Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Making STEM More Accessible to Specially-Abled Persons Using Assistive Technology

In recent years, the importance of accessibility in education has been increasingly recognized. People with special disabilities face many challenges when accessing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. These challenges range from physical barriers to cognitive difficulties, but they all contribute to significant inequalities in educational opportunities. STEM education plays an important role in shaping the future of society and must be accessible to everyone, including people with special disabilities. On the other hand, Assistive Technology (AT) has proven to be a powerful tool to address these challenges and make STEM fields more inclusive. Various initiatives have been reported for the facilitation of Assistive Technology in improving the accessibility of STEM. However, there exist numerous challenges in implementing the same for the person with disabilities. On the flip side, with the advancement of technology, an ample amount of opportunities have been knocked in. This research report explores the challenges people with special disabilities face in accessing STEM education and identifies various assistive technologies that can help overcome these barriers. The potential benefits of STEM accessibility to the SAPs are also investigated along with the opportunities.