AutisMIND, an application to stimulate the social cognition of children with ASD
AutisMIND, an application to stimulate the social cognition of children with ASD
IDAPP MIND SL
The tool enhances the ability to empathize with others in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
There are more and more experiences and studies endorsing that technology is a particularly useful resource to support therapeutic and learning processes in children with ASD. Whether through robotics or specialized computer programs, research is showing the benefits of this approach.
AutisMIND is a mobile application that supports families and professionals in working on the development of social thinking and theory of mind in children with ASD, that is, the ability of individuals to be aware of the feelings, desires, and beliefs of others when acting.
The AutisMIND application addresses ten different aspects of socio-cognitive development with six levels of difficulty and a total of over a thousand interactive and playful exercises. Some of the topics it covers include interpreting emotions in context, anticipating actions, physical sensations, and symbolism.
The platform presents learning in a simple and dynamic way. On one hand, it uses sharp images with simple outlines that avoid overstimulating the child. On the other hand, it includes visual reinforcements that enhance the interest, attention, and motivation of the user. The functions are adaptable to the needs of each person, and statistics allow evaluating progress and achieved milestones.
Characteristics of innovation
Localization
Catalonia
Partners / Funders
IDAPP Center
Genesis
AUTISMIND is a collaborative project among professionals, family members, and individuals with autism, based on their experiences and needs. The idea, driven by clinical psychologist Alex Escolá, arose during his work with users with autism, as technology proved to be a very effective tool in the treatment of children with ASD. In 2017, a first application aimed at young children was created, which was very well received. As a result, work began on new content, aimed in this case at adolescents and adults.
Level of implementation
The first application was downloaded 35,000 times. Currently, the AutisMIND Videos platform is being developed, an interactive video simulator for people with ASD to learn to manage everyday difficult situations and thus improve their autonomy and well-being. In these videos, people appear in everyday contexts, such as a job interview, and the user can choose interactively how they want the different scenarios to be resolved. In this way, people with ASD can anticipate circumstances that may cause them discomfort.
Banc d’innovacions
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Pycipedia, collaborative platform for social workers specialized in parenting with intellectual disabilities
