DepEd to roll out AI screening tool for early disability detection

The Department of Education (DepEd) will begin pilot data collection of an AI-powered tool in select schools to help identify children at risk of developmental disabilities, the agency announced Monday.

The initiative, part of the Screening using AI-Based Assistance for Young Children (SABAY), will begin in Metro Manila, with plans to expand to other regions in the Philippines. It aims to streamline the identification process for children who may be at risk of disabilities, allowing for early interventions.

DepEd’s Director for the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR), Erika Legara, noted that the project was developed in partnership with health and education professionals.

“The focus is on producing outputs that are interpretable and useful in real-world settings, especially where they inform how support should be extended to learners,” Dr. Legara said.

The tool aims to support early identification processes for children potentially at risk of disabilities, in line with Republic Act No. 11650, also known as the Inclusive Education Act, which mandates early identification through a Child Find System.

In addition to the SABAY Project, DepEd said improvements are underway for the Alternative Delivery Modes and Alternative Learning System for learners with disabilities (LWDs). Education Secretary Sonny Angara said this will include capacity-building, policy monitoring, and the expansion of the use of assistive technologies to address the varying needs of LWDs.