While much of the media attention on AI focuses on its ability to automate tasks and generate content, for accessibility services, AI is being deployed as a powerful tool for inclusion and empowerment.
Far from being a futuristic concept, AI is already transforming how institutions provide essential accommodations, from advanced note taking to personalized learning support.
In our recent webinar, industry experts convened to share their insights and on-the-ground experiences regarding the integration of AI tools. They discussed how institutions can maximize AI's educational potential while proactively addressing student privacy and ethical concerns.
Genio’s James Paisley-Knight, hosted the panel. He was joined by a diverse and experienced group of higher education leaders:
- Katlyn Guzar, Associate Director, Accommodation Services at Wilfrid Laurier University
- Saul Santana, Director – ACCESS Center at The City Colleges of Chicago, Richard J. Daley College
- Shannon Needham, Upper School Learning Specialist at Sandy Spring Friends School
This panel offers a crucial perspective on navigating the current AI landscape, with a core focus on ensuring that technology removes, rather than introduces, barriers for all students.
Why colleges should be using AI-Powered accessibility tools
AI-enabled tools are making a measurable difference in helping students overcome barriers to learning. These tools are often simple, but profoundly effective:
- Advanced transcription and summarization: Tools like Genio Notes use AI for audio transcription and summarizing content. Saul Santana notes this is highly beneficial for students tackling heavy academic journal articles, he allows them to use AI tools to "categorize major points" and make lectures much more productive.
- Encouraging active participation: The emphasis must be on AI-enabled, not fully automated, note taking. The design must prevent disengagement and encourage active participation. Features like marking key moments, taking photos of the board, and using features in real-time keep students engaged and focused on the content, rather than frantically trying to keep up with transcription.
How can colleges ensure student privacy when using AI?
The growing adoption of AI-enabled tools introduces complex questions around policy, privacy, and the very definition of an accommodation.
Defining AI as an accommodation
Saul Santana raised a provocative question: Will the use of AI itself eventually be approved as an accommodation under the ADA?
Katlyn Guzar pointed out the complexity of this idea: "To say AI as an accommodation is so broad".
Instead, Accessibility Offices must drill down to the specific function of the AI that removes the student's barrier. For instance, a student may not need "AI," but rather a more advanced grammar check (an early form of AI) because of dyslexia. The focus should always be on what is reasonable and advisable based on the disability-related need.
Prioritizing privacy and vetting vendors
Embracing AI requires a clear, collaborative, and student-centric strategy to mitigate privacy risk.
- The data ownership question: Institutions must set clear vendor expectations and audit how data is stored, encrypted, and used. A critical question to ask is: "Where does that information go? And then who holds on to that data?".
- The risk-averse approach: Institutions like Wilfrid Laurier University employ a stringent process for adopting any new technology. This deliberate, risk-averse approach ensures that all necessary questions are asked, protecting students, staff, and faculty.
- Education is key: Recognizing that students will inevitably use unapproved, third-party tools (like ChatGPT), Katlyn Guzar emphasizes the need to equip students with the knowledge to make their own good decisions about what information they put into these platforms.
How to ensure AI Removes barriers, not introduces them
To ensure AI tools do not inadvertently introduce new barriers, a broad, cross-campus strategy is essential. Our panel of experts discussed some of the way's they're ensuring AI makes learning more accessible for everyone, rather than simply creating new barriers.
- Embracing UDL and accessibility standards: Saul Santana champions Universal Design for Learning (UDL), noting that accessibility must be baked into the curriculum and the tools themselves. If course materials aren't accessible before they hit the AI tool, the output will also be inaccessible. Furthermore, tools must meet accessibility standards like WCAG.
- Testing and feedback: Katlyn Guzar stressed that we don't fully understand the impact of any new technology until it’s implemented in a "real course with a real instructor, with a real assessment". Institutions must include students with disabilities in testing and provide clear avenues for feedback to quickly respond to new barriers.
- Cross-campus collaboration: Effective adoption requires moving beyond single departments. Collaboration between Disability Services and departments like Student Success, TRIO, and International Students' Offices is increasingly common This synergy allows institutions to support a wider range of students, whether their barrier is a documented accommodation, a heavy schedule, or financial stress.
Key takeaways
AI is an inevitable component of the future learning ecosystem. By being proactive, prioritizing UDL and accessibility standards, and fostering deep collaboration, institutions can ensure AI serves as a powerful, enabling foundation for student success across all disciplines.
Finally, we asked our three experts for one piece of advice they'd give to other professionals wanting to increase AI adoption and accessibility for their students.
- Katlyn Guzar: "Understand your institution's context, including policies and the general attitude toward adoption. Know the procedures required to officially adopt and enact an AI tool."
- Saul Santana: "Ask questions of your vendors and set up clear guidelines, defining who is responsible for which aspects of AI usage. Always remember to collaborate; the more people involved in the decision-making process, the better".
- Shannon Needham: "Always make sure students are engaged in the conversation, because if they don't buy into it, it won't matter how much money you spend or research you do".
