When Leong finds herself in a chaotic situation, the Proloquo app becomes an invaluable tool for communication and seeking assistance. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
As digital interactions become a cornerstone of modern life, technology has emerged as a lifeline for the neurodivergent community by serving as essential aids for communication and interaction in both real and virtual worlds.
For Beatrice Leong, founder of the Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group (Aida), the digital world is a vital tool for empowering neurodivergent individuals to express themselves and find their voice.
“One of the main things that I am always trying to make people understand are augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools, and this is a system that is available in low-tech, high-tech, and mid-tech,” she says.
AAC tools combine features of text-to-speech devices and emotion cue cards, allowing non-verbal individuals to communicate effectively. They provide customisable options that can include emotions, actions, and preset words, enhancing flexibility. This adaptability is crucial for meeting the unique needs of each user.
AAC tools include various apps available on both iOS and Android platforms. One example is Proloquo, which Leong, diagnosed with autism at 35, uses. The app allows users to select customisable symbols or words for vocalisation.
Beyond mobile apps, there are also standalone tablet-like devices dedicated solely to AAC. These devices can be enhanced with various accessories, such as specially designed styluses that are easier to grip for individuals with hand tremors or arthritis, or joysticks that facilitate navigation for those with limited motor skills.
For a simpler, low-tech solution, individuals can use a printed screenshot of an AAC app, allowing communication through pointing.
Leong says AAC allows individuals to express themselves, particularly younger kids who either do not speak or are slow to start speaking.
Without such tools, she says it becomes challenging for parents to understand their child’s needs and feelings, and for autistic individuals to express themselves, unlike the deaf community, which has sign language as a well-established means of communication.
AAC tools combine features of text-to-speech devices and emotion cue cards, allowing non-verbal individuals to communicate effectively. — This visual was AI-created, human-aided.
Leong describes AAC as “one of the most important tools for a person with autism”, which she found indispensable while she was at a Nepali airport.
Amid the chaos and crowds at the airport, she experienced a panic attack, and her AAC app became the only way she could communicate with those assisting her. Other tools that have been instrumental in Leong’s daily life include her Apple Watch, which she uses to monitor her heart rate to get notified when she is feeling agitated or uncomfortable. Being sensitive to sound, Leong also relies on the watch’s haptic feedback, which uses vibrations for discreet reminders.
As for time management, Leong creates playlists on Spotify, each with a specific length and purpose for keeping her aware of how much time she is allocated for a particular task.
She adds that for neurodivergent individuals, integrating technology into daily life involves understanding their unique thought processes and tailoring specific tools to provide assistance.
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools like Copilot and ChatGPT have also found their way into her day-to-day routine, helping to speed up her responses to emails and, more importantly, reorganise her thoughts.
“For a lot of us, it’s difficult to think in linear sentences when you have high sensory input and your brain takes in so much information all the time without the intuitive ability to filter out what’s important.
“With all of that in your head, you’re unable to then communicate in a way that other people understand,” she says. “When I have so many thoughts, I dump them into ChatGPT and ask it to ‘help me organise these into notes’, and it has really helped,” she said.
Designed for all
When providing better support in the form of digital tools to those with neurodivergent conditions, Dhevaania C. Gendsen, a lecturer at the School of Psychology with the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), advises developers to consider three main areas: personalisation, accessibility and sensory integration.
Dhevaania stresses the need for developers to be conscious of sensory integration, as those with autism often struggle with bright lights and loud noises. — APU
“Personalisation is the key to the successful utilisation of digital technology. Each and every neurodivergent individual has their own unique needs,” she says.
Examples of such personalisation include adjustable fonts and colours, which can greatly benefit individuals with dyslexia, as well as customisable workflows in task management tools to aid those with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
“Ensuring digital tools are accessible is essential for making technology usable by individuals with diverse abilities. This means eliminating barriers that hinder people with disabilities from engaging with digital platforms.
“Developers should give users the autonomy to tailor digital tools according to their individual preferences,” she says, as this will increase usability and effectiveness.
Dhevaania stresses the importance of developers being mindful of sensory integration, as individuals with conditions like autism often struggle with excessive stimuli, including bright lights and loud noises.
“By incorporating features that allow users to control sensory input, such as adjusting screen brightness, muting sounds, or minimising visual distractions, we can create more inclusive and comfortable digital environments,” she says.
Leong also feels there is a need to address concerns about the perceived over-reliance on digital platforms and tools, particularly among neurodivergent children.
“A lot of people will think that ‘too much iPad time causes autism’, but that’s not true. In fact, you find that it helps a lot of them in regulating daily life better, but it goes back to how you use it.
“Sometimes, when you’re not giving them the correct content, they tend to get addicted and tend to get into a lot of issues.
“You need to remember that an autistic child is still a child, you cannot just give them YouTube and tell them ‘watch this to learn’ all the time,” she says.
She also points out that with neurodivergent children going online to make friends and interact, oversight is necessary regarding who they connect with.
