TeensandScreens:TheGood,theBad,andtheUgly

CherylCohenDirectorofOnlineandCommunityPrograms

InteractiveAutismNetwork(IAN)@KennedyKriegerInstitute

• Howteenswithautismspectrumdisorder(ASD)usetechnologyintheirday-to-daylives

• TheimportanceoftechnologyfortheteenswithASD-- includingtechnologycareers

• ThebarriersteenswithASDencounterusingtechnology

• Parents’concernsaboutonlinesafetyandscreentime

• Suggestionsthatmayhelp• Answeryourquestions

AboutTechnologyUseIn2012,thePewResearchCenterfoundthatteens,ages12–17,usedtextmessagingmorethananyotherformofcommunication,includingface-to-facesocializing(Lenhart,2012)

In2015,thePewResearchCenterreportedthat24%ofteens,ages13–17,goonline“almostconstantly”(Lenhart,2015,p.2)

In2010,astudybytheKaiserFamilyFoundationfoundthatchildren,ages8–18,usedmediaover7½ hoursaday–outsideofschool(Rideout,2010).

InasurveybyCommonSenseMedia,parentsspentnearly9½hoursperdaywithscreenmedia,7¾hoursofwhichisdevotedtopersonalscreenmedia.(CommonSenseMedia)

“Disability isaconflictbetweensomeone’sfunctionalcapabilityandtheworldwehaveconstructed.Inthissocialviewofdisability,itistheproductthatcreatesthebarrier,nottheperson…”(Horton,2013,p.3)

“Ability+Barrier=Disability”

Eliminatethebarriersandyouhaveability

FranklinD.RooseveltFourFreedomsParkonRooseveltIsland,NY

SocietalbarriersPeoplewithautismarenotfullyincludedinsociety.Youngadultsandtheirparentsreported:• Inthefirstyearsoutofhighschool,morethan1/3rd intheUShadno

jobsandwerenotinvolvedinhighereducation.Higherthanratesforcomparisondisabilities.(Roux,2015)

• Incollege,participatedinSTEMfields(science,technology,engineering,andmathematics)atthehighestrateswhencomparedtootherconditions,butenrolledincollegeatalowerratethanmostcomparisonconditions.(Wei,2013)

• Only58% hadpayingjobsintotheir20s.Mostjobswerelowwageorparttime.Lowerthanratesforcomparisondisabilities.(Roux,2015)

• Vocationalskillsmostimportantservicesneeded(Roux,2015)

HowareteenswithASDusingtechnologyintheirday-to-daylives?

Ø Thestudyofhowpeoplewithautismusetechnologyintheirday-to-daylivesisanemergingfield

Ø Conductedasurveyinlate2015ofparentswhohadteens13-17withorwithoutASD

Ø ParticipantswereengagedwiththeassistanceoftheInteractiveAutismNetwork(IAN)ResearchDatabaseandCommunity

Ø 80questionstohelplearnaboutteensandtechnology

ParticipantsCompletedsurveys=347Groups:• ASDAverage(129/37%)- TeenswithASDandaverageorhigherparent-

reportedreadinglevel,language,andintellectualability• ASDLow(134/39%)- TeenswithASDandparent-reportedbelowaverage

readinglevel,language,andintellectualability• TD (84/24%)- Typically-developingteens,noASD,withparent-reported

averageorhigherreadinglevel,language,andintellectualabilityTendedtohavehighereducationandincomes,butnostatisticallysignificantdifferencesbetweenthegroups.Sixboystoonegirl(ASD)Oneboytoonegirl(TD)

Whichdevicesareyourchildusing?

Ø AlmostallteenswereusingoneormoredevicesØ DeviceuseandintensityofuseforteenswithASDis

similartothatofTDteensØ SomedifferencesinASDLowgroup:• usedconventionalcomputers(laptops,desktops,

andnotebooks)lessthantheothergroups• usedsmartphonesless• usedtouchscreendevicesmore- parentsviewing

theiPadasessential• Fewuseddedicatedassistivedevices

Whichapplicationsandprogramsisyourchildusingandaretheydifficult

forthem?

