Definition
This entry will focus on the attitudes and concerns of parents and caregivers about their autistic child’s use of technology. The role of digital technologies in the lives of children and young people has become a popular debate in recent years, with concerns about the impact of increased media use on a range of developmental domains, including social interaction (Bell et al. 2015). In this entry, the focus will be on technology used by autistic children and young people for leisurely purposes in home environments.
Historical Background
Technology and related topics are recognized as a common interest within the autistic population, and technological skills and affinities are a common stereotype made about autistic people. Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (1999) asked 92 parents of children with autism about their child’s special interests, and 64.1% of them reported that their child had an interest in television or audio media. A more recent survey of 687 autistic adults showed...
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References and Reading
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Laurie, M.H. (2021). Parental Attitudes to Technology Use. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_102387
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