AI and Assistive Technologies Support Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) is set to host the IASSIDD Congress in late July 2026, a forum dedicated to advancing inclusion and visibility for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The congress will explore how new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), can benefit this group.

Peter Zentel, Professor of Pedagogy for Intellectual Disabilities and Inclusive Pedagogy at LMU, is organizing the event. His research focuses on leveraging technology to improve the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities, especially those with complex communication challenges. Digital tools and AI offer significant potential for these individuals by enhancing their communication abilities and fostering greater independence.

Zentel's chair is developing assistive technologies that integrate AI to enable greater autonomy. Potential applications include smart home systems allowing individuals to control lights, blinds, or initiate emergency calls without spoken language. AI can also translate complex texts into simpler language or assist with writing by predicting words and sentences, addressing physical limitations.

The congress will also address the ethical considerations of AI, with philosopher Benjamin Lange presenting on "Ethics and AI." Past research at LMU has involved AI analysis of gestures, facial expressions, and physiological data to interpret the state of individuals unable to communicate verbally. Concerns include the potential for AI misinterpretations and the preservation of individual agency.

For the past three years, LMU has also been actively involving people with intellectual disabilities as experts in their own right in teaching and research activities. Zentel notes that this participatory approach enriches the university community and provides a positive learning experience for all involved. The congress itself is designed to be participatory and open to all, with LMU students involved in a buddy program.