AppsforAutism• 29%oftheteenswithASD,

mostlyASDLow,wereusingthem

• Appslistedweremostlypicture-basedcommunicationprograms

Office/ProductivityApplicationsTeenswereusingawidevarietyofapplications,withASDLowteensusingfeweroffice/productivityapplicationsandhavingmoredifficultywhenusingthemthanASDAverageandTDgroups.SimilarhighuseamongTDteensandASDaverageteens

ASDLow ASD Average TD

WordprocessoruseHaddifficulty

59%36%

82%11%

79%5%

SpreadsheetuseHaddifficulty

30%82%

51%23%

68%7%

Graphics,drawing,orvideoeditinguseHaddifficulty

39%45%

62%14%

81%5%

Calendar/schedulinguseHaddifficulty

31%54%

43%22%

66%7%

CalculatorondeviceuseHaddifficulty

62%16%

78%1%

95%1%

EntertainmentApplicationsMostoftheteenswereusingentertainmentapplications,buttheASDLowteenswereusingthemlessandhadmoretrouble.

ASD Low ASD Average TD

Video/movie useHaddifficulty

75%8%

82%0%

95%3%

GamesuseHaddifficulty

84%6%

91%0%

96%0%

Books/magazines/web ondevice useHaddifficulty

55%19%

88%6%

88%0%

CameraondeviceuseHaddifficulty

74%12%

81%1%

98%1%

EducationalApplicationsTherewasnosignificantdifferencebetweenthegroupsintheuseordifficultyofeducationalapplications,which,likegames,tendtobetailoredfordifferentskilllevels.

Whenapplicationsarecreatedfordifferentabilities,peopleareabletousethem.

ASDLow ASD Average TD

EducationalapplicationuseHaddifficulty

83%33%

77%18%

83%10%

Whichteensaregoingonline?Almostallteensgoingonline:• TD– 99%• ASDAverage– 99%• ASDLow– 89%

Whynot?• Noability(5)• Nointerest(5)• Onlywatchesvideos(2)• Other(2)

Areteensinterestedintechnology-orientedcareers?

TD– 20%ASDAverage– 54%*ASDLow– 23%

*ASDAveragegirlsaslikelyasboystobeinterestedintechnologycareers

Areteensreceivingtechnologytraining?Learningcomputerrepair:• TD– 7%• ASDAverage– 17%*• ASDLow– 5%*NogirlswerelearningcomputerrepairLearningcomputerprogramming:• TD– 17%• ASDAverage– 38%*• ASDLow– 13%*Significantlyfewergirlslearningprogramming

ASDAverageteenswerereceivingtechtraining.Girlsasinterestedasboysintechnologycareers,butreceivelesstraining.

Doparentswantteenstoreceivemoretechnologytraining?

• TD– 42%• ASDAverage– 69%• ASDLow– 87%

Technologytrainingneedsarenotbeingmet.

• Abilitytoaccesstheinternetsuccessfullynecessaryforreceivingbasicinformation,products,employment,andservices

• Almostalloftheteensgoingonline• Whatarethebarrierstoaccessingonline

resourcessuccessfully?

OnlineBarriers

Commonwebtasks:Fillinginwebforms

ASDLown=117

ASDAveragen=127

TDn=83

Fillinginwebforms 57% 20% 4%

TeenswithASDhadsignificantlymoredifficultyfillinginforms,withASDLowgrouphavingthemostdifficulty.

Commonwebtasks:Findinginformationonawebpage

ASDLown=117

ASDAveragen=127

TDn=83

Findinginformationonawebpage

42% 17% 6%

TeenswithASDhadsignificantlymoredifficultyfindinginformationonawebpage,withASDLowgrouphavingthemostdifficulty.

Commonwebtasks:Usingsearchengines

ASDLown=117

ASDAveragen=127

TDn=83

Usingsearchengines

28% 10% 4%

ASDLowgrouphadsignificantlymoredifficultyusingsearchengines.

Commonwebtasks:Switchingbetweenwebsitesorwebpages

ASDLown=117

ASDAveragen=127

TDn=83

Switchingbetweenwebsitesorwebpages

15% 5% 1%

ASDLowgrouphadsignificantlymoredifficulty.

Whatareyourconcernswithyourteen’sonlinebehaviorandsafety?

Communication/judgment:Doesyourchildpurchaseonlineoffersoronline

subscriptionsorsignupforwebsitesthathe/sheshouldn't?

ASDLow ASDAverage

TD

Inappropriatepurchasingandjoining

53% 35% 19%

Importantproblemforallgroups,withASDLowhavingthemostproblematicbehavior.

“He'saccidentallyboughtthingsthinking

theywerefreeorhavegivenoutpersonal

informationsuchasemail,phone#,

addressetc.thinkinghehadtoinorderto

seeorusesomething.”

