Navigating Higher Education: How AI Supports Special Education Students in College Applications in Texas

• In Event: Navigating Identity and Political Context in Higher Education Settings

Abstract

Students with disabilities face unique challenges when transitioning to higher education, emphasizing the need for tailored support during the college application process. AI advances in AI, particularly in personalized assistance, offer promising opportunities to improve accessibility in education. This study explored the role of AI in supporting students with disabilities by focusing on ADVi, an AI chatbot that provided college admissions guidance via text messaging. We employed a multilevel-negative-binomial model to determine whether students with disabilities demonstrated a distinct need for AI-based support in their transition to college. The findings revealed that students with disabilities used ADVi significantly more than their typically developing peers, with the highest utilization observed among students with autism spectrum disorder and emotional disabilities.

Authors

• Han Bum Lee, University of Texas - San Antonio

• John L. Davis, University of Texas San Antonio

• Sharon L. Nichols, University of Texas - San Antonio

• Jasmine Victor, University of Texas - San Antonio