IESAMI: An intelligent environment to support the academic monitoring and inclusion of students with disabilities in university

Abstract

According to the latest estimates of The United Nations, currently, between 180 and 220 millions of youth (15–24 years) around the world live with some form of disability and approximately 80% of them are from developing countries. Consequently, it is fundamental that youth with disabilities have the same opportunities to access to Higher Education and develop their full potential. However, most of universities (especially in South America) do not have programmes that can guarantee a suitable inclusion for these people. Therefore, this paper describes a proposal of an intelligent ecosystem to support inclusion of students with disabilities in higher education. This ecosystem has the aim of integrating several sides related with humanistic level, academia, research, and technology. Some parts of this ecosystem have arisen after a practical experience of 3 years in development of assistive technologies to support education for people with disabilities (children and youth). The aforementioned experience has raised awareness in higher education students about disabilities (through their participation in social projects) and has favoured to approximately 200 children and youth through carrying out of research projects with social purposes in the city of Cuenca (Ecuador).