She also calls for better protections on social media platforms and more robust and accessible reporting mechanisms suitable for vulnerable communities, as people with disabilities could be more susceptible to online scams.
As neurodivergent individuals find technology instrumental in navigating daily challenges, developers must prioritise inclusive design to cater to diverse needs. — This visual is AI-created, human-aided.
“People like to think that whenever an autistic person comes into conflict with these digital spaces, either in bullying or in scams, the move is to take that access away and police them.
“We punish and put the fault on the autistic person, when actually it’s not their fault. Why are we not keeping these platforms safe and safeguarding this vulnerable person?” she says.
As the digital world offers social opportunities that may not always be available in real life for neurodivergent individuals, she emphasises the importance of keeping these spaces safe and accessible.
Equally important, she says, is giving them the freedom to explore and learn to use technology independently, adding that it’s essential to educate them on how to be safe.
Unspoken difficulties
Leong explains that individuals with autism may have neurological differences that make certain tasks more challenging.
She emphasises that autism should be recognised as a spectrum, noting that she, for example, has verbal skills despite being autistic.
She also shares that she did not begin speaking until she was about seven or eight years old. However, she still experiences intermittent selective mutism in her adulthood, which can last for two to three months at a time.
Those with ADHD may be overwhelmed and distracted by the constant stream of information online, while individuals on the autism spectrum may find difficulty in interpreting social cues in digital interactions. — This visual is AI-created, human-aided.
In such instances, she may stop speaking and rely entirely on emails and other forms of communication.
“When we talk about digital spaces, someone like me inhabits them very differently from those who have higher support needs, such as assistive tech, which is a whole branch of technology for persons with autism,” she adds.
Leong says that unlike being, say, wheelchair-bound, where a person’s condition is clear from just a glance, autism is a disability that needs to be communicated.
“The public conception of what assistive tech is and how technology helps a person with autism is a huge challenge because they can’t see the disability.
“A lot of it is internal, just like if you have depression, I won’t know you have it unless you tell me about it. I can only support you by what you are telling me.
“You are also limited by your vocabulary – if I have 10 words to describe my depression, I only have those 10 words, but if I had 50 words, I’d be able to describe it a lot clearer,” she says.
Leong highlights that neurodivergent individuals can enhance daily life by tailoring technology to their unique thought processes. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
This presents a significant challenge for neurodivergent individuals who are non-verbal, as it hinders their ability to express their struggles and inform others about the assistance they require, thereby excluding them from conversations and decision-making processes.
Those able to voice out their condition and needs are also met with their own set of challenges, as described by Kuala Lumpur-based IT product manager in her late 20s, Beatrice B.
Beatrice, who has ADHD and requested to be quoted anonymously, points out the stigma surrounding having a neurodivergent condition in the workplace that makes it difficult to balance what she can share without it being detrimental.
“If you reveal you have ADHD in hopes of getting some support or accommodation,” she says, “it’s more like the perception of you and your capability changes if you share about your neurodivergence.
“It doesn’t matter that you’ve been an excellent teammate so far. You bring up being neurodivergent, and suddenly you get infantilised or worse.”
This has led to her being more careful about who she shares with at work.
Beatrice experiences sensory overload due to difficulty processing audio, making it challenging for her to recall details in stressful situations.
Dhevaania stresses the importance of developers being mindful of sensory integration, as individuals with conditions like autism often struggle with excessive stimuli, including bright lights and loud noises. — This visual is AI-created, human-aided.
Discovering Krisp, an AI-powered meeting assistant app, was a major turning point for her.
“I always had to choose between taking notes or paying attention and listening. I would ask to record sessions, but coworkers were understandably uncomfortable.
“When I discovered that Krisp had a transcribe and summarise feature, it was a game changer.
“I can always go back to see what was discussed in a meeting, so I don’t have to feel so stressed out about having to remember everything.
“It’s discreet too since it doesn’t record the screen, just audio from your device,” she says.
She also sets multiple reminders before her work meetings (10 minutes before, one minute before, and when the meeting is scheduled to start) and organises her workspace using Notion, a productivity and note-taking app. It’s a highly customisable productivity app with a clean interface.
Dhevaania highlights that the experiences of people with neurodivergent conditions are varied. For instance, those with dyslexia may face difficulties when it comes to processing large amounts of text, making text-based content challenging to process.
Those with ADHD may be overwhelmed and distracted by the constant stream of information online, while individuals on the autism spectrum may find difficulty in interpreting social cues in digital interactions.
“Adapting to the digital world presents unique challenges for individuals with neurodivergent conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD, and autism, though these challenges are not uniform.
“Neurodivergence exists on a spectrum, and it comes with both difficulties and untapped potential. This is particularly true in an era where digital tools can cater to diverse needs.
“Despite the challenges, the digital world can be profoundly enabling for neurodivergent individuals. This means offering personalised adaptations that allow them to harness their unique strengths,” she says.
