March 24, 2020 This event will highlight the challenges and opportunities in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to serve the needs of individuals with disabilities and dependencies. AI can improve the lives of people with disabilities, such as smart devices supporting people with physical disabilities or sight loss. On the other hand, AI outputs can also reflect discriminatory biases present in the underlying data used to develop the algorithms. While this “garbage in, garbage out” principle is well documented in respect to AI and gender or race, it is understudied in respect to disability or dependencies. Interdisciplinary panels of legal scholars, ethicists, AI developers, medical and service providers, and advocates with disabilities/ dependencies will explore best practices and guidelines for stakeholders, guided by ethical principles, legal considerations, and the needs of people with disabilities/ dependencies. Participants will seek to articulate clear criteria for developers and medical providers looking to harness the potential of AI to serve individuals with disabilities/ dependencies, including those whose disabilities/ dependencies are the result of aging, injury, or disease, and the caregivers -- including both professionals and unpaid friends and families -- who support some of these individuals. This webinar was free and open the public. For more information, visit our website at https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/events/details/artificial-intelligence-and-disability-dependency

1. To What Point and
Purpose?
Competing Goals in the Context of Artificial
Intelligence and Disability
Ari Ne’eman

2. “All models are wrong but
some are useful.” –George
Box, Journal of the
American Statistical
Association

3. Some Problems of Disability and AI
• Is the information private?
• Is the information being used to discriminate?
• Is the information leading to accurate conclusions?
• What goals should we build models to optimize for?

4. Some Problems of Disability and AI
• Is the information private?
• Is the information being used to discriminate?
• Is the information leading to accurate conclusions?
• What goals should we build models to optimize for?

5. Autonomy vs. Health?

6. Studies on ADL Impact of
Leaving Institutions for People
with I/DD
Lakin, K.C., Larson, S. A., Kim, S. (2011). Behavioral outcomes of Deinstitutionalization of People with
Developmental Disabilities: Third Decennial Review of Studies, 1977-2010. Policy Research Brief, 22 (1)

7. Lakin, K.C., Larson, S. A., Kim, S. (2011). Behavioral outcomes of Deinstitutionalization of People with
Developmental Disabilities: Third Decennial Review of Studies, 1977-2010. Policy Research Brief, 22 (1)
Studies on Skill Changes for
People with I/DD Leaving
Institutions

9. Life-Years vs. Rights?

12. Indistinguishability vs.
Person-Centered Goals?

13. Autistic Traits Challenge
 The medical model presumes that autistic traits are
themselves the inevitable source of challenges faced
by autistic people.
 As a result, that which is identified for diagnostic
purposes also serves as the focus of ‘treatment’ – and
as a measure of treatment effectiveness
 Focus of intervention effectiveness is on removal of
autistic traits, ’indistinguishability from peers’
Medical Model of Autism

14. Autistic
Traits
•Lack of eye contact
•Focused interests
•Repetitive behaviors
•Sensory sensitivity
Context
•Social norms in local culture or subculture
•Availability of supports, services and accommodations
Outcomes
•Differences in social communication, cognitive processing and sensory sensitivity, w
impact varying across contexts
•Challenges in employment, independent living, relationships, etc.
•Strengths in focused interests, dependent on surrounding culture, employer, etc.
Social Model of Autism

15.  Shift in the goal of service-provision and intervention –
from encouraging “indistinguishability” to promoting
person-centered goals
 i.e: eye contact, reduction of stimming are
indistinguishability-oriented;
 i.e: communication skills, independent living are
person-centered goals
 Goal is a healthy and happy autistic adult, not a non-
autistic person.
 Need to adjust to viewing autism through a diversity lens
and as a backdrop for co-occurring MH issues that
autistic people may actively want treatment for (i.e:
anxiety, depression, etc.)
Service Implications of models

16. Questions?