Communication/judgment:Inthepastyear,hasyourchildbeentakenadvantageoforbulliedonsocialmedia,photosharingsites,

discussionforums,orchatrooms?

ASDLow ASDAverage

TD

Cyberbullying 15% 25% 14%

Cyberbullyingaproblemforallgroups,butnostatisticallysignificantdifferencebetweengroups.• BullyingaproblemforindividualswithASD(38%pastmonth/63%

lifetime)(Zablotsky,2014)• Kowalski(2011)showedthatparentsofteenswithADHDand

Asperger’sunawareofcyberbullyingoccurrenceanddon’tdiscusswithteens.

Communication/judgment:Areyouconcernedaboutthecontentofyourchild’s

commentsorpostingsonsocialmedia?

Behavioraproblemforallgroups,butnostatisticallysignificantdifferencebetweengroups.

“Forgivemeifthisseemstoopersonal,but:HowmanyhaveeverbeenHighonDrugs,orhaveeverhadSexbefore?”

ASD Low ASDAverage

TD

Commentorpostingcontent

51% 44% 41%

Behavior:Areyouconcernedaboutyourchild'svideoviewinghabits?

Behavioraproblemforallgroups,butespeciallyASDAverage.

ASDLow ASDAverage

TD

Videoviewinghabits

45% 59% 35%

Athematiccontentanalysisonparents’concernsrevealedthefollowingthemesfortheASDgroups,inorderoffrequency:

1. Badcontentincludingprofanelanguage,violence,gore,andpornography

2. Toomuchtimespent3. Teen’sbadjudgement4. Inappropriatepurchasing

Parentsdescribedtheirconcernsabouttheirteen’svideoviewinghabits

“Hetendstolookforvideosthatareeither

violent,orthattriggerexcitement.”

“Hehashadproblemsinthepastabout

lookingatpornandwehavetobediligent

tokeephimfromthosesites.”

“Hestims.HelikesDora,BluesClues-

youngforhisage.Hewillwatchasnippet

overandoveragain.”

Behavior:Areyouconcernedaboutyourchild'sgaminghabits?

Teens’gaminghabitswereproblematicforallgroups,butbeingmalewasthebiggestriskfactor.

Timespent:MazurekandEngelhardt(2013)havefoundthefoundthatteenboyswithASDspentmoretimeperday(2.1hrs.)thanTDboys(1.2hrs.perday).

ASDLow ASDAverage

TD Differencebetweenallgroups

ASDAveragevs.TD

Gaminghabits

27% 41% 29% χ2=18.61;p=.005;d.f.=6(gendermalep=.005)

NS

Athematiccontentanalysisonparents’concernsrevealedthefollowingthemesfortheASDgroups,inorderoffrequency:

1. Toomuchtimespent2. Badcontentincludinggamesthatoverexcite3. Socialgameproblems,includingsafety4. Frustrationwithgameplay

Parentsdescribedtheirconcernsabouttheirteen’sgaminghabits

“Hespendsfartoomuchtimeplayinggames,he'saddictedtothem.IfItakethedeviceawayhehasa

meltdown.”

“HeplaystoomuchandIdon'tliketheviolence.”

“Iamafraidthathecouldgetsoinvolvedinit,ifnotbeingmonitored,thathecouldforgetabouteverythingelse.”

Toomuchtime,meltdowns,porn,violence,insomnia,andinappropriate

socialbehavior.What’saparenttodo?

MotivateyourteentoengageinotheractivitiesThesiren’ssongoftechnologymakesiteasierthaneverforteenswithASDdisengagefromotheractivities.Parentsreportthatthetimespentonscreensandobsessionwithscreen-basedactivitiespreventsteensfromparticipatinginotheractivitiesincluding:• physicalplay• householdchores• sleep• face-to-faceinteraction• homework

Masteringtheskillsofdailylivingbecomesevenmoredifficult(foodprep,shopping,hygiene,socialinteraction)ifthereisnotimetolearn.

SomeadvicefromDr.ElizabethRobertsfromTheCollegeInternshipProgram*:• Engageyourteenindevelopingalistofalternatives• Setupabehavioralprogramthatrewardstheteenforviablesubstitutions/alternativeleisureactivitiesfor

technology• Rewardthatbehaviorwithnaturalincentives• Ifyoucan’tcreateaprogramthatworks,findabehaviorally-orientedmentalhealthprofessionaltohelp

FromUnplug:TipsForParentsToHelpStudentsWithAutismGetOffElectronics.CollegeInternshipProgram(CIP).cipworldwide.org/unplug

Createagoodenvironmentforsleep“Wehavetolimithistimeandtakedevicesawaysothathewillsleep.”

