AI adoption of content for learners with dyslexia

The Aristek team developed an AI tool for learners with reading and writing disorders in three weeks to enhance the existing LMS platform.

Data science & AI EdTech LMS

USA

Education

Since 2021

Key achievements

3	weeks was the project’s timeframe
70%	reduction in time spent on content creation
65%	lower costs for content processing and updates

Challenge

The client’s LMS provides organized learning material that is accessible to students of different ages and needs. The variety of activities facilitates learning and requires students to actively engage with the content.

However, among neurotypical children, there is an ever-increasing number of learners with reading and writing disorders, commonly recognized as dyslexia. Adapting content for such health conditions is expensive and time-consuming. The main challenge was to reduce collateral costs and expedite the processing and updating of such content.

A targeted solution was needed as the International Dyslexia Association reports that 1 in 5 people has some form of dyslexia. Reading difficulties arise from specific brain dysfunctions, leading to symptoms like frequent reading errors, slow and error-prone reading, trouble memorizing letter-sound relationships, reduced speed, and impaired comprehension.

Intending to improve the quality of learning for students with dyslexia in mind, the client’s team felt it was important to balance the needs of students with the accompanying burden on teachers and content creators.

To meet the interests of all parties, four main objectives were set:

Minimize the time and effort required to manually adapt materials.
Strengthen competitiveness and expand market share in districts and schools.
Allow teachers to focus on personalized instruction and support.
Simplify the process of materials maintenance and update for content creators, thus reducing associated costs of working hours.
Ensure consistent adherence to accessibility standards across all educational materials.

Solution

To save time and resources, stay competitive, and meet school accessibility requirements, the client decided to expand the scope of digital accessibility. The Aristek team proposed an AI-based solution for the following reasons:

The customer already had sufficient data to implement the solution.
The proposed solution was relatively inexpensive and not too time-consuming to implement.
The tool could be easily integrated into the current functionality of the customer’s platform.
AI allows for expanded personalization options and barrier-free access to all learning content.

The solution’s functions were to include:

1
Select and customize fonts:
- Recommend or apply sans serif fonts (e.g., Calibri, Arial, Comic Sans).
- Support specialized dyslexia-friendly fonts like Dyslexia, OpenDyslexic, or SemikolonPlus.
2
Space font size and characters:
- Adjust font size to an optimal range (12-14 points).
- Increase character spacing for better letter distinction.
3
Align texts:
- Move text accordingly to ensure uniform word spacing.
4
Structure text hierarchy:
- Break text into manageable paragraphs with clear subheadings.
- Ensure subheadings are bold or larger than the body text.
5
Format emphasis:
- Apply either bold or italic for emphasis, avoiding both simultaneously.
- Utilize font-specific styles for enhanced readability.
6
Space lines:
- Sets optimal line spacing (up to 1.5 lines) to prevent misreading or line skipping.
7
Maintain the line length:
- Limit line length to 55-80 characters to avoid visual fatigue.
8
Manage images and graphics:
- Minimize distracting images, retaining only those that support content.
- Ensure clear spacing between text and images.
- Optionally provide illustrative content on separate sheets.

This AI tool was to ensure that learners with dyslexia can focus better, improving their comprehension and reading flow.

For the customer, this solution must have also ensured adherence to the digital accessibility standards and saved resources for creating and maintaining training materials.

How it works

Specific rules and instructions (prompts) were developed for the AI to follow, covering tasks like selecting fonts, adjusting text size, and organizing content. For example:

“Apply OpenDyslexic font”
“Set line spacing to 1.5”
“Limit line length to 55-80 characters”

The AI uses these prompts to scan and transform learning materials, ensuring each component meets accessibility criteria. It automatically applies adjustments such as:

Font and spacing customization
Text alignment and structure modifications
Image filtering and placement

Here’s how the solution works in practice:

1
When content is generated, the content creator sends the learning material to the AI, which adapts it to specific needs.
2
After verification, the content is added to the lessons/library on the platform.
3
Text alignment is set to left-justified, and line spacing is increased to prevent line skipping.
4
The implemented AI tool structures content with clear subheadings, short paragraphs, and a limited line length to improve focus and comprehension.
5
Distracting images are minimized, and relevant visuals are clearly spaced from the text or provided on separate pages.
6
The student navigates through the platform, completing reading and assignment tasks with improved readability and reduced cognitive strain.

Screenshots

Project scope

The Aristek team proposed and implemented an AI-based solution to improve text readability. OpenAI’s LLM capability can also analyze images automatically and alert content creators if they may be unsuitable for individuals with dyslexia.

It took the team of three specialists about three weeks to plan and create the agreed solution.

Here’s a step-by-step description of how this solution was implemented:

The project began with an analysis of the LMS and user needs. The Aristek team worked with educators and accessibility experts to identify key dyslexia-related challenges.
Using a multi-agent system, where multiple AI agents collaborate to analyze and refine content, the LLM validates the material to ensure maximum quality.
The solution was integrated seamlessly into the client’s LMS.
Conducted rigorous testing to ensure usability and effectiveness.

This robust approach guaranteed a thorough review, optimizing both accuracy and accessibility before final delivery. The final performance metrics showed the following results:

30% average improvement in comprehension scores.
Increase engagement by 20% by tracking time-on-task in the LMS.
Increase words per minute (WPM) by 25% on average for learners with dyslexia.

Team

Data scientist x1
Front-end developer x1
Subject matter expert x1

Tools & technologies

Elasticsearch

GitHub

Jira

LlamaIndex

OpenAI

Python

RAG

Project results

Beyond improving educational outcomes, the AI tool brought the following business benefits to the customer:

The automated content customization and updates reduced the time and resources required for manual adjustments by up to 70%. The content created is automatically WCAG-compliant at level AA.
The intense pace of three specialists in collaboration with the client-side expert helped to meet the planned deadline and smoothly implement the solution on the platform.
By adhering to digital accessibility standards and guidelines, the AI solution ensured that the LMS complied with legal and institutional requirements, minimizing the risk of non-compliance issues and potential penalties.
The AI-powered tool increased the client’s market share by providing accessible and inclusive education, helping them stand out in a competitive market where accessibility is increasingly a key differentiator.

Overall, implementing the AI-based solution significantly strengthened the client’s public image by aligning with inclusive education practices and providing better support for students with reading disorders. The expert ensured that the proposed solution is aligned with the existing accessibility standards and dyslexia-friendly design practices.

Key solution benefits for the users included:

Learners received a broader coverage of diverse educational needs and wider access to all materials.
Teachers and content creators can focus more on teaching and less on formatting while ensuring that all students can engage with the content equally and effectively.

The solution, developed by the Aristek team in just three weeks, has helped us reduce teacher workload by nearly 70% and resulted in a tangible cost reduction in educational materials management.

Our commitment to supporting students with reading disabilities has not only improved our educational image, but also helps us build trust with parents, schools and teachers. This makes a big difference not only for students, but also for our brand reputation in the long term.

For all concerned, we strive to demonstrate: you are seen. You matter. You belong.“

The customer’s content creator

AI adoption of content for learners with dyslexia

Key achievements

Challenge

Solution

Select and customize fonts:

Space font size and characters:

Align texts:

Structure text hierarchy:

Format emphasis:

Space lines:

Maintain the line length:

Manage images and graphics:

How it works

Screenshots

Project scope

Team

Data scientist x1

Front-end developer x1

Subject matter expert x1

Tools & technologies

Project results

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