B.Design Exhibition 2023

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is mostly diagnosed in childhood. It can potentially affect the way a person communicates, behaves, or interacts in a social setting. However, in Pakistan, there is a significant lack of recognition and understanding of this disorder which is a reason for the associated stigma and isolation for autistic individuals and their families as well. This project aims to investigate parental involvement in the lives of autistic children in Pakistan alongside exploring the challenges faced by therapists in connecting with parents.

On the bases of collected qualitative and quantitative data from surveys and interviews the project fosters it’s core concern of the lack of awareness and acceptance parents, and society has for these individuals. Once you become conscious, look around, and understand that early symptoms of ASD are neglected because of all the misconceptions surrounding this condition, particularly in Pakistan. And by the time it is diagnosed correctly, the proper time for early intervention has already passed, underscoring the importance of early treatment. There are many institutes that are specifically for autistic children and cater to them, particularly regarding their needs.

It is a step in the correct direction but there is an issue of lack of communication between parents and therapists. Many therapists reported about parents not being actively involved in therapy sessions due to their busy routines and other priorities. Which has a negative impact on their child’s progress thus far. This project concludes with a solution of an application that can provide a platform solely for the purpose of connecting parents and therapists. They can share goals, progress, and updates and as a result, make the life of these autistic children better. The main idea behind this application is to bridge the gap between parents and therapists by supporting active participation and communication from both users