- The Connectivity Model was created by Kang and Satterfield in a university UXD course for senior students to engage the autistic target audiences in the design process. 

- The connectivity model collects data in social, emotional, behavioral, and motivational areas, allowing users with cognitive disabilities and autism to participate in the design process. Other than identifying the limitation and constraints of the given audience, the model also further considers the habits and preferences of a certain population.

The Connectivity Model

- California State University Long Beach launched an online course, DESN 482: Research Methods for Inclusive UX Design, and it contained an assignment project named Play•IT. This project targeted designing an educational game to address the social, communication, and behavior skills needed by children with autism as they interact and play with neurological typical peers on an equal basis. The goal of this assignment project was to design educational games for both children without autism and children with autism. The games could be played alone and also involve multiple players. During the game, children could receive the opportunity to develop their cognitive and behavioral skills and it also created emotional bonds between the players. Moreover, the games were not branded as products for children with autism, instead, the creators encourage everyone to play and learn. The model supported students in identifying the social, emotional, behavioral, physical, and motivational needs of the target audience. 
- In the future, the format of the Play•IT project could be applied in more scenarios.

The Play•IT Project

Challenges of collecting feedback and data from users with disabilities or autism in the user experience design process. Due to the difficulties in cognitive and behavioral activities, users with disabilities or autism are unable to participate in most of the traditional research processes. Moreover, institutional regulations and ethical concerns could also limit them from participating. The lack of opinions and data from vulnerable groups could create further marginalization and cause more issues in their daily lives.

Arizona State University

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

- The researcher participants will be the ones who are in charge of the research agenda, and they will also be the ones who analyze and reflect the result. 
- Using participatory methods allows researchers to understand and engage with the local realities more and therefore formulate solutions that are more specific and effective. 
- Participatory methods do not require special settings, but the participants should be in an environment where they are comfortable.  
- Compare to other research methods, participatory methods give participants more autonomy and require the participants to be more proactive. 
 
- Challenge: The views of most marginalized people are largely absent in public forums, which further excludes them and amplifies the perspectives of the more powerful groups.

Participatory Methods

- Participatory research methods. (n.d.). participatesdgs.org. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/

- Satterfield, D., & Fabri, M. (2017, July). User participatory methods for inclusive design and research in autism: A case study in teaching UX design. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317174621_User_Participatory_Methods_for_Inclusive_Design_and_Research_in_Autism_A_Case_Study_in_Teaching_UX_Design

- About Participatory Methods. (n.d.). participatorymethods.org. https://www.participatorymethods.org/page/about-participatory-methods#:~:text=Participatory%20methods%20(PMs)%20include%20a,that%20their%20voices%20shape%20outcomes

- Participatory action research. (n.d.). Participatory Methods. https://www.participatorymethods.org/glossary/participatory-action-research

- Participatory video (PV). (n.d.). Participate. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/participatory-video-pv/

- Digital storytelling (DST). (n.d.). Participate. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/digital-storytelling-dst/

- Theatre for development (TFD). (n.d.). Participate. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/theatre-development-tfd/

- Photovoice. (n.d.). Participate. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/photovoice/

- Reality check approach. (n.d.). Participate. https://participatesdgs.org/methods/reality-check-approach/



Participatory Methods References

Participatory Action Research (PAR) is an approach that engages participants and researchers by analyzing and reflecting on a challenge and increasing the awareness of the participants. PAR is often applied to a specific group, challenges inequality, and promotes democracy. PAR could involve both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Participatory Video (PV) is an interactive group method that allows participants to increase their social influence by communicating their own stories through videos. Through recording and playback, participants and researchers build collaborative relationships to understand current situations and reflect on experiences as a way to enhance understanding of reality and develop new solutions. PV is usually used in projects with people living in poverty.


Participatory Video (PV)

Participants in the community will be able to communicate their message and present ideas through photos and create a positive social impact.

Photovoice

Researchers will be living with the participant and engaging in daily activities to gain a deeper understanding of their goals and frustrations.

Reality Check Approach

Theatre for Development (TFD) encourages participants to compose and perform the stories they created. Participants will be able to analyze and reflect on their experience, from their language, and idioms of expressions, which avoids taking away agency from those at ground level and the intended audience of the programs and projects.  


Theatre for Development (TFD)


User Participatory Methods for Inclusive Design and Research in Autism: A Case Study in Teaching UX Design

Different from Participatory Video, Digital Storytelling (DST) includes a variety of expressions, including but not limited to movies, animations, photos, recordings, or electronic files. Participants use them to tell their own stories or express ideas. In this process, participants are required to participate in an intensive workshop in which they give an approximately three minute personal narrative. They also record this narrative with images or photographs.  The final product is a first-person voice narrative short film that is produced and edited by the narrator.


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