Augmented Reality for Special Needs Education and Learning
Author: Leap With Alice LLC
Published: 2018/07/16 - Updated: 2026/05/26
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This information examines how augmented reality (AR) technology can support students with dyslexia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), drawing on research efforts by AR-focused EdTech company Leap With Alice. The article outlines a research proposal submitted to the National Science Foundation that applies evidence-centered design to develop, implement and assess an AR-enhanced instruction model in Florida classrooms aligned with Next Generation Science Standards. Built on prior work using Universal Design for Learning, the project addresses a documented gap in accessible STEM education for students with disabilities, making it useful reading for educators, parents, therapists and disability advocates seeking practical applications of immersive technology in special education settings.
At a Glance
- 1 - One in five people is affected by dyslexia, a reading disability that hinders letter identification, sound decoding and reading fluency, placing these students at a disadvantage in text-based STEM learning
- 2 - National Assessment of Education Progress Science scores showed 68 percent of students with disabilities scored at the below basic level in science, compared with 31 percent of students without disabilities, and only five percent of individuals with disabilities enter the STEM workforce
- 3 - The AliceSuite includes AliceLabs, a free drag-and-drop AR creation tool, and AliceExchange, a peer-to-peer marketplace where educators can buy and sell AR-enhanced content with Digital Rights Management protections
- Topic Definition: Augmented Reality for Special Needs
Augmented reality for special needs refers to the educational application of AR technology - which overlays digital information, images or interactive elements onto a user's view of the physical world - to support learners with disabilities such as dyslexia and autism spectrum disorder. By presenting curriculum content through multiple sensory channels and interactive modalities, AR allows educators to tailor instruction to individual learning profiles, reinforce comprehension beyond text-based formats and integrate accessibility principles like Universal Design for Learning directly into classroom activities and Individualized Education Plans.
Introduction
Augmented reality (AR) has shown the ability to leverage unique perspectives. Leap With Alice, an AR-focused EdTech company, aims to be the first to provide undeniable evidence that this emerging technology can empower learning disabilities like never before.
Until now, there has not been a study examining the impact of AR-enhanced learning on students with dyslexia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research team at Leap With Alice has submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation with the aspiration of determining just that.
The project team will utilize evidence-centered design to systematically develop, implement, test and assess an AR-enhanced instruction and assessment model.
Main Content
The project will occur in classrooms in the state of Florida, where the Next Generation Science Standards have been adopted. The proposal builds on previous work utilizing Universal Design for Learning as a means to develop and assess accessible STEM-AR for students with disabilities.
One out of five people is afflicted with dyslexia, a reading disability that negatively impacts the ability to identify letters, decode sounds and read fluently.
This leaves students with dyslexia at a distinct disadvantage during traditional text-based STEM learning and assessment activities. Unfortunately, many students with dyslexia and ASD fall further behind their peers. This is evidenced by the latest National Assessment of Education Progress Science (2011) scores, which indicated 68 percent of students with disabilities scored at the below basic level in science, compared to 31 percent of students without disabilities. As an end result, only five percent of individuals with disabilities enter the STEM workforce (Leddy, 2010).
Providing AR-enhanced lessons, educators may foster a learning environment for meaningful engagement and deeper understanding.
AR can be the source of individualized learning that targets unique learning abilities, such as dyslexia and ASD. Presenting education through a variety of interactive learning modalities, educators are able to identify how each student best learns. Investing in modern technology to create Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) has shown to increase overall engagement and subject-matter understanding.
As a student begins to identify their optimal approach to absorbing information, educators hone in on the most effective ways that they can connect with their students. AR provides educators an assistive technology that generates interactive and engaging content; taking the existing world around us and overlaying additional information on top of it.
Leap With Alice provides free tools for creating educational content that has been enhanced by augmented reality.
Those original creations can be bought and sold on a peer-to-peer exchange, allowing educators an opportunity to supplement their income. In addition to providing the platform for establishing a "revenue-in-your-sleep" business model, Leap With Alice facilitates the ability for creators to take true ownership of their work with Digital Rights Management.
The AliceSuiteTM encompasses a variety of tools, centered around AliceLabsTM - a free, augmented reality creation tool.
Simple drag-and-drop features and templates allow educators to create interactive content that increases engagement, resulting in a more effective learning experience. AliceExchangeTM facilitates an Educator-to-Educator ecosystem of exchange with the capacity to buy and sell AR-enhanced content. Leap With Alice creates a world where students learn through innovation and educators earn through imagination.
For an in-depth look, read the Leap With Alice White Paper.
Reach out with any questions by joining the Leap With Alice Telegram group.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The promise of augmented reality in special education rests on more than novelty - it hinges on whether interactive overlays and multi-sensory presentation can translate into measurable gains for students who have historically been underserved by text-heavy instruction. Initiatives that pair classroom research with accessible authoring tools point toward a model where teachers are not just consumers of assistive technology but contributors to it, shaping content around the individualized learning plans their students actually need. Whether AR ultimately closes the achievement gap in STEM will depend on rigorous study, teacher training and sustained investment, but the early groundwork being laid by educator-driven platforms suggests a meaningful direction worth watching.Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Leap With Alice LLC and published on 2018/07/16, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.