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Beyond autism and technology: lessons from neurodiverse populations

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posted on 2023-06-09, 05:46 authored by Mark Brosnan, Samantha HoltSamantha Holt, Nicola YuillNicola Yuill, Judith Good, Sarah Parsons
Purpose – This short paper reports on the sixth seminar in a 7-seminar series entitled, “Innovative Technologies for Autism: Critical Reflections on Digital Bubbles”, funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The aim of this particular seminar was to reflect upon the implications from neurodiverse communities for the development of technology for autism. Design/methodology/approach – Presentations from key researchers and parental perspectives are reviewed, highlighting contemporary issues in neurodiverse populations that have important implications for autism. Findings – Whilst there are many conditions associated with autism, most commonly intellectual disability (learning difficulties), this is not reflected in research. In addition, for child-based research, researchers are at least a generation older than participants and have had different digital-childhoods. Involving neurodiverse populations within participatory design sessions can address both of these issues. Understanding the context of the issues that the participatory design sessions address is crucial for developing participatory design principles that extend from one condition to another. This includes understanding when findings based upon verbal populations can be extended to nonverbal populations. Originality/value – This paper offers up-to-date insights into how design principles from one condition extend to different conditions. Universal interaction and neurodiversity HCI are considered. This is important within neurodiverse populations, especially given the high rates of additional conditions that are associated with autism. Whilst the majority of autism research has involved verbal populations, the benefits of technology can extend to non-verbal populations.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Journal of Assistive Technologies

ISSN

1754-9450

Publisher

Emerald

Issue

2

Volume

11

Page range

43-48

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2017-04-12

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-08-31

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2017-04-12

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