Robots break communication barriers with autistic Hong Kong children
Professor’s programme teaches interaction skills using machines designed to appeal to kids
Autistic children may have a hard time coping with their surroundings, but Professor Catherine So Wing-chee, armed with a background in language and cognitive development, has made it her mission to help them integrate into society – with the help of some robot friends.
The 38-year-old from the Chinese University of Hong Kong also aims to change the mindset of Hongkongers towards those with autism.
“There are still people in Hong Kong who discriminate against children with autism. You can see it on their faces. When people see an autistic child scream, they will look at the child or caretakers as if to say: ‘Why don’t you teach this kid how to behave?’” So said.
“This motivated me to develop some intervention programmes for autistic children.”
To teach the children social skills, So developed a programme based on gestures – spontaneous hand or head movements produced with speech. Those with autism experience a delay in the development of such non-verbal cues, which come naturally for other children.