AI Tools to Enhance Accessibility

These tools are not officially supported by Langara. Any use of AI tools should be in line with ethical and academic integrity policies.

Advances in AI present opportunities to enhance accessibility. For neurodivergent learners, AI offers tools to help with research, understanding content, checking knowledge, and task management. For blind and visually impaired users, AI has rapidly advanced in its ability to recognize and describe images, reading signs and other image based text, and summarizing content to break down lengthy text. For Deaf and hard of hearing people, AI has increased the accuracy of audio transcription to text. AI can help people autism to practice and improve social and communication skills. AI shows promise in converting content between formats which could automate the creation of content adaptive to people’s needs or preferences in near real-time. As AI advances and expands, considering the opportunities to increase accessibility and expand inclusion are important.

The following guide briefly covers some AI tools and how they can help enhance accessibility.

Recommended Tools

These free AI tools can be extremely helpful.

Copilot

Copilot is Microsoft’s AI chatbot and can be used for free with your Langara email. Copilot searches the internet and links to sources. Copilot’s different modes (Creative, Balanced, and Precise) may offer different kinds of output. For example, when looking for scholarly sources, use Precise mode. When trying to craft an engaging title for a PowerPoint presentation, try Creative.

Additionally, Copilot can help with:

Using AI for these tasks can free up time and energy for critical thinking and creativity.

Prompting AI may be more art than science. The limits of AI chatbots are not currently understood. However, consider using specific, direct prompts such as:

• “Assume you are [insert famous person; e.g., John Dewey]. Read my argument on [topic] and provide feedback as if you were [same famous person]. [student pastes argument]”
• “I am currently learning about [topic]. Ask me a series of questions that will test my knowledge. Identify my knowledge gaps and suggest better answers.”

Learn more about Microsoft Copilot.

Goblin.tools

Goblin.tools is “designed to help neurodivergent people with tasks they find overwhelming or difficult.” Goblin.tools are free and are committed to remaining free. Android and iOS apps are available for a small fee ($1.49 for Android and $0.99 for iOS).

Goblin.tools Magic To Do helps to break down projects into manageable tasks. Enter a project and Magic To Do can break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Those tasks can be further simplified and broken down into steps.

Goblin.tools Judge analyzes writing for tone and emotion. Formalizer re-writes text to be more or less formal.

Goblin.tools Compiler converts notes and brain dumps into outlines, project plans, and to do lists.

AI Tools for Learning

The following AI tools can be used for research, studying, and more.

Perplexity

Perplexity is an excellent research tool. Perplexity provides high-quality sources and citations.

Note that Perplexity is free, with limitations. Perplexity Frequently Asked Questions.

AI Tutor Pro

AI Tutor Pro is a generative AI chatbot that helps users grow their knowledge or check their knowledge on any topic. Ask AI Tutor Pro a question or paste some content to start a conversation.

AI Tutor Pro is free and funded by the Government of Ontario. What’s new with AI Tutor Pro.

Additional Tools

Explainpaper provides a simplified version of content.

QuillBot can paraphrase based on a number of preset styles.

Diffit transforms content to a desired reading level.

Clickup integrates AI into project planning, document creation, and whiteboards for brainstorming.

Keep in mind that many of these tools have tiered features that may not be free.

Images and Audio

These tools help with describing images and converting images of text to proper text. Others can convert audio such as voice notes, lecture recordings, or podcasts to text. Text is searchable and can be copied and manipulated.

Alt Text Assistant generates alt text and image descriptions for images. Requires ChatGPT Plus license (USD20), available in Explore GPTs.

Text Extractor scrapes text from images of text and inaccessible PDFs. Requires ChatGPT Plus license (USD20), available in Explore GPTs.

AudioPen records audio clips and converts them into clear, organized text. This could be a good way to get ideas out of your head and organized quickly. Free, with limits (10 notes, 3 minute recording).

Advances in AI have greatly increased the accuracy of audio transcription, including captions for video. Videos added to OneDrive and Kaltura MediaSpace can create captions automatically. Word’s transcribe feature can convert 300 minutes of audio to text per month. Tools like Glean and Otter can transcribe audio in real-time allowing users to add timestamped notes.

There are privacy concerns with AI platforms. We recommend using caution when inputting – or having your students input – private, personal, or sensitive information (e.g. resumes or other identifying data). AI relies on large language models that are incomplete and biased. To generate content, chatbots use predictive text and any output should be verified for accuracy.