Designing of a TEACCH-based Software Prototype for Assisting in Literacy of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Literacy is a crucial element for the conscious practice of sociability and development of a country. However, some individuals have difficulties in learning with conventional learning and need a methodology adapted to their reality in order to develop the ability for abstract thinking and thus assimilate the knowledge imparted. Autistic Children are examples of individuals with learning disabilities, presenting impairment of social and communicative skills such as hyperactivity, lack of concentration and cognitive deficits. An approach that has been used worldwide to facilitate the literacy of children with autism is the Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children (TEACCH), which consists in structuring a visual environment, materials and activities for these children. The purpose of this work is to present the creation process of the first modules of a software for literacy of autistic children, based on the principles of TEACCH. The software requirements were collected in collaboration with Friends of Autistic People Association of Alagoas (AMA-AL).