Polytechnic students create AI chatbot to improve access to special needs resources and support

Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling speaking with students at the South West Community Inno Lab Symposium on May 19.

ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

SINGAPORE - Mr Matthew Lim used to struggle to find information on grants and assistance schemes as a polytechnic student with special educational needs (SEN).
Mr Lim has Coats disease, a condition that gradually causes blindness in his left eye. The 20-year-old, who has graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a diploma in human resource management with psychology, said that many forms of support exist, from financial aid to exam accommodation, but applying for such schemes was not easy as information was not easy to find.
His personal experiences inspired him and 10 teammates to develop a Telegram chatbot with the use of artificial intelligence to provide users with personalised support based on their needs. They named the chatbot Elfie.
Their project was one of 10 featured at the event on May 19. Launched in 2024, the South West Community Inno Lab is a partnership between the South West Community Development Council (CDC) and nine institutes of higher learning.