Online Computer Game Helps People with Autism

As I was looking at my daily source of news, CNN.com, the other day I came across an article titled, "iReport: 'Naughty Auties' Battle Autism with Virtual Interaction."  After reading the article I made a connection to our diverse literature class since we have already gone over the topic of autism.  In the iReport written by Nicole Saidi, it discusses how the virtual online world called Second Life can provide a place for people with Autism to practice their social interactions.  The article interviews David Savill a 22 year old from England who has Asperger's syndrome.  David shares how he has created a name for his character in the virtual world he created in Second Life along with some of his experiences with the site. Saidi states, "The graphical representations of real people create a "comfort zone" that can coax users out of their shells and get them communicating with others, he said."  Savill also states that the fact people are at their personal computer in their own room and own house provided a comfort level that in part allows for the social interactions being made within the virtual world to be ok.  The article also discusses how the vritual world can also be joined by family members of people with autism.  This way it can also be a learning experience for them as well.  Saidi makes sure to point out though that there has not been scientific research done to prove that a virtual world like Naughty Auties helps treat autism.  Researcher Simon Bignell plans on looking at the effect the virtual world can have on people with Autism.  

You can find the article at: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/28/sl.autism.irpt/?iref=mpstoryvie.  I also found another related article titled, "Virtual World Teaches Real World Skills" which can be found at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7012645/.