Accessible Autism Assessment

Business Needs:

According to the CDC, 1 in 68 children in the United States has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). And unfortunately, many of these children have also been exposed to psychological trauma such as violence, bullying, abuse, or neglect. Studies show that children with ASD are vulnerable to traumatization due to their deficits in social communication and emotion regulation.

These communication challenges also make it difficult for clinical care providers to diagnose and treat these children. Existing symptom rating scales (paper format) and reports from parents and observers have been shown to be inaccurate. Therefore, a reliable self-report format was needed to correctly assess children’s experiences.

The challenge?

• Develop a digital assessment that children with autism who have experienced trauma can use themselves, with minimal guidance from their care provider. 
• Incorporate accessibility practices for children, the developmentally disabled, and those with autism.
• Ensure the app is appropriate for children from toddler to teen.

Strategy & Process:

To ensure usability for all, I researched accessibility requirements for children, the developmentally disabled, and specifically those with ASD. The application also needed to be designed for a variety of ages (4-18) and different emotional and intellectual levels based on ASD severity/developmental deficits. Therefore, it was important to ensure the application language and imagery were age-neutral, appropriate, and able to span a wide audience.

Based on my research, I developed a content plan incorporating tone and accessibility recommendations including clear voiceover instructions for those who cannot read, large hit detection areas for buttons, subdued mild sounds, and use of exaggerated facial expressions. 

Sample Content Plan

Because some of the assessment subjects are disturbing and extremely sensitive, we decided on an illustrative approach. A series of illustration styles was presented to, and evaluated by, ASD care providers prior to prototyping.

After an initial prototype build, we tested the application with approximately 20 users (parents of children with autism, care providers, and children with autism). I developed a testing script and reviewed testing videos to incorporate into a findings document. Feedback from the testing phase was incorporated into the final deliverable. 

Sample User Testing Script & Report

Results

The application is in beta use at Johns Hopkins Kennedy Krieger Institute. Initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and the team is hoping to secure NIH grant funding for further development. 

Awards:

• Gold: Digital Initiative for Consumers, 2017, MM&M
• Silver: Digital Initiative for Non-Consumers (HCPs), 2017, MM&M