We’re currently working on developing a series of stimulating design-based activities for children with learning/ developmental disabilities. Each of the interventions are not one-offs, but rather toolkits to help parents and teachers to make their own versions of the products that are being made, or are made to assist with issues on a more permanent basis.

1. 2016
AUTISM

2. Welcome to e-mot:)n.
Autism is a condition without cause or cure. Each year, a rapidly
increasing amount of children are diagnosed with the condition,
with 1 in 55 children in South Africa alone being identified by
the age of 6. Each case is unique to the diagnosed child, with no
two alike, but in all cases, the child will demonstrate dissociative
behaviour, frustration and difficulty in communicating.
Communication is the first and most vital point in ensuring
development for children with the conditions, therefore
developing a system of stimulating and engaging games is
tantamount to the needs of the community.

3. THE BRIEF
We’re currently working on developing a series of stimulating
design-based activities for children with learning/
developmental disabilities. Each of the interventions are not
one-offs, but rather toolkits to help parents and teachers to
make their own versions of the products that are being made,
or are made to assist with issues on a more permanent basis.
The outputs include a sensory book kit, tactile learning room
construction kit, facial expression and emotion app and an
online motion graphic campaign to educate people on
conditions like Autism. We’ll also be expanding on the work
already created for the website www.emotionlearning.co.za

4. THE PROCESS//BOOK
The Book team took on the task of creating a tactile learning book and flash
card set made from child-friendly materials. After quite a bit of trial and
error (and many hot-glue burns), the team managed to assemble a
beautiful (and well-received) learning resource appropriate for all young
children and parents to both engage with and make themselves (minus the
hot-glue burns, hopefully).

5. THE PROCESS//THERAPY ROOM
For the second of our physical outputs, the Therapy Room team set out to
design a cost-effective solution for families to construct a ‘Snoezelen Room’
that allows the child to engage with various textures, sensations and
learning opportunities in a safe and quiet environment (which often helps
with over-stimulation). The kits are intended to be smaller scale and can be
made from various materials.

6. THE PROCESS//emot:)n APP
Building on our previous digital interventions, the App team worked in close
collaboration with the Star School to form a cohesive and thoroughly-
researched game that allows children to learn and experience a series of
different facial expressions through the simple process of repetition and
positive re-enforcement. We have a live demo to show you a little later too!
(Both online and an Android prototype).

7. THE PROCESS//MOTION
Finally, another new addition to the project involves a series of motion
graphics that will be employed to generate more awareness and
understanding of Autism and the repercussions that ignorance to the
condition can occur. The team worked very closely with Autism SA to ensure
that the stories depicted are real, true and local (with only the actual names
of the children redacted). These videos are intentionally hard-hitting in
order to ensure maximum effectiveness.

8. THE OUTPUTS//FACEBOOK
Our Facebook page is the first port of call for the project, allowing instant
community engagement and input. Feel free to like the page at
facebook.com/emotionlearning

9. THE OUTPUTS//WEBSITE
The Website provides all of our learning materials, games and resources for
free, and is easily accessed on most platforms. The games are
downloadable, as well as playable online and all learning materials are
available as downloadable pdf’s. We’re currently updating the site with our
new work.

10. THE OUTPUTS//BOOK
The Book provides an extensive platform of learning materials and
opportunities that is aimed at all children from age 4 to 8. Packaged in a
special chalk-painted box (so that kids can draw and write on it), a book
kit includes a complete book, flash cards and instructions on how to
make more of all of the resources. Tested at Glenoaks School, the
children responded incredibly well to the book, but it was discovered
that some of the pieces needed to be made a little more robust due to
the nature of play.

11. THE OUTPUTS//THERAPY ROOM
Currently in its working phase, the room has been digitally and physically
prototyped using 3D renderings and maquettes, with smaller scale self-
made systems being supplied and developed for home use and
production (including pillow cases, texture walls and a custom alphabet).

12. THE OUTPUTS//APP
Our App intervention was designed in close and constant collaboration
with therapists from the Star Academy, following advice to keep it simple
and, most importantly, local.
The team currently has a mock-up preview and working prototype of the
app (time constraints prevented full completion of such a big project)
which will hopefully be fully-completed next year.

13. THE OUTPUTS//APP

14. THE OUTPUTS//MOTION
The Motion team created a series of short advertisements that will be
hosted online for now, but with the intention of expanding to areas like
Doctor’s waiting rooms, electronic billboards and television (during
April). Having worked in close conjunction with Autism SA, the team was
thoroughly-equipped to create and complete meaningful and impactful
films that will hopefully make a difference.

15. EVALUATION
Three weeks is always a tough ask to create sustainable and, more importantly, useful interventions for
chosen communities, but I feel that my team worked incredibly hard to provide new, unique and very
interesting alternatives to what has come in this project’s previous 3 years.
The Emot:)n Suite has proven successful time and again for the thoroughness and engaging nature of the
content of the games. New materials have been produced to form a more cohesive, ubiquitous and
meaningful system of learning for children within the Autism Spectrum.
Quality has always been at the forefront of this project – the interventions need to be robust and clear in
order to be easily understood and used by both learners and facilitators/ parents. As new discoveries and
developments are made in the treatment/ response to Autism, new solutions are integrated into the suite.
Emot:)n is fully open source and available to anyone online for free.
The students learn a myriad of skills, from working with alternative demographics through to
interdisciplinary group work and software/ material development. Emot:)n is developed in direct
consultation with medical professionals and schools, thus ensconcing its responsibility. (The games and
products are made to be as suitable as possible for the children). The goal is to make the suite an
international project that will always grow and develop, with an ever-increasing array of outputs in a
variety of languages.
Practical issues were engaged with well on the most part, but there were issues with communication that
lead to some confusion and inconsistency. We also sadly ran out of time and weren’t able to fully
complete some of the more demanding interventions, as well as update the website with new materials
(but that will be done over the weeks following 10P), but will aim to do so in the following year.

16. EVALUATION

17. THANKS!
We’d like to extend a massive and heartfelt thanks to Sandy from
Autism South Africa for all of her indispensable information and
critique on the projects. We’d also like to thank both the Star
Academy and Glenoaks School for allowing us the use of their
facilities, as well as introducing us to their wonderful kids and for all
the assistance given in generating new and useful products for the
e-mot:)n suite.