Welcome to Our Interactive Guide on AI and Assistive Technology in Education!

Assistive technology (AT) is transforming education by creating more inclusive and accessible learning environments. This Open Educational Resource (OER) will show you how these technologies are making a real difference in classrooms today, and how AI is taking them to the next level.

What You'll Discover

Starting Broad: The Current Landscape: We'll begin with an overview of assistive technologies currently used in classrooms and their impact on students with diverse learning needs.

Focusing on AI Integration: Next, we'll explore how artificial intelligence is being woven into assistive technology to create more personalized tools that adapt to individual learners.

Zooming In: Executive Dysfunction Support: Then we'll examine the specific challenges of executive dysfunction and how emerging assistive technologies help students manage tasks, stay organized, and succeed academically.

Looking Ahead: The Future Finally, we'll step back to consider what's coming next for assistive technologies in education.

Who This Is For: Whether you're a student, educator, or potential investor exploring the assistive technology market, this interactive resource is designed to be informative and engaging. Our goal is to provide practical insights while building a community of learners and innovators committed to educational equity and inclusion.

Get Involved: Enjoy exploring the content! If you encounter any issues, send us a message or comment on our Launchpad post. Don't forget to complete the post-OER reflection when you're finished. We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Assistive technology encompasses products, services, and systems that help people with disabilities, elderly individuals, and those with chronic conditions participate more fully in daily life.

The Official Definition The U.S. Assistive Technology Act of 1998 defines assistive technology as "any item, piece of equipment or system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities" (Buning et al., 2004, p. 98).

Key Areas of Support: Assistive technology addresses five main functional areas:

• Mobility - helping people move around

• Communication - enabling expression and interaction

• Cognition - supporting thinking and memory

• Hearing - enhancing auditory capabilities

• Vision - improving sight or providing alternatives

Beyond Individual Use: These technologies can be used by individuals or integrated into physical environments. Today, assistive technology doesn't just make life possible for people with disabilities—it enhances productivity for people worldwide.

From Simple to Sophisticated: Assistive technology spans a wide spectrum, from simple, low-tech solutions like glasses to sophisticated, high-tech equipment like eye-tracking communication devices.

In Educational Settings: The graphic below, created by Family Networks On Disability USA, shows examples of how assistive technology is being used in educational environments.

According to a joint WHO-UNICEF report in 2022, over an estimated 2.5 billion people require one or more forms of assistive technology to support them in their daily lives. They project that this figure will rise to over 3.5 billion people by 2050. The global market for assistive technology in education is experiencing substantial and sustained growth, driven by a mix of technological innovation, increased awareness of learning disabilities, and strong policy and government support for inclusive education. As of 2025, the market for assistive technology specifically targeting students with learning disabilities is valued at approximately $2 billion, with projections estimating it will reach $3.8 billion by 2033 and grow at a CAGR rate of 8%.

Key Factors Fuelling Growth of AT Market:

• Rising prevalence of learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders

• Government mandates and funding supporting inclusive education under frameworks such as IDEA (United States) and similar policies globally

• Technological advancements in AI and machine learning, which are making assistive tools more intelligent, personalized, affordable, and user-friendly

The assistive technology market can be broken up into three main sectors: hardware, software, and services. Software-based solutions such as text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and AI-powered learning platforms, are seeing the fastest growth due to their scalability and ease of integration into existing educational systems. Hardware solutions, such as adaptive keyboards, Braille readers, and specialized tablets, remain essential for students with disabilities.

North America currently leads the assistive technology market due to its advanced infrastructure and early adoption of EdTech, but Asia-Pacific is emerging as a high-growth region, driven by increasing investments in education and digital inclusion initiatives.

The current market landscape is shifting from simply providing access to assistive tools toward seamless integration within global educational platforms. Schools are increasingly integrating assistive technology into learning management systems, enabling real-time support and personalized feedback. Assistive technologies such as AI-powered voice recognition, predictive analytics, and personalized learning tools, are becoming essential features in inclusive classrooms.

Assistive technology provides alternative ways for students with speech or language impairments to communicate and engage in the classroom. Special devices known as AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices allow non-verbal students to express themselves while symbol-based communication tools can help students with limited literacy or cognitive limitations.

Please engage in the following Padlet discussion as a way to reflect on the stories you learned from the video. Be sure to use one or more of the following prompts to guide your discussion:

1) Which of the stories had the biggest impact on you? Why?
2) What is the biggest benefit of using assistive technology to help children with disabilities?
3) Have you seen assistive technologies being used in education before? If so, please share your experience and what you learned from it.
4) Assistive technology can not only be used to help make life possible for children with disabilities, but can be used to make everyday life easier for everyone. Have you personally used assistive technologies before? If so, which ones and how did they help you?