• 50%- 80%percentofchildrenonthespectrumhavetroublefallingandstayingasleep(insomnia).TwotothreetimesmorelikelythanTD.

• Useofscreen-basedmediaatbedtimeinTDchildrenassociatedwithinsomnia.WithchildrenwithASD,MicahMazurekandhercolleagues(2016)foundthatchildrenwhousedscreen-basedmediaaspartofthebedtimeroutinetooklongertofallasleep.Violentcontentassociatedwithevengreatersleepdelays

• Dr.BethMalow andotherexpertsadviseparentstotrybehavioralstrategiestopromotehealthysleep.Forexample,theycan:– Createacalmingandpredictablebedtimeroutine– Keepthebedroomdark– Removecaffeinefromthediet– Reducenighttimeuseofcellphones,television,andotherelectronicdevices.

Theirlightcaninterferewiththebody'sproductionofmelatoninforsleep,andexcitinggamesandprogramsmaykeepthechildtooalert.

DiscussandEngageBepartofyourteen’selectroniclife.Talktoyourteenattheappropriatelevelaboutwhattheyareseeinganddoing:ü safecomputingü cyberbullyingü sexualityü appropriateandinappropriatecontent(and

consequences,includinglegal)

“Attemptingtotalktoanychildabouthisorhersexualitycanbeawkward,butforsomeoneonthespectrum,itmaybeexponentiallymoredifficult.Butifparentsputtheirheadsinthesandfortoolong,theconsequencescanbedevastating,notonlyfortheirchild,butalsofortheentirefamily.”(NickDubin fromAttwood,Henault,&Dubin,p.122)

ModelGoodTechnologyBehavior

pluggedinadults=pluggedinteens

CreateaPlanSomeTipsfromCommonSenseMedia:

q Createatechnologyplanforthewholefamily

q Setasidetimesinwhichtechnologyisused(andnotused)– useproventoolssuchasvisualschedulesandpositiverewardsystems

q Usefilteringandmonitoringsoftwarethatlimitstimeandcontent

q Knowtheratingsofthevideos,games,andwebsitesthatyourteensarevisiting

AdvocateLettechnologycompaniesthatmakesoftware/apps,hardware,games,websites,webbrowsers,searchengines,knowthatyouwanttheirproductstobe:

q accessibleforpeoplewithsocialcommunication,cognitive,andmotordifferences

q easytoregulateusingparentalcontrolsandmonitoring

q ageappropriate

q allowforendingagameatanytimewithoutlosingpoints/lives/etc.

“Besuretodesignfunandinterestingspacesforolderpeoplewithlowercognitiveabilities.Theyarenotchildren.”

“Makegraphicsageappropriate.A13yomayreadata7yolevelbutdoesn'twanttoreadaboutfirstgraders.”

“Maybethebestthingwouldbetohavegamesanddevicesthathavemultiplelevelsoffunctionality?Maybeliketrainingwheelswhereyoulearnsomethingfullysupportedand,asyougainskill,thesupportsfallawayuntilyouareabletodoitwithoutsupportat

allorminimalsupport.”

“Itwouldbefantasticifparentalcontrolsvis-à-vistimeandcontentweremoreuser-friendly.”

Advocate

q Makesurethatyourstudentsaregettingtechnologyeducationinschools(howtouseoffice/productivitysoftware,safecomputing,technologymaintenance,programming)

q IncludetechnologytrainingandliteracyaspartoftheIEPandIEPTransitionPlan

q Besurethatyourgirlsaregettingtechnologytraining,too.

q Advocateforinternshipprogramsatlocalcompanies,aswellaspaidemployment

q Makesurethatlocalandnationalgovernmentofficialsunderstandandsupportyourfamily’sneeds

Acknowledgements

§ IndividualswithASDandtheirparentsandguardianswhoparticipatedmystudyandothersfortheirgenerouscontributionoftimeandeffort

§ Dr.AlisonMarvinforherhelpwithstatisticalanalysis§ SubjectswererecruitedwiththeassistanceoftheInteractiveAutismNetwork(IAN)ResearchDatabaseattheKennedyKriegerInstitute,Baltimore

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