Using AI to Create a More Equitable Special Education System

Foundation 2: Advance Equity

As artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities become more advanced, schools and school districts are facing a turning point. The decisions made now about how to incorporate AI into teaching and learning could either help shrink systemic inequities or intensify them. The second foundation of AI policies, according to the US Department of Education Office of Educational Technology, should be to use AI to advance equity in education.

This is especially true when it comes to AI in special education and serving students with disabilities. Historically marginalized groups already face significant barriers to accessing an appropriate public education. AI poses both risks and potential rewards in the realm of equity in access to education.

AI algorithms could perpetuate unfair biases if they are trained on flawed or non-representative data sets. This "algorithmic bias" can increase discriminatory practices like unjust enrollment, intervention, or disciplinary decisions about students based on race, disability status, income levels, or other characteristics.  

However, when developed and implemented responsibly with strong equity safeguards, AI could help personalize instruction, streamline processes, and provide new levels of accessibility and customized support for students with diverse needs and backgrounds.

For example, AI-powered speech recognition could make educational materials more accessible for students with speech or language processing difficulties. Or AI could help diagnose previously unidentified learning disabilities earlier by detecting patterns in a student's performance data that may warrant intervention.  

The importance of Foundation 1: People Centered AI

Policies and practices that govern AI need to center people.. Human expertise, oversight and decision-making must be central - using AI as an assistive tool, not a replacement for educators, therapists and parents… and children. AI should provide supportive recommendations that teams can then evaluate through their own equity lenses.

Unwanted biases must continuously be monitored and addressed as AI systems are adopted. And most importantly, students' data privacy, civil rights and agency over their own learning experiences must be vigilantly protected.  

Understanding the AI Implications for Your Child

For parents of students with disabilities who want to ensure their child has equal access to AI's benefits while being shielded from its risks, it is important to educate yourself. That's why Advocacy Unlocked has developed an online course, "AI in Special Education" to break down this complex issue.

Advocacy Unlocked's mission is to equip parents to be effective advocates for their children. And in this rapidly evolving AI era, that will mean championing both the responsible use of new technologies and the advancement of equity for children with disabilities.

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This blog post was inspired by The U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology’s policy report, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning. Every parent of a child with a disability should read it!