AI Assistive Technology Improves Inclusion in K–12 Environments

by Adam Stone for EdTech 

Leveraging artificial intelligence in tandem with other assistive technologies has the potential to elevate learning in classrooms.Assistive technologies in the classroom play a key role in supporting students with disabilities, from text-to-speech software to screen readers and alternative keyboards. Artificial intelligence is emerging as a means to augment these technologies.

With AI incorporated into powerful reading tools, voice-enabled assistants and time-management solutions, educators are leveraging assistive technologies to elevate student performance.

“AI assistive technologies are not about replacing teachers or human support,” says Deirdre Quarnstrom, vice president of education at Microsoft. “They’re about giving every student an equal opportunity to succeed.”

What Is AI Assistive Technology in Education?

“Assistive technology is any technology that we use for a student to help them access their curriculum,” says Lauren Murphy Arner, associate director, School Services, at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

AI-powered assistive technology describes tools that use AI to help students with disabilities or learning differences.

“These tools help remove learning barriers — whether a student has a learning disability, is a multilingual learner, has a temporary or situational challenges, or needs additional support,” Quarnstrom says. AI-powered tools serve as a kind of personalized scaffolding around the student.

“Anyone — regardless of disability — can participate in class, express their ideas and demonstrate their knowledge,” Quarnstrom says.

Generative AI tools in particular can support speech and language learning.

“A Gen AI assistant can anticipate what you might want to say next, and you can click on it, which expedites the speed of communication,” Murphy Arner says.

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How AI Enhances Traditional Assistive Technologies for Students

AI enhances the capabilities of traditional assistive technologies by layering additional support over those existing tools.

“We’re starting to see AI that can predict what the student is going to type or write, and then it will finish the phrase for them. This will help them with ideation, or generating ideas,” Murphy Arner says. “In the past, you’d see students not provide as much rich detail as they’re capable of providing because it does take such a long time to move through those language systems. With AI, we can see a more meaningful, robust communication.”

Overall, AI strengthens traditional assistive technologies by making them more adaptive, personalized and responsive.

“Instead of providing the same static support to each learner, AI-powered tools adjust in real time to how a student is engaging with content,” Quarnstrom says. “AI can break down complex text, reduce visual crowding, help students maintain focus through features like line highlighting and support deeper comprehension. This can help educators meet diverse needs more efficiently and create a classroom environment where all students can thrive.”

AI-Powered Communication Tools for Students With Disabilities

Some AI assistive tools are standalone products. Others are built into products that schools already license — built-in Gen AI solutions that can be applied directly to software students are already familiar with.

The following are just some of the more common activities and technologies that benefit from AI-powered communication tools:

Task Breakdown and Time Management

“We have a lot of students who have difficulty with executive functions, difficulty looking at a task and knowing the steps to take to complete it,” Murphy Arner says. “They kind of get stuck at that beginning stage.”

Students can leverage Gen AI as a partner starting with a simple prompt: These are the things I have to do today, and I’m having trouble figuring out what to do first.

“Gen AI can break down those tasks for you,” she says. “Some kids need schedules to help them study or to help them with time management. These tools will help optimize your time or give you those task breakdowns for each specific section.”

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Personalized Learning

In the realm of personalized learning, Microsoft, for example, offers a range of AI-powered tools designed to support communication, comprehension and confidence for students with diverse needs, Quarnstrom says. Immersive Reader is an example.

“It helps support reading comprehension through features like text decoding, syllable breakdown, adjustable spacing and line focus,” Quarnstrom says. Students can also utilize Reading Coach, which is “an AI-powered tool to help students build reading fluency and confidence by providing personalized practice and feedback in a safe, moderated environment.”

Speech-Generating Devices

Speech-generating devices, whether standalone augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems or modern app-based tools, are specialized supports grounded in evidence-based practice enabling individuals with complex communication needs (CCN) to participate fully in communication. They support autonomy and meaningful interactions for students who rely on symbols, word prediction or customized language systems to communicate.

“Generative AI, when used responsibly, can complement these technologies by helping personalize language supports and improve access,” Murphy Arner says. “It does not replace the role of AAC systems or the guidance of a speech-language pathologist required to use them effectively.”

Translation and Accessibility

AI-supported language tools represent another significant resource for improving inclusion in K–12 learning environments.

“Students and educators can access real-time translations, captions and multimodal communication supports, like dictation with advanced spelling and grammar checks and word suggestions,” Quarnstrom says. “These are especially helpful for students with language, sensory or communication needs, ensuring they can fully understand and participate in class activities without stigma.”

Summary and Synthesis

“You have tools that can take something really complex and then break it down into plain language, which helps people who might have language disorders,” Murphy Arner says. In other words, AI tools can summarize or simplify content.

“You might have a very complex topic — a science topic or a mathematical concept or something that is really technical. A student who has a language disorder might have difficulty with all of those extra words,” she says. “Gen AI can reduce the language burden to help them get to that main idea.”

Putting the Tools to Use

Schools can leverage AI-driven assistive technology to elevate learning for all students.

“For instance, a spell-checker or text predictor initially created for students with dyslexia ends up helping all of us write more efficiently and accurately,” Quarnstrom says. “By focusing on the needs of our most diverse learners, we create solutions that make education better for every learner.”

For their part, ed tech vendors are stepping up to help teachers make effective use of these tools. Microsoft, for example, is introducing a free AI in Special Education training course. Quarnstrom says the course shows educators practical ways to use AI to streamline routine tasks, create accessible materials and communicate more clearly.

“The course helps teams integrate AI responsibly within existing practices, supporting professional judgment and student needs.”

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