Unlocking inclusive learning: lessons from generative AI and accessibility at LTAF 2024

Overview:

This blog post captures key insights from the session titled Unlocking inclusive learning: how generative AI could revolutionise accessibility in eLearning, which took place at the Learning Technologies Exhibition & Conference Autumn Forum 2024. The session focused on how generative AI (GenAI) presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges in designing accessible eLearning experiences. Ethical concerns and strategies to ensure inclusivity were central to the discussion. I’ll also mention that this blog was co-created with ChatGPT to generate content, showcasing how AI can be used to assist in creating thoughtful and inclusive writing.

Unlocking inclusive learning: lessons from generative AI and accessibility at LTAF 2024

At Accessible Me Ltd , we are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their abilities, has equal access to learning opportunities. This commitment led me to deliver a session titled Unlocking inclusive learning: how generative AI could revolutionise accessibility in eLearning at the Learning Technologies Exhibition & Conference Autumn Forum 2024.

In this session, we explored the impact of generative AI on accessibility in eLearning. As AI continues to evolve, it holds significant potential for improving how learning content is designed and delivered. GenAI can support personalised learning experiences, create accessible materials like captions and alt-text automatically, and even generate avatars that help users lip-read. However, these innovations come with ethical concerns and technical limitations.

One of the key discussions was around the need to make accessibility features the default in all digital content, rather than an afterthought. Closed captions (CC) were a hot topic, as some attendees pointed out that even in an accessibility-focused session, captions were missing at first. This sparked an important conversation about how captions should be the standard, not something that needs to be enabled after the fact.

We also discussed the importance of customisation, as accessibility is not a one-size-fits-all solution. For example, while captions can help some, they may distract others. Giving users the ability to personalise their learning experience is crucial to making content inclusive for all.

AI also raises the question of ethics in accessibility. While AI can support creating more accessible content, we must ensure that it doesn’t introduce bias or make incorrect assumptions, especially when automating features like sign language interpretation. Attendees raised questions about AI-generated sign language accuracy and whether it’s currently robust enough to be relied upon without human oversight.

Another challenge is gaining stakeholder buy-in for accessibility initiatives. Convincing organisations to invest in these tools can be difficult, but the business case is clear—universal design benefits everyone. Accessible learning environments not only ensure compliance but also create a more engaging experience for all users.

In this blog, I collaborated with ChatGPT to summarise these insights. This demonstrates how AI can support content creation by helping synthesize complex discussions into meaningful insights, making information more accessible for broader audiences.

Summary:

The session Unlocking inclusive learning: how generative AI could revolutionise accessibility in eLearning at the Learning Technologies Exhibition & Conference Autumn Forum 2024 highlighted the opportunities and challenges of using AI to make learning more accessible. Key takeaways included the need to make captions a default feature, the importance of personalisation to meet diverse user needs, and the ethical concerns of using AI in accessibility. Stakeholder buy-in remains a significant challenge, but the benefits of universal design are clear.

Action items/ call to action:

1. Make accessibility the default: Ensure that features like closed captions are available for all digital content, whether or not users explicitly request them.
2. Leverage AI with care: Use AI tools to enhance accessibility, such as generating captions and personalising content, but ensure human oversight to avoid errors and bias.
3. Customise learning experiences: Create solutions that allow users to personalise their accessibility features, ensuring that no one is excluded or distracted by default settings.
4. Engage stakeholders early: Advocate for accessibility by building the business case and demonstrating how universal design benefits all users, not just those with specific needs.
5. Keep learning about accessibility: Stay informed on emerging tools and resources for accessibility, and encourage dialogue in your organisation to continue improving inclusivity.