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AI as a Civil Rights and Accommodation Issue: A Focus on Learning Disabilities

Abby Dougherty
3 min readOct 19, 2023
A picture of Openai symbol, an Artificial Intelligence search tool that is popular.
Photo by Mojahid Mottakin on Unsplash

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various sectors of society has brought forth not only technological advantages but also profound implications for civil rights, particularly when it comes to individuals with learning disabilities. The use of AI as a tool to assist those with conditions like dyslexia emphasizes the need to view AI not merely as a technological advancement but also as a necessary accommodation to level the playing field.

Equal Opportunity

Civil rights revolve around the principle of ensuring equal opportunities for all, irrespective of individual differences. For people with learning disabilities, the absence of AI-powered tools can hinder their ability to function effectively in spaces designed primarily for neurotypical individuals. AI, in this context, serves as an essential tool that bridges the gap, allowing for inclusivity and fairness.

Stress Reduction and Active Participation

Without AI tools, many dyslexic individuals face undue stress in neurotypical spaces, be it in educational institutions, workplaces, or social forums. Constantly battling with challenges like spelling and grammar can be mentally exhausting. AI tools that offer real-time spelling and grammar checks alleviate this stress…

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Abby Dougherty
Abby Dougherty

Written by Abby Dougherty

Abby Dougherty, PhD, loves to learn, and produce scholarship on relational-cultural theory, virtual reality, AI, and using mindfulness in counselor education.

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