Blind and visually impaired (BVI) students face significant challenges in traditional educational settings. While screen readers and braille materials offer some accessibility, they often lack interactivity and real-time adaptability to individual learning needs. This paper presents Audemy, an AI-powered audio-based learning platform designed to provide personalized, accessible, and engaging educational experiences for BVI students. Audemy uses adaptive learning techniques to customize content based on student accuracy, pacing preferences, and engagement patterns. The platform has been iteratively developed with input from over 20 educators specializing in accessibility and currently serves over 2,000 BVI students. Educator insights show key considerations for accessible AI, including the importance of engagement, intuitive design, compatibility with existing assistive technologies, and the role of positive reinforcement in maintaining student motivation. Beyond accessibility, this paper explores the ethical implications of AI in education, emphasizing data privacy, security, and transparency. Audemy demonstrates how AI can empower BVI students with personalized and equitable learning opportunities, advancing the broader goal of inclusive education.
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Professor at George Washington University
I am a Professor with Human-Technology Collaboration and Educational Technology programs at George Washington University in Washington DC. I have written 12 books and more than 100 articles, and I co-host of the Parsing Science podcast where scientists tell the stories behind their research. I am also the developer of the WeShareScience.com online platform for sharing research videos, and SciencePods.com where researchers can create free podcasts about their science. My research interests include human interactions with intelligent machines, needs, needs assessments, and instructional design.
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