research-article

Designing a social network to support the independence of young adults with autism

Authors:

Jennifer G. Kim,

Gregory D. Abowd,

Rosa I. ArriagaAuthors Info & Claims

CSCW '12: Proceedings of the ACM 2012 conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work

Pages 627 - 636

https://doi.org/10.1145/2145204.2145300

Published: 11 February 2012 Publication History

Abstract

Independence is key to a successful transition to adulthood for individuals with autism. Social support is a crucial factor for achieving adaptive self-help life skills. In this paper we describe the results of a formative design exercise with young adults with autism and their caregivers to uncover opportunities for social networks to promote independence and facilitate coordination. We propose the concept of SocialMirror, a device connected to an online social network that allows the young adult to seek advice from a trusted and responsive network of family, friends and professionals. Focus group discussions reveal the potential for SocialMirror to increase motivation to learn everyday life skills among young adults with autism and to foster collaboration among a distributed care network. We present design considerations to leverage a small trusted network that balances quick response with safeguards for privacy and security of young adults with autism.

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Cited By

Keppel JStrauss MGruenefeld USchneegass S(2024)Magic Mirror: Designing a Weight Change Visualization for Domestic UseProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36981498:ISS(569-596)Online publication date: 24-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3698149
Lyu YCarroll J(2024)"Because Some Sighted People, They Don't Know What the Heck You're Talking About:" A Study of Blind Tokers' Infrastructuring Work to Build IndependenceProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36372978:CSCW1(1-30)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3637297
Morgado Ramirez DBarbareschi GHolloway C(2024)Adult Autism Research Priorities and Conceptualization in Computing Research: Invitation to Co-lead with Autistic AdultsACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction10.1145/363514831:4(1-47)Online publication date: 19-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3635148
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Index Terms

Designing a social network to support the independence of young adults with autism
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Collaborative and social computing

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Published In

cover image ACM Conferences

CSCW '12: Proceedings of the ACM 2012 conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work

February 2012

1460 pages

ISBN:9781450310864

DOI:10.1145/2145204

General Chairs:
Steven Poltrock
Boeing Research & Technology
,
Carla Simone
University of Milano-Biccoca
,
Program Chairs:
Jonathan Grudin
Microsoft Research
,
Gloria Mark
University of California, Irvine
,
John Riedl
University of Minnesota

Copyright © 2012 ACM.

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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SIGCHI: ACM Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

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Published: 11 February 2012

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CSCW '12

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CSCW '12: Computer Supported Cooperative Work

February 11 - 15, 2012

Washington, Seattle, USA

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CSCW '12 Paper Acceptance Rate 164 of 415 submissions, 40%;

Overall Acceptance Rate 2,235 of 8,521 submissions, 26%

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October 18 - 22, 2025

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Cited By

Keppel JStrauss MGruenefeld USchneegass S(2024)Magic Mirror: Designing a Weight Change Visualization for Domestic UseProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36981498:ISS(569-596)Online publication date: 24-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3698149
Lyu YCarroll J(2024)"Because Some Sighted People, They Don't Know What the Heck You're Talking About:" A Study of Blind Tokers' Infrastructuring Work to Build IndependenceProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36372978:CSCW1(1-30)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3637297
Morgado Ramirez DBarbareschi GHolloway C(2024)Adult Autism Research Priorities and Conceptualization in Computing Research: Invitation to Co-lead with Autistic AdultsACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction10.1145/363514831:4(1-47)Online publication date: 19-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3635148
Kong HYadav SLowy RRuzinov DKim J(2024)Understanding Online Job and Housing Search Practices of Neurodiverse Young Adults to Support Their IndependenceProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642578(1-14)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3642578
Cullen SJohnson EWisniewski PPage X(2024)Towards Digital Independence: Identifying the Tensions between Autistic Young Adults and Their Support Network When Mediating Social MediaProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642567(1-21)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3642567
Hall KArora PLowy RKim J(2024)Designing for Strengths: Opportunities to Support Neurodiversity in the WorkplaceProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642424(1-14)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3642424
Yoo DWoo HNguyen VBirnbaum MKruzan KKim JAbowd GDe Choudhury M(2024)Patient Perspectives on AI-Driven Predictions of Schizophrenia Relapses: Understanding Concerns and Opportunities for Self-Care and TreatmentProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3642369(1-20)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3642369
Choi DLee SKim SLee KYoo HLee SHong H(2024)Unlock Life with a Chat(GPT): Integrating Conversational AI with Large Language Models into Everyday Lives of Autistic IndividualsProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3641989(1-17)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3641989
John ABates S(2024)Barriers and facilitators: The contrasting roles of media and technology in social–emotional learningSocial and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy10.1016/j.sel.2023.1000223(100022)Online publication date: Jun-2024
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sel.2023.100022
Wohofsky LMarzi ABettarello FZaniboni LLattacher SLimoncin PDordolin ADugaria SCaniato MScavuzzo GGasparella AKrainer D(2023)Requirements of a Supportive Environment for People on the Autism Spectrum: A Human-Centered Design StoryApplied Sciences10.3390/app1303189913:3(1899)Online publication date: 1-Feb-2023
https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031899
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