ASD: Interaction and socialisation through an adapted social network

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a significant increase in the incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the population over the years. Estimates indicate that approximately 1% of children worldwide are diagnosed with autism, while in the United States, this ratio is 1 in every 36 children. Additionally, research suggests a growing interest in technology among autistic children, with the use of computing devices showing potential for the development of social and emotional skills. Digital technology is widely recognized for playing a crucial role in promoting social inclusion and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. In this context, social networks offer a virtual environment for entertainment and interaction among various groups of individuals. This project aims to present a social network platform specifically developed for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The project incorporates various accessibility concepts and strategies to promote interaction and socialisation among community members. Usability and accessibility evaluations were conducted in different ways. First, an initial usability test, conducted within the scope of the tool's development, involved two students and a professor in the field of HCI. Subsequently, the usability of the social network was evaluated by three specialists using Nielsen's heuristic evaluation technique, revealing few usability issues, as presented in this article. Furthermore, usability inspections were conducted using automated tools, identifying x issues, as described in the text. Finally, a test with an ASD specialist was conducted, whose considerations indicate good clinical use prospects for the tool, which are detailed in this article.