Tech Alert

April 2, 2016 was designated World Autism Awareness Day. Many world monuments were lit up in blue lights to show support for the cause. Colorful ribbons and pins were worn and emotional sentiments were plastered all over social media. While the gestures themselves were moving, the concept of autism “awareness” is simply not enough. Without autism “acceptance and inclusion”, none of this actually makes a difference.

Autism is a developmental condition, which can cause difficulty with verbal communication. Technology can help people who are autistic and are non-verbal or have difficulty with social cues learn to communicate in many ways, to read facial expressions, and to express themselves. Another characteristic of autism is to fixate on one particular subject, often resulting in the person asking many questions. Having an app like Siri, who can patiently answer endless questions, is a relief to parents.