“Leaving no one behind”: digital empathy and inclusive media literacy education for young adults on the autism spectrum

The paper advocates for the necessity of inclusive media literacy education (MLE) and equal opportunities for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is in alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) 2008 and the Sustainable Development Goal 4 Quality Education (SDG, 2030). It underscores the commitment to 'leaving no one behind', a core tenet of the SDGs, by focusing on developing digital empathy and inclusive MLE for young adults with ASD in the digital age. The study aims to empower young adults with ASD in Chennai, India, with media literacy and digital empathy through a one-day hands-on workshop and to assess the impact of this educational intervention on their understanding and application of media literacy in their daily lives. The paper employs a mixed-method approach that integrates experimental-qualitative research and the data is analysed using 'qualitative reflexive' thematic analysis. The study's findings demonstrate significant improvements in the participants' abilities to discern fake news, learn digital empathy and cybersecurity by engaging responsibly with digital media, and include MLE in their academic curriculum. The paper suggests that such educational interventions can enhance digital empathy and media literacy among young adults with ASD.