Starting in the 1970s, the United States began a journey of progressive change in the way students with disabilities are treated and the levels of help provided for them. Over the next fifty years, the country adopted one law after another to ensure students with disabilities get the support they need to thrive in life.
Thanks to laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, countless people have been given crucial help to overcome their disabilities and aim for the kind of life they truly want.
Still, it’s essential to recognize that giving a fair chance to students with disabilities is an ongoing process that keeps getting better — in no small part thanks to contributions like those from edYOU. Under the guidance of Dr. Michael Everest, its Founder and CEO, edYOU is bringing AI to the front lines of the struggle.
“We have created an all-inclusive environment that truly assists individuals seeking to improve their academic performance and outcomes,” explains Dr. Everest. “Whether they are in kindergarten or pursuing a medical degree, edYOU is designed to cater to their unique needs and help them achieve better grades and educational success.”
edYOU’s mission and calling creates a safe learning environment where students of various ages can get the learning tools tailored to their needs. The platform allows personalized learning in real time and advocates for the broadest possible access to quality education. Furthermore, it helps the teachers by providing data on their students’ study habits. This helps the administrators make better-informed decisions and see improvements in learning outcomes.
EdYOU relies heavily on its patented AI platform, which is instrumental in developing what the company calls ‘AI Beings.’ These AI Beings are human-like interfaces guided by the face of edYOU, Hannah. edYOU has an array of its AI Beings along with Hannah, such as Eddie and Nova. The delivery system is based on conversational artificial intelligence that allows a different type of interaction than regular learning tools. This safe implementation of AI is one of the critical things that make edYOU well-suited for students with disabilities.
“From our clients’ perspective, the edYOU Safe AI program offers a unique and invaluable support system, especially for individuals dealing with a social anxiety disorder or other challenges that make traditional learning environments overwhelming,” Dr. Everest explains. “The non-judgmental atmosphere and interactive nature of the AI Being, such as Hannah, provides a comforting and encouraging experience. We deliver a learning experience in an environment that the student feels most comfortable and safe in.”
For a learning tool to be genuinely effective at empowering students with disabilities, it must understand its users’ needs, leverage technology to cater to them and create a learning environment that fosters engagement.
edYOU aims to do that on several different levels. The platform’s Proprietary Ingestion Engine is in charge of processing information and gathering all the building blocks the platform will use to create a personalized learning experience. Thanks to a combination of machine learning and human insight, edYOU claims to deliver safe and appropriate information.
“Our approach is focused on maintaining a fact-based environment and filtering out any unnecessary information,” says Dr. Everest. “We have a comprehensive database and have the capacity to link to large language models when necessary. This freedom of choice rather than just depending on LLMs allows for a safe and seamless studying experience.”
The way the information is then relayed to the student is another crucial point of the success edYOU is having with students with disabilities. Hannah, Nova, Eddie and the rest of the edYOU AI tutors are lifelike and interactive, capable of conversing. For example, the platform’s test prep section encourages a more engaging experience when a student wants to prepare for a quiz or test
“You can ask the AI to generate answers for you, like writing out ABC options,” says Dr. Everest. “Moreover, during multiple-choice question preparation, the AI will assist you and validate when selecting the correct answers; if an answer is wrong, she will explain what went wrong and why.”
Feedback is crucial for the learning process, but so is knowing if there are certain areas where students might lag in their progress. edYOU offers real-time analytics that allows users to see the data about their learning journey. They might discover that they’re doing exceptionally well in certain areas, for example, but other areas require them to put in more work. This data is accessible to the instructors to make dynamic decisions on learning outcomes with real-time data.
In the future, edYOU plans to add more gamification elements to the platform to expand its offer and make it even more engaging. There’s good reason to believe that gamification might improve educational outcomes. In the meantime, however, the platform will continue to do what it does best — be there for the students who need it whenever they need it.
“Imagine right before an important test when the pressure is mounting, being able to have a conversation with Hannah, who understands your concerns and provides a calming presence,” explains Dr. Everest. “It’s like having a study buddy or mentor with you, offering reassurance and guidance. This support can empower individuals who may otherwise feel discouraged and overwhelmed without the help they need.”
VentureBeat newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
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