ABLE NEWS: Neurodivergent Students Are Using AI to Remove Barriers. Let Them.
In a recent commentary, an associate professor argues that higher education institutions should embrace artificial intelligence tools as vital learning accommodations rather than reflexively banning them as academic dishonesty. The author notes that many students with disabilities—particularly those who lack formal diagnoses or access to costly official accommodations—use AI not to avoid critical thinking, but to overcome cognitive hurdles such as structuring notes, breaking down complex assignments, or interpreting vague feedback. Rather than enforcing blanket restrictions that harm students seeking an equitable opportunity to learn, educators ought to distinguish between AI use that bypasses learning and AI use that removes administrative and developmental barriers to make education accessible.
