+Ludus: inclusão e aprendizagem através de jogos digitais para crianças com TEA

Abstract

This thesis presents the development of a study aimed at supporting software developers in creating digital solutions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Technology can be a powerful tool for supporting educational and therapeutic interventions, contributing to the development of essential skills for these children. However, one of the challenges is to create solutions that are appropriate for the target audience, as autistic children have unique needs that must be considered in the design of specialized software. In this work, a Systematic Literature Review was conducted with the objective of identifying related studies, methodologies, and development processes focused on children with ASD. Subsequently, in partnership with specialized professionals, three cycles of experimentation were carried out, during which various digital solutions were developed to support autistic children across different knowledge areas. These solutions incorporate emerging technologies and gamification concepts to make them attractive and engaging. Each experimentation cycle concluded with the validation of the developed tools and the documentation of lessons learned throughout the process. Finally, the thesis presents the resulting technological artifacts, which consist of Guiding Principles designed to assist developers in creating solutions tailored to the target audience, and a development model that provides reusable software components to optimize the creation of new digital solutions. The thesis also discusses the contributions of this work, highlighting the challenges faced and the proposed solutions for the development of assistive technologies aimed at children with ASD.