Main Challenges:
I think the first main challenge in applying mainstream mobile technologies to meet the needs of people who have autism or other cognitive disabilities is how to teach them to use those technologies. The people who have cognitive disabilities usually have trouble communicating and learning. Since it takes some time for people with no disabilities to learn how to use, the people who have cognitive disabilities are more difficult to learn. The second challenge is how to know their real needs through conversation. In other words, because of the difficulties of communicating with them, such as they will be distracted, we may not get their real needs and design products for them.
Three benefits of making mainstream mobile technologies accessible for people with autism or other cognitive disabilities:
By using mainstream mobile technologies:
- We can help them live independently.
- We can help them communicate and interact with society.
- We can help them pay attention to something, preventing them from being distracted.
Technologies help overcome stigma and discrimination for people with autism or other cognitive disabilities:
- By using AT products, we can help them live like us. That is the fundamental way to solve the stigma and discrimination because the stereotype indeed comes from disabilities. We need to try our best to utilize technologies to help them live.
- By using social media and media platforms, we can convey the idea “they are equal to us; there is no difference among us” to the public. We need propaganda to eliminate discrimination.