No abstract

In this study we provide an in-depth review and analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) components and solutions that support the development of cutting-edge assistive technologies for children with special needs. Various disabilities are addressed and the most recent assistive technologies that enhance communication and education of disabled children, as well as the AI technologies that have enabled their development, are presented. The paper summarizes with an AI perspective on future assistive technologies and ethical concerns arising from the use of such cutting-edge communication and learning technologies for children with disabilities.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the lifespan of people born with Down syndrome (DS) has increased. They now outlive their parents and rely on their relatives who usually sacrifice their own families to care for their disabled siblings. To reduce the pressure on families and the wider community, it is crucial to prepare DS people for independent life from early childhood. Emerging technologies can significantly support the process of acquiring the skills that are necessary for solving real-life problems at home and work. To assess their impact and estimate how much they are implemented in inclusive education, a review of 564 papers published after 2015 was done using the PRISMA review model. After gradual exclusion, 24 papers were used for the final review. Thematic analysis resulted in four themes with one common concept: variety. The results of examining the four research questions defined in the paper’s background confirm that the synergy of emerging assistive technologies and inclusive education has the potential of becoming a very effective strategy for creating an independent life for DS individuals. Many questions remain open, mainly related to a DS persons’ specific needs and capabilities. The acceptance of the proposed synergy will depend on them.

In order to stop the COVID-19 virus spreading, most universities replaced traditional in-class education with remote teaching and learning. The whole situation was stressful for all, particularly for the students with special needs. It seems that these students were literally abandoned, and many differently abled students completely missed out on their education. Learning results of those who were enabled remote learning significantly decreased, which additionally undermined their already present low self-esteem. To resolve the dilemma whether the essential groundwork for inclusiveness exists, this paper examines the accessibility of learning management systems, audio and video teleconferencing applications, and massive open online courses. Four impairments: motor, vision, hearing and cognitive were carefully explored in line with WCAG 2.1 recommendations. The current state of the synergy between the components was assessed carefully and thoroughly. Based on the research findings, recommendations towards making online learning more accessible to students with special needs are proposed, aiming to enable broad education to everyone, with no discrimination on the basis of disability.

Robotic technology is becoming increasingly popular as a platform for both education and entertainment. It also provides us with new conceptual directions which might have incredibly positive impact on children with physical growth delays and intellectual disabilities. In this research project, the educational robot Roamer Too from Valiant Technologies has been used to explore the development of social skills of children with Down syndrome. In conjunction with an interactive collaborative environment, this device represents a unique opportunity for these children to fully engage in learning, play, communication, build relationships and have fun. The results of this study indicate that educational robots help to develop kids' social and learning psychologies, moving from a more standard knowledge acquisition by absorption toward acts of exploration, collaboration, and creation. As a result, children reflect social initiations, communicative competence and joint attention.