SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship | Ministry of Education | Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment | National Skill Development Corporation | NITI Aayog
The OECD has released a comprehensive report exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies can transform Vocational Education and Training (VET) for neurodivergent learners, specifically those with Autism (ASD), ADHD, and dyslexia. The report identifies Extended Reality (XR), speech-to-text, and adaptive AI tools as critical for making vocational learning more accessible and reducing the stigma associated with learning disabilities. While these technologies offer immersive, practice-oriented training, significant barriers remain, including high affordability costs, a lack of teacher training, and ethical risks such as data privacy and algorithmic bias. To bridge these gaps, the report provides policy guidelines for governments to strengthen the assistive technology ecosystem and ensure that AI-driven VET systems are inclusive, responsive, and aligned with the actual needs of neurodivergent individuals entering the workforce.
Key Pillars of the AI-VET Inclusion Framework
Adaptive Learning Tools: Utilizing AI to provide tailored instruction and real-time support for learners with dyscalculia and dysgraphia.
Immersive Training (XR): Leveraging Extended Reality to create safe, practice-oriented environments for skill development.
Assistive Ecosystem Support: Strengthening the “Techno-Legal” and financial frameworks for the development of specialized assistive technologies.
Teacher Skill Augmentation: Equipping VET trainers with the specific competencies needed to manage AI-integrated inclusive classrooms.
Ethical Safeguards: Implementing clear guidelines on data privacy, bias mitigation, and the socio-emotional well-being of neurodivergent users.
What is “Immersive Adaptive Learning”? Immersive Adaptive Learning refers to the use of Extended Reality (XR) combined with AI to create training environments that adjust in real-time to a student’s specific cognitive needs. For a neurodivergent learner in a vocational setting—such as an apprentice mechanic with ADHD—an XR headset can provide sensory-controlled, step-by-step visual cues for complex tasks. If the AI detects signs of cognitive overload or distraction, it can simplify the visual field or provide audio prompts. This “practice-oriented” approach allows learners to master high-stakes technical skills in a low-risk, immersive environment before transitioning to the physical workplace.
Policy Relevance
For India, the OECD framework represents a transition from “Generic Vocational Training” to “Personalized Skill Inclusion,” supporting the goal of a truly inclusive “Viksit Bharat”.
Standardizing Inclusive Skilling: Adopting the “Teacher Skill Augmentation” pillar can help the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship modernize the ITI (Industrial Training Institute) curriculum for the estimated millions of neurodivergent youth.
Bypassing “Transition Barriers”: Using adaptive XR tools can help Indian MSMEs integrate neurodivergent apprentices more effectively, addressing the “employment transition” gaps highlighted in the bipartite roadmap.
Operationalizing Assistive Hubs: The report’s focus on the assistive technology ecosystem provides a roadmap for India’s “Regional AI Hubs” to specialize in low-cost, multilingual AI tools for learners with dyslexia and dysgraphia.
Federal Ethics Alignment: Incorporating the report’s data privacy guidelines into the national AI policy ensures that sensitive cognitive data of neurodivergent students remains protected under India’s emerging digital laws.
Implementation Fidelity via Pilot Projects: Establishing “Live Sandboxes” in VET institutions allows for the testing of AI-based speech-to-text tools in regional Indian languages before national scaling.
Follow the full report here: OECD: AI to Support Neurodivergent Learners in VET 2026