Perseverations of the academy: A survey of wearable technologies applied to autism intervention. Issue 143 (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williams, Rua M.; Gilbert, Juan E.
• Is Part Of: International journal of human-computer studies. Issue 143(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Autism -- Wearable computing -- Affective computing -- Brain-computer interfaces -- Augmented reality -- Virtual reality; 00-01 -- 99-00; Human-machine systems -- Periodicals; Systems engineering -- Periodicals; Human engineering -- Periodicals; Human engineering; Human-machine systems; Systems engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2020.102485
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1071-5819

Abstract

Highlights: 90% of technological interventions collected for review constitute "normalizing technologies" that view autistic traits as deficits to overwrite with neurotypical behavior Only 10% of technologies reviewed addressed user needs in the domains of sensory regulation, emotional regulation, communication, or executive function. 50% of technologies reviewed focus on social skills training or emotional intelligence assessment. Recent studies have shown that higher rates of suicidality in autistic people are linked to "fitting in social situations" (Cassidy et al. 2018) and "social stigma" (Botha and Frost, 2018). Our fixation on Autism as a social skills deficit rather than as a marginalized identity may be causing direct harm to our user group. Abstract: The Combating Autism Act of 2006 and its reauthorization in 2014 produced unprecedented interest in autism research. Computer Science researchers have devoted considerable attention to applying wearable technologies to existing autism interventions, as well as producing new forms of intervention. Many of these applications base their approach in popular conceptions of autism, leading the work to focus predominantly on social skills training. This survey reviews existing research inquiries and produces alternative research directions informed by emerging research in the fields of psychology, neurology, education, and critical disability studies. Wearable technologies may be uniquely suited to support and empower autistic people in sensorimotor integration, emotional regulation, executive function, communication, and other underrepresented domains of this misunderstood disability.