AI + Learning Differences Hackathon

This one-day hackathon was dedicated to transforming education for learners with disabilities through the power of AI.

The all-day event brought together technologists, educators, students, and families to prototype AI-driven solutions supporting learning differences. Attendees collaborated in teams, contributed their expertise to define key challenges, and worked together to develop and present actionable solutions.

🌟 Winning teams💡

Empower IEP (Grand Prize Winner)
The Empower IEP tool is designed to help parents navigate the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process. The tool simplifies complex IEP documents by providing summarized, customizable information. It also supports parents during IEP meetings by recording and transcribing in various languages and reading levels. Empower IEP aims to support parents to advocate effectively for their children by making the IEP more accessible and easy to understand.

Maestra
Maestra helps teachers, who are increasingly stretched thin, support the diverse learners in their classroom. The AI tool coordinates the activity of multiple AI tools and systems. It can automatically contact the janitor or nurse to address in room “accidents”, provide real-time advice on student engagement, schedule appointments, facilitate coordination with specialists, or collaborate with other tools like MagicSchool or OpenIEP. Maestra accepts typed and spoken commands or reacts to environmental conditions.

FeelLink 
FeelLink is an AI-driven adaptive learning platform designed to help young adults improve social skills and emotional intelligence through interactive scenarios. The platform tailors content to the learner’s age, personality, and interests, offering personalized feedback and action plans. It emphasizes self-affirmation, agency, and inclusivity, with features like text-to-speech and customizable backgrounds.

BCBAwesome 
BCBAwesome aims to address the severe understaffing in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy, with only 7,000 new BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) graduates in 2023 against 65,000 job postings. Technicians often receive minimal training, leading to inconsistent care. This solution is an AI BCBA to enhance ABA therapy by providing real-time guidance to human technicians, based on the individual’s skill level. The AI is intended as a coach for therapists, not a replacement for human BCBAs, and future plans include incorporating video modeling for better learning outcomes.

Roleability
Roleability is an AI-powered tool designed to help individuals with learning differences navigate social interactions by building empathy, confidence, and adaptability. The tool is a role-playing game that simulates real-world social scenarios, offering personalized practice and feedback. It tracks progress through scenarios, allows customization of skills, and plans to include audio-visual components.

Photos: Patrick Beaudouin