The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has the potential to revolutionise the way individuals with communication disabilities interact with the digital world. One notable AI application is ChatGPT, a chatbot powered by GPT4, a sophisticated language model. With its ability to generate human-like responses, ChatGPT has gained popularity among millions of users and has caught the attention of educators. This technology holds promise for individuals with communication disabilities and those with low literacy levels, offering automated communication assistance and the potential to enhance communication rates. HCPA emphasises accessibility in AI design; By exploring the capabilities and accessibility of AI like ChatGPT, we can assess how it can improve inclusion for people facing communication challenges.
Communication disabilities encompass a range of impairments affecting speech, language, and social communication. Cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and motor neurone disease can lead to speaking, understanding, or writing difficulties. Such disabilities can limit an individual’s ability to express themselves, understand others, and engage in reading and writing activities. Communicating with limited literacy requires simplification of text. Individuals with communication disabilities often face barriers in various aspects of life, including education, employment, relationships, healthcare decision-making, and social participation.
At HCPA, we are dedicated to supporting individuals with communication disabilities by leveraging AI advancements and assistive technologies. By considering the perspectives and needs of people with communication disabilities, we can leverage AI advancements to create a more inclusive digital environment that benefits all individuals, regardless of their communication abilities.
The Potential of ChatGPT and AI Technology
AI technologies like ChatGPT offer several benefits for individuals with communication disabilities:
- Summarising and organising information: ChatGPT can compile the information into concise and coherent text, making it easier for individuals with limited literacy to comprehend complex content.
- Assisting in written communication: ChatGPT’s ability to understand poorly written commands or sentences with grammar or spelling errors makes it inclusive for diverse users. It can improve imperfect writing, simplify complex texts, and generate summaries suitable for individuals in the early stages of reading.
- Supporting social communication: ChatGPT can suggest scripts for social situations, helping individuals practise conversations, ask and answer questions, and learn to communicate more effectively in writing.
- Enhancing efficiency and accuracy: People with communication disabilities can benefit from ChatGPT’s assistance in expanding short sentences, drafting or improving texts for various purposes (emails, instructions, assignments), and correcting errors.
- Providing a voice: When used with a screen reader, ChatGPT’s output can serve as the user’s “voice,” allowing individuals to check, edit, and confirm or reject AI-generated writing.
Inclusive and Accessible AI
Ensuring that individuals with communication disabilities can access AI chatbots like ChatGPT is crucial for their inclusion. HCPA is dedicated to providing personalised support and guidance to individuals interested in AI and its potential for disability support. Co-designing assistive technologies involving people with communication disabilities is vital to address issues of acceptability, usability, and authenticity of AI-generated messages. Incremental improvements in chatbot design should consider accessibility and inclusion to maximise the benefits of AI advancements for individuals with communication disabilities. By enabling individuals to control the AI-generated content and tailoring it to their specific needs, AI technology can genuinely enhance inclusion and empower those facing communication challenges.
AI technology like ChatGPT holds significant potential to improve inclusion for individuals with communication disabilities and low literacy. By providing automated communication assistance, summarising information, and supporting various aspects of written and social communication, AI can empower individuals to overcome barriers and engage more effectively in daily life. However, it is crucial to ensure that AI technologies are accessible, inclusive, and designed in collaboration with the intended users.
By considering the perspectives and needs of people with communication disabilities, we can leverage AI advancements to create a more inclusive digital environment that benefits all individuals, regardless of their communication abilities.
If you are interested in AI and the future of disability support, please get in touch with us here. We will be more than happy to provide further information and guidance tailored to your specific needs.
SOURCES | The Conversation ‘Will AI tech like ChatGPT improve inclusion for people with communication disability’ |
