The growing global incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) highlights the critical need for interventions that address core challenges like sustained attention and fatigue in therapeutic and educational settings. Current practices often lack the capacity to maintain engagement in children with ASD, which consequently diminishes the efficacy of the interventions. This study addresses a notable gap in scholarly discourse by investigating how interactive digital tools can be leveraged to foster enhanced engagement and alleviate fatigue within this cohort. The primary objective of this research is to delineate the specific attributes of digital tools that are most conducive to achieving these outcomes. A qualitative methodology was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with therapists to elicit detailed perspectives. The subsequent thematic analysis yielded a comprehensive conceptual map, which elucidates the fundamental characteristics of digital resources that facilitate prolonged focus and reduce exhaustion. The results offer valuable insights into the design of digital interventions for ASD, providing actionable recommendations for the development of more impactful and compelling tools. Future work should prioritize a user-centric design framework that integrates direct feedback from individuals with ASD and their families. This research underscores the significant potential of interactive digital tools to improve the learning journey for children with ASD, contingent upon their design being meticulously aligned with the distinctive requirements of this population.

Authors:
Norkhushaini Awang, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Muhammad Nur Hakim Shukor, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Zarina Zainol, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

About the Presenter(s)
As the Postgraduate Coordinator for the Master of Science in Information Technology, Norkhushaini binti Awang's work involves teaching, research, and project management in cybersecurity, mobile tech, and ICT ethics.

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