As described in a news release this month, a new AI platform being developed by Benetech through student testing and pilot programs will be able to produce interactive content which those students can read, hear and also ask questions about.
According to the National Center on Accessible Educational Materials, traditional reading materials can be a challenge for neurodivergent students to interact with, as they often involve complex text, equations and images that can be hard to read in a standard format or envision as presented via screen reader and basic alternative text.
“Over 30 percent of neurodivergent or visually impaired students aspire to STEM careers, yet fewer than 10 percent achieve employment in STEM fields — a stark reminder of the persistent inaccessibility of STEM education,” Benetech CEO Ayan Kishore said in a public statement. “By harnessing the power of AI, we are transforming complex STEM materials into accessible formats, breaking down barriers, ensuring STEM education and careers are within reach for all.”
Benetech’s mission is to create technology that can help deliver accessible educational materials to all learners, “while also changing the way content is created,” according to the nonprofit’s website. One of its services, Bookshare, is a free library of more than 1 million e-books that have been made accessible for people with disabilities. Others include accessibility training for teachers and a program that helps publishers make content accessible from the start.
