Artificial intelligence is influencing education, especially for students with disabilities. Take Makenzie Gilkison, a 14-year-old girl with dyslexia who struggled with basic spelling: “rhinoceros” could come out as “rineanswsaurs.” But with AI-powered tools like personalized chatbots and word prediction programs, she is now thriving academically and has earned a spot in the National Junior Honor Society. The U.S. Department of Education is actively encouraging this technology integration, requiring schools to consider tools such as text-to-speech and alternative communication devices for students with disabilities.
The benefits of AI in special education are substantial. Students can now use AI to break down complex texts, organize their thoughts into clear outlines, and even translate Shakespeare into modern English. For students like Ben Snyder, who has a learning disability, AI helps explain math problems in multiple ways and helps with organizing assignments. These tools are particularly valuable because they provide immediate support without requiring constant teacher intervention, allowing students to work more independently and keep up with their classmates.
However, educators face significant challenges in implementing AI effectively. There is a delicate balance between providing support and ensuring that students continue to develop crucial skills: AI should assist learning, not replace it. Technical obstacles remain, particularly in areas such as speech recognition for students with speech impediments. There are also privacy concerns, as AI could inadvertently identify and reveal students’ disabilities without their consent. However, as AI in education evolves, a worrying digital divide is emerging. Consider the Alpha School in Austin, Texas, where students pay $40,000 in annual tuition for an AI-focused education. At this innovative institution, students spend just two hours a day on core subjects with AI tutors and “guides” (not teachers), while spending the rest of their time on practical skills and passion projects. Its AI-powered platform uses eye-tracking technology, personalized learning paths, and gamified lessons, reportedly helping students score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests.
This stark contrast highlights a growing concern in education: while some students have access to cutting-edge AI tools and personalized learning experiences, others rely on basic or limited AI assistance. Students with disabilities from low-income backgrounds often face a double barrier: they need assistive technology but lack access to the most advanced solutions. As AI continues to shape education, addressing this socioeconomic gap becomes crucial to ensure that the technology truly serves its purpose of creating equality of opportunity, rather than widening existing educational disparities.
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What is your experience with AI in education? How can we ensure equal access to these powerful tools? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
A potential tool for increasing accessibility, Claude was used as a research and writing aid for this blog post. Do you think this is an appropriate use of Claude? Why or why not? Let me know!
