Fatima Mohammad Alghamdi
Role of inclusively Designed Technology in Facilitating Communication for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) typically have reduced ability to communicate and socialize. This study explores the use of technology in supporting the developmental needs of children with ASD in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, it examines how useful and usable technological educational resources would be for this group of children when they are designed and developed inclusively keeping in mind their cultural needs. An iPad-based learning program called “Sweet Home for Kids” was designed and developed with specific features. The ease of use and cultural relevance of the program was tested with five children with ASD, their parents and teachers at the Jeddah Autism Centre in Saudi Arabia. Results of the study showed that portable electronic devices are very useful in engaging children with ASD, and that multimodal, visually attractive presentation and culturally relevant content make Apps attractive, usable and useful for children with ASD.