An Accessible Autism Screening System for Arabic-Speaking Populations: Co-Design for Integrating Social Robots in ASD Screening
摘要
This paper explores the design and development of an interactive autism screening system implemented in the Arabic language, utilizing a social robot and a tablet interface to provide early, accessible screening for Arabic-speaking children aged 4 to 8 years. Existing autism screening and diagnostic methods are often subjective, expensive, and difficult to access for many families, particularly in Arabic-speaking communities where autism resources are limited or underdeveloped. The lack of validated diagnostic tools in these communities leaves many children undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, leading to delayed interventions. Designed using the seven principles of universal design, this screening system aims to bridge that gap by incorporating principles of universal access, such as flexibility, equity, and usability. Implications for designing accessible screening systems are discussed.