Autism Spectrum Disorder And Social Media

Social media: Help or Hindrance for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many condemn social media as hindering the growth of social maturity in those adults who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) but there is growing evidence that with proper guidance, social media can encourage independence for adults with ASD with the use of role modeling software, social advice from professionals and peers, job training and with the job market becoming increasingly dependent on digital tools for communication, a better avenue for employment. The hallmarks of Autism Spectrum Disorder include challenges with face-to-face communication such as reading body language, understanding social cues, staying on topic, giving the correct amount of information,

Employment is one of the greatest challenges for ASD adults and the statistics for employed ASD adults is abysmal. Due to communication challenges, overstimulation from the environment, and the need for quick communication responses, many ASD adults have a difficult time finding or keeping a job. Roux found that although 99% of young adults in the United States will work at some point between ages 21-25 years, only 58% of young adults in the United States between ages 21-25 with ASD will find employment. With such a poor employment outlook, transitioning into the workforce is extremely challenging. Social media offers promise with more job searches, workplace advice, less face-to-face communication, and is currently promoting hiring ASD adults. Concannon and Kane state, “the German computer software company SAP and Microsoft are now actively looking to hire people with autism. SAP plans to have autistic employees make up at least 1% of its workforce by 2020.” Concannon and Kane also found that since ASD adults generally prefer electronic communication to face-to-face communication “companies embracing digital tools for communication are unintentionally making environments more inviting to people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” With continued use of social media for communication, the gap produced by difficulties with

Virtual Reality allows ASD adults to practice conversational skills, and use driving simulations. Searching the web for skills such as how to wash clothes, fix meals, and pay bills are only the beginning. Information gathered from social media allows ASD adults to be more independent and feel empowered. Northwestern University found that ASD adults who used human simulation training programs increased their interviewing skills. Also, they found that study subjects increased their ability to read body language and correctly respond to questions three times higher than compared to ASD adults who did not use the training program. Also, role playing offers feedback concerning staying on topic, monitoring length of conversations, and eye contact in a non-threating way. Six-month after this study, those who used the virtual reality program stated they still enjoyed the benefits of the training. They continue by reporting an increase of self-confidence and expressed a desire to continue using the program. In addition to Virtual Reality, other venues such as online videos, blogs, professional lectures, and web pages are just a few of the many ways ASD adults can find relevant self-help information. While social media cannot provide for all needs, it is a wonderful tool for the ASD communities to embrace. Burke, Kraut, and