mathematics
Accessible Educational Math Games for Students with Physical and Cognitive Disabilities
Millions of students in the United States struggle to learn mathematics. Foundations such as the Gates Foundation, Na- tional Science Foundation, and Institute of Educational Science are spending billions of dollars funding researchers to explore methods of improving student learning. Many educational companies have also been created to help students improve their math skills. Applying recent advancements in technology and artificial intelligence, researchers and developers dem- onstrate the high potential of new educational technology (EdTech). Artificial intelligence helps us personalize learning to each individual student by providing students with optimal
math levels, question designs, and feedback. However, few EdTech companies develop platforms suitable for children with disabilities and limited research focuses on special needs students. Thus, students with disabilities are left behind as the EdTech industry and research field advance to support the gen- eral student population. Inspired by her younger sister Lara who has a severe neuro- logical disorder, Adele Smolansky founded AI-Learners in June 2020. AI-Learners (www.ai-learners.com) is the first educational technology company with digital math games for children with physical, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities. AI-Learners has
ADELE SMOLANSKY is the founder and CEO of AI-Learners. She is an undergraduate senior studying Computer Science at Cornell University. Adele has also worked at Google as a Software Engineering Intern for two summers. She worked on the Google Drive team during the summer of 2021 and on the Android Acces- sibility team during the summer of 2022. At Cornell, Adele is conducting research at the Enhancing Ability Lab and the Future of Learning Lab to investigate how AI-driven educational technology can help elementary school students learn math and how to design and evaluate games for people with physical disabilities. Upon Adele’s graduation in May 2023, she will pursue a PhD in accessible Educational Technology. Ultimately, her
goal is to help all students have equal access to educational resources and maximize learning for each student with technology. Adele was inspired to create AI-Learners by her younger sister Lara who has a severe neurological disorder called Rett Syndrome. Lara
cannot talk or walk and uses an Eye Gaze assistive device to commu- nicate. During the COVID pandemic, Adele saw a clear need to improve educational technology for her sister and many other children with disabili- ties. In June 2020, Adele founded AI-Learners, an educational technology company, to help children with disabilities learn math. Since then, Adele has worked with over 50 Cornell students and faculty, assistive technology specialists, special needs educators, and business advisors to develop AI-Learners. She is proud that her sister Lara and hundreds of other students are learning math on the AI-Learners platform. You can reach Adele at adele@ai-learners.com or 917-744-2164. She is happy to answer questions and discuss more ways to support learners.
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