Special Olympics Athletes React to AI Bias Study Led by Special Olympics

A new peer-reviewed study led by Special Olympics, in partnership with Oregon State University and published in the Disability and Health Journal titled Identifying Implicit Bias in LLM-Based Chat AI Toward People with Intellectual Disabilities. It reveals that widely used AI systems are reinforcing harmful stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities (ID). These findings point to a broader issue that AI is not neutral and that urgent steps are needed to include people with disabilities in its design.

Special Olympics athlete spokespersons on the topic from around the world support this pioneering work and voice concerns about how AI currently reports on people with ID.

Gabriel Davis, Special Olympics Youth Ambassador & Special Olympics Pennsylvania Athlete

Special Olympics Youth Ambassador and athlete from Pennsylvania Gabriel Davis has experienced the bias firsthand. “For example, a search showed signs of patterns of bias that I really didn't even know, like, people with ID often need help with simple needs like dressing, cleaning, etc. I was shocked and really disappointed when reading the results of the studies, because Chat AI can be used well when used properly. We have to change how we use it so that this does not happen again."

Caitlin Baran, Athlete Leadership Specialist at Special Olympics & Special Olympics Pennsylvania Athlete

Caitlin Baran, an Athlete Leadership Specialist at Special Olympics and Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete is concerned about far-reaching effects. “The results of this study are bothersome. A lot of people are using AI these days. If AI is treating individuals with ID differently than individuals without ID, that may encourage people using AI to do the same. Individuals with disabilities want to be treated like their non-disabled peers.”

Nyasha Derera, Special Olympics Zimbabwe Athlete Leader

“I am increasingly aware of how AI is becoming a part of every aspect of the digital world,” says Nyasha Derera, an athlete leader from Special Olympic Zimbabwe. “As someone who values inclusion, I believe it is vital that AI technologies support and reflect the diversity of our society, especially for individuals with ID. The results in the paper raised concerns for me, particularly regarding how statistics and data represented by AI chats may influence perceptions. Many people with IDD have experienced exclusion, but there are also powerful stories of inclusion that deserve to be highlighted without bias. Bringing these stories to the forefront could encourage more positive attitudes and support broader inclusion.”

Renee Manfredi, Special Olympics Hawaii Athlete Leader

Photo by Joel Plotkin

The results make me feel a little uncertain and concerned about the data that’s being gathered by the AI chats because I want the IDD community to be represented honestly,” says Renee Manfredi, Special Olympics athlete leader from Hawaii. “Yes, I may need more support, but I am also more than that. Why is there a bias? Is it because there aren’t enough facts or data that reflects the ID community in a well-rounded manner? AI is using the information available, so how can this be changed?“

This study and Special Olympics athletes spokespersons emphasize the opportunity to build a better and more inclusive AI system. Work done now will save years of undoing harm later.