Souzousha

AUTISM SPEAKS. IT’S TIME TO LISTEN.

WHY AUTISM?

Autism

What’s Autism?

Rigidity of thought and behaviour

Lack of true two-way conversational skills

Difficulty with social relationships

Benefits of visual cues Compensate for weakness with

processing auditory input Focus on relevant information & for

longer periods Promoting Positive Behaviour

Decreasing challenging behavior Increased on-task behavior Improved performance

Benefits of Visual Cues

Aid learning Improves interaction with others Self-help skills Visual schedules promote consistency

and communicating schedule activities

Technology Used to Help Autism

“Low” Technology

“Mid” Technology

“High” Technology

“Low” Technology

Have Visual Schedules using a white board Increases his

organisational skills

Know what is coming next

Helps in marking out school attendance

“Low” Technology

Object/Activity Schedule which follows a timeline so the autistic person will know:-– What is currently

happening– When they have

completed the activity– Changes that may

occur Pictures make it more

visual

“Mid” Technology

Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCAs)

– Does voice recording– Simple enough for autistic people to use– Increase classroom participation, focus

and communication– Appeals and motivates autistic people as they can feel and hear the devices

“High” Technology

Videotapes– Highly interested, motivated and thus attentive to videos

Computers– Provides the child something to navigate and interact with

Digital Cameras– Makes two-dimensional visual representation systems as they prefer visually-represented information

“High” Technology

Device that helps autistic people interpret emotions– Picks up visual cues such as a smile or

raised eyebrow– Easier to find out and socialise with people who feel like them– Opportunity for them toco-designers than test subjects

“High” Technology

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) A software installed on mobile phones Learn and express himself by forming

simple sentences by arranging images on an adhesive strip

Advantages of Current Products Visually appealing Something that they can touch, feel

and hear

Attachable and portable in case they leave it someplace they forget

Improvements to be Made

OUR IDEA

Incorporate visual cues into a device which is portable

Aids their daily routine by showing the respective picture of an activity at a certain time throughout the day

For example, picture of school at 8am, indicates time to head to school

How does it solve the pain?

Their parents will not have to spend so much time/attention taking note of their routine

Reduces the possibility of an autistic child feeling frustrated and throwing a tantrum

Helps people with mild autism to better integrate into the society

Autistic child can now follow the same routine everyday with a guide

Focus Group Ms Serinn Quek Teacher of a Special School Ms Ho Hil May Educational Psychologist MOE Ms Jane Lim, has brothers with Autism

Preliminary Questions: What are the problems faced by

children with autism daily? How effective are the current

solutions in the market? What do you think of the idea we

have?

Preliminary Findings Inconsistency of environment at school

and home Solutions are either too expensive or

applied only in school environment The idea is unprecedented; nothing

like this in the market

THANK YOU!