Enabling parents to create customized learning materials for kids with Autism
Overview
We designed an app for parents of Level 2 autistic children to create personalized learning materials and track progress
Communication is essential to our lives. But for kids with autism, communication, is often a significant challenge. This affects every part of their lives, from expressing feelings to forming social bonds.
Tasks I did
Desk Research, Information Architecture, App Design, Components Design.
Team
3 Product Designer
tools used
Figma, Pen & paper
Project Timeline
4 months
Understanding the Challenge
For children with Autism, learning basic vocabulary requires more than traditional teaching
Autistic children benefit from methods like the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), which helps them associate words with images.
However, parents and caregivers face several burdens with PECS
01
Tracking hundreds of image cards
02
Keeping these physical cards organized
03
Helping children relate images to real-life objects
SpeakEasy was designed to support parents and caregivers.
SpeakEasy provides a digital solution where parents have control over how, when, and what they teach.
They can create personalized cards with real images and voice-over, making it easier for children to relate to real-world objects.
The concept originated in a classroom presentation, where feedback revealed a desire for a sustainable solution: "How do we introduce new words after they learn the basics?” This led to a deeper exploration of creating a solution that could grow with each child's progress.
MARKET GAPS
Competitors provide either extensive or limited vocabulary
Competitors like Proloquo2go offer an extensive vocabulary, but with a high price point and complexity that isn't suitable for beginners with Level 2 autism. Autism Help-Play has limited word options, while iCAN uses tablet-based drag-and-drop, making it costly and inaccessible for lower-income families.
SpeakEasy differentiates itself by focusing on
01
Customizability for real-world vocabulary learning
02
A design focused on the needs of Level 2 autism & low-income families
03
Affordability and accessibility
Persona: Samantha's Story
Because of multiple factors that needed to be considered, we created a unique persona for our design.
Samantha
a mother of a 5-year-old with Level 2 autism. Samantha lives in a low-income area where autism support is limited. She’s managed to teach her child basic words, but organizing, tracking, and introducing new words is overwhelming.
needs
Busy with her daily responsibilities, Samantha needs an easy way to manage her child’s learning progress and learn more about autism.
quick layout of the app
Due to the project's short timeline, we swiftly structured a plan for organizing the layout
SpeakEasy Features: Supporting Parents Like Samantha
Quick Card Creation
The camera feature allows parents to instantly create custom cards from everyday items, with a personal voice-over option.
Progress Tracking
The app tracks learning milestones and suggests repeating challenging words, promoting retention.
Community and Resources
Parents can access articles on autism and connect with a supportive community, reducing isolation and gaining insights.
What Does Success Look Like for SpeakEasy?
01
Time Saved on Card Creation
Reducing the time parents spend creating and managing cards shows that SpeakEasy is delivering value.
02
Progress in Vocabulary Learning
Tracking a child’s learning journey and decreasing repetition rates signal vocabulary growth.
03
Engagement with Resources
Views and saves on autism-related articles indicate that parents find SpeakEasy’s community resources valuable.
04
App Downloads
Growing downloads reflect a positive user experience and increased trust in the app’s ability to assist in vocabulary learning.
Learnings from the project
Accessibility is More Than a Design Choice
Affordability and ease of access are essential to meet the needs of low-income families. SpeakEasy’s design prioritizes a minimal tech setup, making it a viable option for families worldwide, regardless of income.
Iteration is Essential for Complex User Needs
Working with feedback at each stage taught us that constant iteration is necessary to refine the user experience, especially when addressing the unique needs of Level 2 autism.