Brooke Fenn & Elyse Stokely

Brooke_Elyse

Project Title:   Virtual Reality Intervention for Children with Autism: Client Centered Design

Authors:  Brooke Fenn, Elyse Stokely, Parisa Ghanouni & Tal Jarus

Rationale: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)’s prevalence is on the rise, affecting 1 in every 68 Canadian children. These children face challenges in social interactions impacting participation in everyday activities. Research demonstrated Virtual Reality (VR) technologies, such as video and computer games, to be an effective low-cost intervention targeting social challenges in individuals with ASD. This project explores two notions: first, motion-based VR have the potential to increase user’s engagement, however limited research has investigated its use as an intervention for social participation. Second, the valued voices of end-users have never been incorporated in the development of VR games.

Objectives: This project aims to design and trial a Kinect motion-based video game to address social participation, incorporating the perspectives of end-users.

Method: 9 parents of children with ASD, 4 multidisciplinary clinicians working with children with ASD and 2 youth with ASD were recruited. In our preliminary research, stakeholders identified priority issues surrounding social participation. This research involved interviews to solicit input of the stakeholders regarding the design and development of a VR motion-based game.

Practice Implications: Developing a motion based game informed by the voices of the end-users will ensure that the needs and issues identified are addressed.

Conclusion: The proposed development of this motion-based game may serve as an affordable, creative and engaging tool to complement the Occupational Therapy intervention when overcoming social participation difficulties in everyday lives of individuals with ASD.