International Games Innovation Conference, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY. September 8, 2012

1. 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

2. Zev and Angry Birds

3. Autism Facts
1 in 88 (1 in 54)
Language/Social/Emotional
Range of cognitive functioning

4. And the saying goes...
"If you've met one child with
autism, you've met one child
with autism."

5. High-functioning Autism
& Asperger's
& Asperger's
Visual memory and processing
(higher than normal, not savant)
High intelligence
Focused interests
Social awkwardness (perhaps), but shy?

6. Social Stories/
Procedural Rhetoric
Procedural Rhetoric
ddy.com/blog/speech-therapy-techniques/using-social-stories-in-speech-therapy/
http://mallikat.hotglue.me/?R+and+I/

7. Non-linear narrative
seen as a social story
seen as a social story
http://blog.daum.net/ksmcn/18

8. Computer Clubhouse Model
http://www.ywca-miami.org/site/pp.asp?c=drKNIZPHIsE&b=1028347
Media Lab: 1989 [Lifelong
kindergarten]
Principles:
Support Learning
Through Design
Experiences
HELP MEMBERS BUILD ON THEIR OWN
INTERESTSCULTIVATE AN EMERGENT
COMMUNITY OF LEARNERSCREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT OF RESPECT AND TRUST
(RUSK, RESNICK, AND COOKE)

9. 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)

10. The format
90 MINUTES-TWO HOURS, EITHER
WEEKLY OR IN A CAMP
FORMATMULTIPLE TRAINED MENTORS,
WITH PERHAPS A 3:1 RATIO.
SMALL COMPUTER LAB
WITH COLLABORATIVE
WORKING
SPACESTUDENTS WORK
IN PAIRS OR GROUPS
OF 3
SMALL COMPUTER LAB
WITH COLLABORATIVE
WORKING
SPACESTUDENTS WORK
IN PAIRS OR GROUPS
OF 3
http://www.simpalife.com/school-kids-needing-computers-for-homework/

11. The product
Planning Outlines (Mindmaps)
Storyboards
Small, chunked sections
Stencyl, Game Salad, Scratch

12. next steps
Collaborators
Students/Community Groups
Grants
Space

13. Questions and comments?
Jeremy Sarachan
jsarachan@sjfc.edu
@jeresarachan
jeremysarachan.com