Students with visual impairments often face major obstacles in their everyday studies as teaching materials frequently lack accessibility and digital solutions are largely inadequate. To overcome these challenges, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is upgrading its ACCESS@KIT facility to a service center for visually impaired students in Baden-Württemberg. The goal is an AI-based platform that automatically converts learning materials into accessible formats. Baden-Württemberg’s Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts is funding the project with EUR 2.4 million.
At the heart of the upgrade is IncluDocs BW, a new AI-based teaching platform where visually impaired students will be able to upload scripts, presentations, and other course materials and convert them into accessible document formats. Human assistants can intervene in situations where the system’s artificial intelligence is unable to provide a useful solution.
Accessible Materials for Students in Baden Württemberg
“We want all students to have equal opportunities. The IncluDocs BW teaching platform is a further milestone on the way to equal participation for visually impaired students,” said Petra Olschowski, Minister for Science, Research, and the Arts. “The center in Karlsruhe will be a pioneering inclusive education hub for all of Baden Württemberg.”
“With ACCESS@KIT, KIT has a unique central facility for adapting teaching materials to meet the needs of visually impaired students and for conducting research in this field,” said Professor Oliver Kraft, KIT Vice President Academic Affairs. “This upgrade is an important step in making university studies more accessible to all while also setting new standards in digital accessibility.”
Hosting for the IncluDocs BW platform will be provided by KIT’s Scientific Computing Center, ensuring that visually impaired students from all over Baden Württemberg will be able to use the service. All uploaded materials will be processed on the platform in compliance with legal regulations.
About ACCESS@KIT
Since 1987, KIT’s Center for Digital Accessibility and Assistive Technologies (ACCESS@KIT) has been providing advice and support for students and potential students with visual impairments, enabling self-determined and inclusive study at KIT. It also conducts research on new assistive technologies and access to STEM study programs. Since 2020, ACCESS@KIT has also been part of the Real-World Lab Accessibility, which is funded within the framework of KIT’s Institutional Strategy.
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