How Can AI Support Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)?

This very first episode of the ILOTA Things podcast (ILOTA: Inclusive Learning Opportunities Through AI), tells of how my colleagues and I came across this combination of universal design for learning (UDL), accessibility, and AI. This episode briefly flags some exciting opportunities and interesting challenges that AI brings and importantly, may help you feel comfortable in your exploration of this collection knowing we are all learning in this space and will all continue to keep learning.

This webinar delivers practical strategies and shows you some AI in action, unpacked through the lens of UDL! Whether you're just beginning to explore the world of AI or you're thinking about how you can apply AI to support UDL, you'll find in this webinar options for personalised learning, interactive study aids, efficient content creation, multi-modal content development and AI-driven accessibility.

This working paper reviews the impact of AI on equity and inclusion in education, focusing on learner-centred, teacher-led and other institutional AI tools. The paper emphasises the importance of balancing the potential benefits of AI with ethical considerations and the risk of exacerbating existing disparities. It highlights the need to address privacy and ethical concerns, enhance cultural responsiveness, manage techno ableism and provide continuing professional learning in AI. 

Explore topics at the exciting point of convergence of UDL, accessibility, and AI. On the ILOTA Things podcast, my colleagues and I often have exciting guest speakers who help us examine ways in which we can utilise emerging technologies to enhance learning opportunities for educational designers, educators, and students.

On this website, UNESCO provides news and publications about AI in education. The topics they explore often consider aspects of access and equity, as well as ethics, all of which are crucial for us to consider when drawing on AI to strengthen or enhance accessibility and UDL in education.