Towards Inclusive Intelligence: Defining the Research Challenges at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Universal Design for Learning, and Workplace Training

Aina G. Irbe

Chief Operating Officer, Accessible Minds

Abstract

Organizations are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to create workplace and academic training. AI can generate content quickly, adapt materials to different learners, and deliver information in text, audio, and video. These features seem to align with Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework that supports diverse learners by providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and action and expression. However, being efficient and adaptive is not the same as being inclusive. AI-generated training can still overlook barriers related to disability, accessibility, language, cognition, and knowledge transfer.

This raises three challenges in using AI to develop workplace and academic training: AI is often optimized for goals that don't reflect inclusive learning, it can introduce new accessibility barriers or amplify existing ones, and there is no practical, validated way to evaluate training developed with AI. A proposed six-dimension framework based on UDL and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) offers a way to assess whether AI-developed training is accessible, inclusive, and educationally sound. Three research questions and recommendations for future studies outline the next steps needed to validate it.

About the speaker

Dr. Aina G. Irbe is a Global Learning Strategist with a PhD in Instructional Design and Educational Technology. Specializing in digital accessibility, inclusion, and Universal Design for Learning, Dr. Irbe leads transformative digital education initiatives across global enterprises, government, and the social impact sector. A Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), Dr. Irbe currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Accessible Minds.

Dr. Irbe's career spans the public and private sectors, including work at the U.S. Department of State's National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC) and consulting for a range of other government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Previous roles include adjunct professor at George Washington University, and Dr. Irbe coauthored a chapter on accessible e-learning in the International Handbook of E-learning.