Designing a tailorable environment for children with autistic spectrum disorders.

The prevalence rate of individuals with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is estimated to be approximately 91/10,000 in the UK. Children with ASD have the triad of impairments in social interaction, communication and restricted patterns of behaviour. Given that research suggests that early intervention can maximize the potential of a child with an ASD there is a need to develop systems that are of benefit and tailorable to individual characteristics. Also, with the wider inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream education, there is an additional requirement that such systems should be affordable enough to form part of the school environment. This paper outlines the research undertaken in understanding the characteristics of children with ASD and how this led to the development of a multimedia environment for mainstream schools.