Yamaka is a mobile app which will help kids with autism spectrum disorder to be more confident and independent in their daily life. The mobile app will comprise visualized social stories that will develop users’ (children’s) communication skills and help them complete any action on their own.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and repetitive behaviors. We do many simple actions in our daily life (like brushing our teeth, opening the front door and going out of the house) we would never think can be a problem for a person facing ASD.

Gayane Hovhannisyan, the author of the mobile app idea, has been working in the state orphanage in Kharberd housing approximately 280 children with special needs as Occupational Therapist. Based on her everyday work and communication with children with autism spectrum disorder, she came up with the technological solution for the existing needs.

Gayane suggested creating the mobile app through engagement of experts working with autistic individuals and parents who have kids with special needs. The mobile app will take into account issues that kids with autism face and, with the help of the social stories, provide illustrations of each action a user should take; this will develop their communication skills and help them accomplish small steps in their daily life on their own. The visualized guide on how to do any action by breaking it into smaller and simpler steps, will be accessible for Android devices first.

One of the possible features of the app may be the connection between two smartphones, which will allow parents to follow the kids even from distance.

The first prototyping of the idea took place during the Social Innovation Camp on Healthcare in July, 2016.  Yamaka was among the three winning ideas which will be incubated by Kolba Lab with the support of the European Union. 

Soon the first working prototype of the mobile app will be launched, so join our News section to be the first one to test the tool.

Do you know any innovative solutions in the healthcare sector? Share the info with us in the comments below or drop us a message on Facebook or Twitter!