MIAMI, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Interviewing for a job can be intimidating and even more so for someone with autism. Even in a good job market, only 20 percent of adults with autism get hired. Now, technology is hoping to change that with avatars.
Katherine Badyna and her mom share more than mealtime at home. These days they now work for the same company. Badyna was recently hired to do data entry.
“It makes me feel really good because it makes me feel like I’m doing something and that I matter in the world. For the longest time, I never thought I mattered,” shared Badyna.
Badyna has a learning disability. In 2019 she enrolled at the Dan Marino Foundation where she trained with VITA, Virtual Interactive Training Agents. Avatars that help those with developmental disabilities, including autism, prepare for job interviews.
“It just builds up your confidence. If you’re prepared, everything’s easier,” explained Mary Partin, CEO of the Dan Marino Foundation.
VITA uses a variety of avatars to engage interviewees.
“There’s different characteristics. You can either have someone that’s very soft and will talk to you very nicely, or you can have someone maybe that’s more direct,” continued Partin.
“I remember one time they gave me a hostile person on purpose, cause that was the hardest one. But I nailed it,” stated Badyna.
Virtual reality like VITA is helping those with autism find work and worth in the real world.
“Having a job and doing something every day makes me feel good and know that it’s a way for me to contribute to society,” smiled Badyna.
Avatars have also been used to help soldiers recovering with PTSD and future uses could include helping the formerly incarcerated re-enter the work world.
Contributors to this news report include: Neki Mohan, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor; and Judy Reich, Videographer.
VR AVATARS GETS ADULTS WITH AUTISM JOBS
REPORT #2868
BACKGROUND: Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions. These conditions are characterized by difficulties with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism currently affects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States. Signs of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier, and often, diagnosed as early as 18 months. Several factors may influence the development of autism, and it is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and attention issues. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people with autism learn, think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged.
(Source: https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism)
AUTISM AND VIRTUAL REALITY: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is the most used therapy for phobias in individuals with ASD, can be difficult to benefit from because it requires abstract thinking. Researchers are now turning to a virtual reality approach where patients enter a “blue room” where they navigate through a 360-degree video projection of a scene that replicates the feared object or experience. In one study, 32 children with ASD underwent one 45-minute introductory session and four 20-minute virtual reality sessions conducted over two weeks. Researchers reported, “One-third of children from the treatment group showed improvements in their real-life targeted phobia, with children able to manage everyday activities and situations that were not possible previously. In a second study, eight adults ranging in age from 18 to 57 participated in virtual reality sessions. Five of the eight adults improved in their ability to tackle their real-life phobia, and four adults were able to function in everyday life without any impact from their phobia.
(Source: https://www.autism.org/virtual_reality_overcoming_phobias/)
NEW BREAKTHROUGH IN AUTISM TREATMENT: Research published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, says autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects the brain’s production of myelin. Myelin insulates the nerves in the brain and spinal cord and enables the quick transmission of signals along nerves. An overproduction or underproduction of myelin can lead to a variety of neurological conditions. Dr. Sarah Bauer, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician and a leader in the ECHO Autism program at Advocate Children’s Hospital, is encouraged by new findings where it could be possible to make these cells “healthier” by using drugs to treat myelination. “As a developmental pediatrician, I think about how our understanding of the ‘why’ connects to what we can do to support children and families we encounter in clinic. If we understand more about why developmental differences like autism occur, the next step is figuring out how we can translate this information into early intervention and support our children’s developmental trajectories,” Dr. Bauer says.
(Source: https://www.ahchealthenews.com/2020/02/20/a-breakthrough-in-autism-treatment/)
* For More Information, Contact:
Mary Partin, CEO/Dan Marino Foundation
Mpartin@danmarinofoundation.org
(954) 368-6013
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