability of these tools empowers neurodiverse learners to create customised support systems, paving the way for better outcomes in education and beyond.
