Inclusion: studying and teaching with an intellectual disability

At the end of July, LMU researcher Peter Zentel will host the IASSIDD Congress, which aims to advance inclusion and raise awareness of the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. IASSIDD is one of the world’s leading scientific organizations in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its work covers not only health, education, and quality of life, but also the opportunities and risks of modern technologies.

Better understood and more independent with the help of AI

Peter Zentel’s research helps to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. In his Chair of Special Education – Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, he also uses new technologies to achieve this. These technologies are particularly relevant for people with complex disabilities, whose communication abilities are often impaired. As such, they can benefit a lot from digital tools and artificial intelligence.

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„In der Regel kommunizieren Menschen mit komplexen Behinderungen nicht über Sprache oder konventionelle Gesten wie Nicken oder Kopfschütteln, sondern mithilfe sehr individueller Ausdrucksformen, die meist nur Vertraute verstehen.“

“As a rule, people with complex disabilities do not communicate through speech or conventional gestures such as nodding or shaking their heads, but rather through highly individualized forms of expression that are usually understood only by those close to them.”

The lives of people with complex disabilities are marked by the problem of not being understood. “Their interests are often overlooked, and their needs go unnoticed. We want this to change. We want them to feel a greater sense of self-efficacy and to know that their needs are recognized and correctly interpreted.”

In his research, Peter Zentel focuses on the empowering potential of technical assistance systems. He seeks not only to identify the needs of people with complex disabilities but also to link them to smart-home technology, giving people greater independence in their daily lives. Turning on a light, lowering a blind, or triggering an emergency call without relying on verbal communication – this would significantly improve independence and participation in daily life.

Artificial intelligence, for example, can provide support in a variety of ways: for instance, by translating complex texts into simple language in the blink of an eye. Or by filling in letters, words, and sentences when physical disabilities make writing difficult.

At Zentel’s department, LMU researchers have measured participants’ gestures, facial expressions, skin conductance, heart rate, and temperature as part of an EU project and analyzed the data using AI. This makes it possible to infer the state of mind of a person who cannot express themselves.

The risks of these technologies, however, are obvious. What if the AI makes a mistake? What if the translation oversimplifies things? What if the written text is based on false inferences? What if the measured data is misinterpreted? And where does agency – the individual’s self-determination and capacity to act – fit in when AI makes decisions? To explore these questions, LMU philosopher Benjamin Lange is delivering a keynote address at the congress on the subject of “Ethics and AI.”

Studying and teaching with an intellectual disability

Inclusive research is also on the conference agenda. At the department itself, this has long been the case. For the past three years, Zentel has been collaborating with people with intellectual disabilities in his teaching and research and benefiting from their expertise and direct knowledge of the subject matter. Reflecting on one’s own disability, being part of a research project, being able to contribute one’s personal perspective – these are appealing propositions to many people in that situation, observes Zentel.

“Recently, a young man with an intellectual disability shared in a seminar what an incredibly positive and enriching experience it has been for him to study at the university. He never would have thought it possible. He said he enjoys working with the students and appreciates their friendliness and openness. That really moved me.”

His students also benefit from this collaboration. “The participation of people with intellectual disabilities enriches the university,” says Zentel. At the congress, which is participatory and open to all, LMU students will take part in a buddy program to accompany participants with disabilities and provide support as needed.

The congress will kick off with an inclusive dance performance created by choreographer Alan Brooks in collaboration with students. This, too, reflects Zentel’s approach: “The artistic aspect is very important at this department,” he says. Zentel has received awards for his work in this area, such as his collaborations with the Munich Symphony Orchestra and the Kammerspiele.

LMU on path to becoming an inclusive university

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LMU plans to open its doors even wider to inclusion in the future. “Turning LMU into a beacon for accessible learning is something I’ve been dreaming of for a long time,” says Peter Zentel. He is supported in this ambition by Dr. Margit Weber, Vice President for Equity, Talent Management and Diversity at LMU. “Our goal is to enable people with intellectual disabilities to access higher education, beyond conventional notions of formal requirements and degrees,” she explains.

“We want to open new pathways so that people with intellectual disabilities can gain access to universities, where they can develop and contribute their talents.” To this end, a new project is due to launch in the fall of 2026. Unique in Germany, the project is part of an action plan being pursued by Margit Weber at LMU, which seeks to contribute to LMU’s excellence through inclusion.

For more information, see:

IASSIDD European Congress 2026 – real.time – Shaping the Future Together?

The conference will take place from July 28 to 31, 2026.

Chair of Special Education – Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities