Interactive technologies for autism

ABSTRACT

In meeting health, education, and lifestyle goals, technology can both assist individuals with autism, and support those who live and work with them, such as family, caregivers, coworkers, and friends. The uniqueness of each individual with autism and the context of their lives provide interesting design challenges for the successful creation and adoption of technologies for this domain. This Special Interest Group (SIG) aims to bring together those who study the use of technology by and for individuals with autism, those who design and de-velop new technologies, and those who are curious about getting involved. Areas that this SIG will consider include assistive technologies; tools for data collection and analysis; educational software; virtual reality rehabilitation environments; identifying users; need finding; user-centered collaborative design processes that include individuals who cannot speak or write; and product assessment. This SIG will provide opportunities for participants to join together and share their own pro-jects, design challenges, and lessons learned while fo-cusing on directions for future development. Those with experience and newcomers to the field are both equally encouraged to attend.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.1 Computer Uses in Education
          Subjects: Computer-assisted instruction (CAI)

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.4 COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY
      K.4.2 Social Issues
          Subjects: Assistive technologies for persons with disabilities

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Human Factors

Keywords:
assistive technology, autism, children, design methodology, education, health, ubiquitous computing