NoProblem! A Collaborative Interface for Teaching Conversation Skills to Children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

This chapter presents NoProblem!, a multi-user interface designed to teach social conversation and social interaction skills to children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HFASD). HFASD is defined as a pervasive developmental disorder which involves deficits in socio-communication skills as well as with repetitive behaviors and restricted interests but with a relative high IQ (usually higher than 75). NoProblem! implements the principles of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) by interleaving learning and experience techniques. The process entails the display of short vignettes to present social tasks for the children to learn about and problem solve. In the learning part, a facilitator (teacher or therapist) uses the system to teach pairs of children about the phases of social conversation in different settings (e.g., at school, in the playground). The children consider and discuss prepared solutions, some of which are more appropriate than others; they may also propose and audio-record their own solutions. In the experience part, role-play of various conversational solutions is used. NoProblem! aims to provide opportunities to act out various conversational responses in a social setting that was selected as the most appropriate one and to practice it in a safe environment with partners who will cooperate. The results of formative and evaluation studies that demonstrate system usage and effectiveness in the teaching of conversational skills for HFASD children are presented. The children involved were interested, felt very competent doing this task, perceived that they could make choices, and felt minimal pressure and tension.