A Participatory Strategy for AI Ethics in Education and Rehabilitation grounded in the Capability Approach

TL;DR

This paper proposes a participatory, ethically grounded research strategy based on the Capability Approach to develop AI tools that support inclusive education and rehabilitation for children with special needs.

Contribution

It introduces a novel participatory research framework integrating stakeholders' perspectives within the Capability Approach for AI in education and rehabilitation.

Findings

Successful integration of ethical, educational, and technological expertise.

Development of an AI interface supporting children with text comprehension.

Enhanced stakeholder collaboration in AI design processes.

Abstract

AI-based technologies have significant potential to enhance inclusive education and clinical-rehabilitative contexts for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. AI can enhance learning experiences, empower students, and support both teachers and rehabilitators. However, their usage presents challenges that require a systemic-ecological vision, ethical considerations, and participatory research. Therefore, research and technological development must be rooted in a strong ethical-theoretical framework. The Capability Approach - a theoretical model of disability, human vulnerability, and inclusion - offers a more relevant perspective on functionality, effectiveness, and technological adequacy in inclusive learning environments. In this paper, we propose a participatory research strategy with different stakeholders through a case study on the ARTIS Project, which develops an AI-enriched interface to support children with text comprehension difficulties. Our research strategy integrates ethical, educational, clinical, and technological expertise in designing and implementing AI-based technologies for children's learning environments through focus groups and collaborative design sessions. We believe that this holistic approach to AI adoption in education can help bridge the gap between technological innovation and ethical responsibility.