Use of a Video Game with Tangible Interfaces to Work Emotions in Children with Autism

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by difficulties in recognizing, identifying and understanding what others are feeling. Attention to people with disabilities has been a topic of interest for different areas of science and technology. The area of special education needs technological tools that allow teaching in an innovative way, helping to improve the education of its students according to their specific needs. This paper presents the design and development of a video game with tangible elements to support the teaching and learning process of emotional and social competencies of children with autism spectrum disorders. The proposal was first evaluated by teachers from the special education area, and in a second moment an educational intervention was designed for a child diagnosed as autistic using the developed video game. In both cases, the results obtained were favorable, confirming that the incorporation of technological means to the teaching of emotional and social competences supposes a support for children with autism spectrum disorders.