Using Games to Engage Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

presented by Jeremy Sarachan

St. John Fisher College

Assistant Professor, Department of Communication/Journalism and the Digital Cultures and

Technologies program

Zev and Angry Birds

Autism Facts

1 in 88 (1 in 54)

Language/Social/Emotional

Range of cognitive functioning

And the saying goes...

"If you've met one child with autism, you've met one child with autism."

High-functioning Autism& Asperger's

Visual memory and processing (higher than normal, not savant)

High intelligence

Focused interests

Social awkwardness (perhaps), but shy?

Social Stories/Procedural Rhetoric

ddy.com/blog/speech-therapy-techniques/using-social-stories-in-speech-therapy/

http://mallikat.hotglue.me/?R+and+I/

Non-linear narrative seen as a social story

http://blog.daum.net/ksmcn/18

Computer Clubhouse Model

Media Lab: 1989 [Lifelong kindergarten]

Principles:

Support Learning Through Design Experiences

http://www.ywca-miami.org/site/pp.asp?c=drKNIZPHIsE&b=1028347

HELP MEMBERS BUILD ON THEIR OWN INTERESTSCULTIVATE AN EMERGENT COMMUNITY OF LEARNERSCREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF RESPECT AND TRUST(RUSK, RESNICK, AND COOKE)

How this could work

"THE LAB" IN MELBOURNE AS A STARTING POINT: LEADING TO COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION.

UNYFEAT'S SUCCESSESGAMES:DEFINABLE CHARACTERS/PREDICTABLE ACTIONSSIA (SPECIAL INTEREST AREA)SOCIAL GAME OBJECTIVES: "USABILITY", "INTERRUPTIBILITY, "LENIENT PUNISHMENTS”, "JUICINESS" (JUUL)

The format

SMALL COMPUTER LAB WITH COLLABORATIVE WORKING SPACESTUDENTS WORK IN PAIRS OR GROUPS OF 3

90 MINUTES-TWO HOURS, EITHER WEEKLY OR IN A CAMP FORMATMULTIPLE TRAINED MENTORS, WITH PERHAPS A 3:1 RATIO.

http://www.simpalife.com/school-kids-needing-computers-for-homework/

The product

Planning Outlines (Mindmaps)

Storyboards

Small, chunked sections

Stencyl, Game Salad, Scratch

next steps

Collaborators

Students/Community Groups

Grants

Space

Questions and comments?

Jeremy Sarachan

jsarachan@sjfc.edu

@jeresarachan

jeremysarachan.com