Implementation of mobile robots approach for autistic children media therapy

Abstract

Autism is neural development disorder which complex and is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, emotion and limited behaviour, repetitive and stereotyped characters. The development of people with autism experienced a very significant increase. Autistic fine motoric development of children with autism is done through the hands by using tools or creative media such as brushes, pencils, paper, scissors, clay, plastisin, foam, and others. One way to improve fine motor in autistic children is to play mobile robot therapy. Mobile robots media is an activity to control and regulate the movement of the robot that involves and requires coordination between the eyes, hands, and concentration. It is necessary to approach and use mobile robot in the effectiveness of play therapy in children with autism. Mobile robot as a medium that becomes a play therapy tool with mobile robot capability that can move and move from one place to another by following the pattern of lines that have been designed. The main purpose of this research is to design creativity according to the level of complexity of mobile robot use for children with autism. Besides the use of mobile robot as a medium of play therapy there is also analysis in research using Pre experimental design. Population in the sampling amounted to 20 children. Autistic children who become samples aged between 6 years to 12 years in Special School Kids Pekanbaru. Data collection to study the fine motor of autistic children, collected data analysed by descriptive analysis and Rank Wilcoxon test. The result of the research is a reciprocal relationship which means there is a difference of reciprocal relationship before and after the approach of using mobile robot in play therapy to improve fine motor in autistic children.