Author:
Mentor:
Prof. Mohammad Azhar
Abstract:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by neural differences in the brain. According to 2020 CDC data, approximately 1 in 36 children in the USA is diagnosed with ASD. Unfortunately, there are many children on the ASD spectrum who don’t have adequate caregivers. The children with ASD struggle with learning daily activity skills, such as hygiene, time management and meal prep. Furthermore, according to the CDC about 1 in 6 (17%) children aged 3–17 years are diagnosed with a developmental disability. Research suggests that “caring for the children on the ASD spectrum is challenging and affects the life of the caregivers and caregivers commonly face psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and other mental or physical health problems while caring for the children on the spectrum”.
For example, the children with ASD would require many repetitions for communication that can lead to psychological distress for the caregivers. Previous studies suggest that robots have been successfully utilized for ASD children. In this project, we will explore designing educational games prototypes using robots to teach children of ASD about daily activities of living with minimal support from the caregiver. The overall goal of the project is to identify and design solutions using robots that may lower the burden on the caregiver of children with ASD.
