HONG KONG, April 22 (Reuters) – A Hong Kong professor has developed an educational programme using role-playing robots to help children with autism improve their social skills, part of an initiative adopted by non-profit groups and schools.
The programme, Robot for Autism Behavioral Intervention (RABI), is designed for people with autism between the ages of 3 and 18, and aims to help them be more social and to resolve issues such as conflicts and bullying.
Catherine So, associate professor of educational psychology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told Reuters more than 1,200 children have used the programme since its 2015 launch.
“Individuals with autism have low motivation to interact with others, and hypersensitivity to the world around them,” So said. “So we use the social robots to teach them social skills in order to reduce their anxiety.”
The robots engage the children with role-playing and verbal interaction. A typical class involves two small robots acting out social scenarios on a table top, helping the children see the difference between appropriate and unacceptable behaviour such as tantrums or screaming.
Muse Wong, 41, said her 5-year-old daughter has been in the programme for seven months and her social and communicative skills have improved vastly.
“She has started to have some degree of social life”, Wong said.
After interacting with the robots, the children are encouraged to try out their social skills with a human tutor.
More than 20 non-profit groups financed by governments and public schools in Hong Kong and Macau have adopted the programme. So hopes the project will help fight against exclusion.
“We believe RABI can help children with autism improve their social and behavioural skills, and in turn enhance the quality of their life”, she said.
Reporting by Yoyo Chow; Editing by Karishma Singh and Gerry Doyle
香港中文大學（中大）教育心理學系副教授蘇詠芝教授近日獲國際自閉症研究學會（International Society for Autism Research，簡稱INSAR）委任為「國際領袖」（Global Senior Leader），作為香港的唯一代表，她將負責推動本地與國際研究機構的合作，推動全球自閉症研究。
Professor Rajiv Khosla, LaTrobe University, Human Centred Innovations Pty. Ltd
Khosla教授擁有管理學、工程學及電腦科學教育背景。他是Human Centred Innovations及the Research Centre for Computers, Communication and Social Innovation (RECCSI)的董事，亦曾受邀於世界各地不同大學作研究及教授。另外，Khosla教授曾主持多個有關智能系統的大型國際會議，並獲得多個研究獎項，更開拓了澳洲La Trobe University的本科及研究生課程設計。
The Use of Social Robots in Autism Intervention: An Alternative Treatment Webinar
Organisers: Faculty of Education & Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Format: ZOOM Webinar
Target Participants: Professional staff working with students with autism (including but not limited to speech therapists, social workers, teachers of special needs education, occupational therapists) Caregivers of children with autism
Medium of Instruction:Cantonese / English
Date:10th October 2020 (Sat)
Programme Rundown: 09:30 Admission of participants into ZOOM meeting room 10:00 Opening Speech (Professor So Wing Chee, the Chinese University of Hong Kong) 10:15 Overview of communication disorders in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Professor Lee Yuet Sheung, the Chinese University of Hong Kong) 10:45 Introduction to robot-based intervention for autism community in Hong Kong (Professor So Wing Chee, the Chinese University of Hong Kong) 11:15 Application of social robots in mainstream secondary Schools (Support Team for Autism, Fortress Hill Methodist Secondary School) 11:45 15-minute break 12:00 Application of social robots in special schools (Principal Ka-Yee Lam, Evangelize China Fellowship Holy Word School) 12:30 Implementation of robot-based intervention across the world (Professor Rajiv Khosla, LaTrobe University, Human Centred Innovations Pty. Ltd) 13:30 Q&A Session. Inviting the attendees to complete the online survey.
Speakers:
Professor So Wing Chee, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professor Catherine W.C. So received a Ph.D. in Psychology (Language) from University of Chicago, and was an Assistant Professor at National University of Singapore. She is now an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Having published more than 40 articles in international well-known academic journals, her main research interests include language and gesture development in typically-developing children and children with autism. Her RABI programme has served more than 1000 autistic children in Hong Kong.
Professor Lee Yuet Sheung, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professor Kathy Y.S. LEE is currently an Associate Professor and Chief at the Division of Speech Therapy, the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist who has participated extensively in designing the assessment and habilitation programs of various client groups since 1995. She has developed a number of validated tests including the Cantonese Receptive Vocabulary Test (CRVT), the Cantonese Basic Speech Perception Test (CBSPT), the Cantonese Tone Identification Test (CANTIT) and the Cantonese Spoken Word Recognition Test (CanSWORT). Her main research areas lie in pediatric speech and language development, Cantonese tone perception and production, test standardization and validation.
Professor Rajiv Khosla, LaTrobe University, Human Centred Innovations Pty. Ltd
Professor Khosla has a multi-disciplinary background in management, engineering, and computer science. He is the Director of Human Centred Innovations as well as the Director of the Research Centre for Computers, Communication and Social Innovation (RECCSI). He has been a Visiting Research Scientist and Professor in multiple universities around the world. Having chaired large international conferences in intelligent systems, he has received several research and teaching excellence awards, and has pioneered the industry-orientation and design of undergraduate and postgraduate programs at La Trobe University.
Other Speckers:
Support Team for Autism, Fortress Hill Methodist Secondary School
Principal Ka-Yee Lam, Evangelize China Fellowship Holy Word School
Registration Fee & Deadline: (non-refundable)
On or Before 3 Oct 2020 – $60 [Early Bird Period Extended]
After 4 Oct 2020 – $110
Full-time Student – Free (Student Card is required for verification)
Contact: Miss Evelyn Lau, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Email: evelynlau@cuhk.edu.hk Phone: +852 68258138
