Lucia Pannese Expert Workshop on Digital Games for Empowerment and Inclusion

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1 Lucia Pannese Expert Workshop on Digital Games for Empowerment and Inclusion Seville,

2 The ispectrum project LLP Leonardo Transfer of Innovation ispectrum aims to improve the work based social interaction skills of people with Autism, Aspergers and other related special needs through a virtual work environment to increase their chances of gaining employment.

3 The Facts 332,600 people of working age in the UK are diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and only as little as 6% of them are in full-time employment In Germany, 164,849 people with ASD In Italy 116,114 people with ASD In Bulgaria there are at least 15,035 people with ASD In the EU the unemployment rate amongst people with ASD is considered to be higher than 90%!

4 Objectives An engaging new Serious Game for people with ASD A 3D e-learning course for ASD practitioners on using virtual work environments Training and workshops across Europe on new ways to deliver social communication and interaction skills Website hub for information and advice on these exciting innovations

5 Involved Associations Stakeholders such as Autism Europe Advisory group UK: women who work with adults with ASD and Asperger s syndrome and who are trying to find work Advisory group D: MAut (Erlangen), Autismus-Kompetenz-Zentrum Mittelfranken (Nuremberg). Advisory group IT: Autism Opleidingscentrum of Antwerp for northern Italy; Association of Flemish brothers of people with disabilities; Cooperative LEM (in the field of publishing and IT); Group Asperger Onlus; Space Nautilus; Triade sos autismo; Autismo Lecco; Fondazione Marino; Federazione Fantasia; Autismo Italia Advisory group BG : tbd

6 People with Autism and Tech In general the use of computers has a positive effect on social behaviour in children with ASD (Bernard-Optiz, Sriram & Nakhoda- Sapuan, 2001). Computers allow especially children with ASD to try out social interactions in a protected environment and give a clear structure with detailed instructions when needed. A lot of persons with severe forms of ASD do not talk but do use computers to express themselves (Murray & Aspinall, 2006).

7 People with Autism and SGs There are some very positive experiences with computer games and learning in children with ASD and Asperger s syndrome (Tanaka et al., 2010; Beaumont and Sofronoff, 2008). When the game is realistic and people with ASD play with an Avatar, they use the avatar to express their own feelings and recognize the feelings of others and engage in role-playing (Moore, Cheng, McGrath & Powell, 2005). This is hard to train for people with ASD, but it can be practised more easily in a virtual environment. Children with ASD suggest that they would prefer a computer game with text, audio and rich visual effects like animations (Lehman, 1998) rather than regular training materials.

8 The ispectrum Serious Game Introductory level: job interview

9 The ispectrum Serious Game IT Office Environment

10 The ispectrum Serious Game Retail Environment: Supermarket

11 The ispectrum Serious Game Outdoor Environment: commercial garden

12 Needs Analysis & Prototype Tests Country Overall England Germany Bulgaria Italy Number of Participants Persons with ASD Persons without ASD Parent with a child with ASD diagnosis* Person specialised in working with persons with ASD* Employers Decision Makers (politician, head of institution, other)* NGO* Teacher* Other* Not specified Gender M: 23 W: 47 M: 6 W: 16 M: 15 W: 22 M: n.s. W: 4 M: 2 W: 5

13 Contacts Lucia Pannese CEO, imaginary srl Innovation Network Politecnico di Milano Via Mauro Macchi, Milano Phone Fax Mob Skype: lueolli