Artificial Intelligence is somewhat of a controversial topic in today’s landscape. Regardless of your opinion on it, though, it’s virtually impossible to avoid it. As with anything, AI has its pros and cons, but one thing that’s certain is that it can be incredibly helpful to neurodivergent people. In many ways, AI and neurodiversity go hand-in-hand, as these tools can provide assistance that’s tailored to unique needs. Discover more about the various types of AI tools on the market below.
Neurodiversity awareness training for managers
Products to Help Neurodiversity
To support neurodivergent individuals, several AI products have been developed to cater to different needs and preferences. These include anything from personal assistants to specialised software to help with productivity and learning outcomes:
- Personal assistant apps – Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa are just some of the apps available to manage tasks, make reminders, and create routines.
- Educational tools – Grammarly and Ghotit are just two of the programmes that provide advanced spelling and grammar checks.
- Therapy bots – Woebot and Replika are just two of the chatbots that offer conversational support to help with emotional regulation and provide companionship.
- Task management tools – Trello and Todoist are just two of the tools that help organise and prioritise tools.
How Can chatbots Help Me at Work?
AI chatbots come with a number of benefits for neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals alike. Some of their benefits include the following:
- Task automation
- Personalised support
- Stress reduction
- Enhanced communication
ADHD AI tools
It’s vital to stress that neurodivergence presents itself differently in each individual. As a result, not every person with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will have the same experience. Typically speaking, though, ADHD is characterised by difficulties with attention, activity levels, and impulsivity. There are three subtypes of ADHD, which are predominantly inattentive (difficulties with attention, concentration, and working memory), hyperactive-impulsive (physical or mental busyness), and combined. As a result, some of the following tools may be used to make work easier:
- Focus and productivity apps – Focus@Will is one of the tools that uses AI to create music that enhances concentration and productivity while tailoring it to the user’s unique needs.
- Reminder systems – Remember The Milk is one of the apps that provide smart reminders to help keep on top of tasks and deadlines.
- Pomodoro Technique apps – Be Focused and Forest are just two of the apps that use the Pomodoro Technique. This is a time management method that breaks work into intervals to help with focus and productivity.
- Behavioural analysis tools – CogniFit and apps like this use AI to assess cognitive abilities and provide personalised exercises to help with attention and focus.
How Can AI Help Autism?
As previously mentioned, neurodivergence doesn’t affect everyone in the same way, so not every person with autism shares the same experience. Generally, boys and men with autism process fine details well, have strong concentration skills, struggle with social communication, carry out repetitive behaviours, and experience sensory sensitivity. Meanwhile, girls and women with autism tend to observe and mimic human interaction and have intense feelings of empathy. Therefore, some of the following tools might be used to assist with day-to-day tasks:
- Social skills training – Cognoa is one of the chatbots that offers interactive social skills training so that people can practice and improve their communication skills without feeling judged.
- Routine management – Timocco and Avaz are just two of the apps that work to create and maintain routines with the help of visual schedules and reminders. This can reduce anxiety and improve daily functioning.
- Sensory management – Sensory Treat is one of the AI tools that provides personalised sensory plans to help users manage sensory input.
- Communication tools – Proloquo2Go is one of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) apps that uses AI to help non-verbal individuals communicate more effectively using symbols and text-to-speech functions.
AI Tools for Dyslexia
As with ADHD and autism, dyslexia doesn’t present itself in the same way in each individual. The current working definition of dyslexia, proposed by the Rose Review in 2009, suggests that dyslexia ‘primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. Characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in breaking down phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed’. Consequently, the following tools can be used to help with these difficulties:
- Reading assistance – Kurzweil 3000 and ClaroRead are just two of the tools that use AI to convert text to speech, making reading more accessible and less strenuous for those with dyslexia.
- Writing support – As previously mentioned, Grammarly and Ghotit offer advanced grammar and spell-check features.
- Educational apps – Lexia Learning and Reading Rockets are two of the apps that use AI to offer personalised learning experiences, adapting to the user’s progress and providing targeted exercises.
- Speech-to-text software – There’s software that uses AI to convert spoken words into written text. Dragon NaturallySpeaking is just one example.
Invest in Products That Help Neurodiversity
If you want to foster a neuroinclusive work environment, you need to invest in the products to help with neurodiversity. This is just one of the many steps that go towards creating and maintaining a workplace that’s inclusive for all. To gain a deeper insight, be sure to get in touch regarding neurodiversity awareness training for managers.
Related readings
What’s your Strength – The Neurodiversity Pack has Arrived
