EyeConnect: Empowering Autistic Young Adults Through Enhanced Eye Contact Skills
EyeConnect is a transformative workshop designed to empower autistic young adults by improving their eye contact abilities and social interactions, thereby facilitating a smoother transition from academia to the professional world. Grounded in evidence-based strategies and inspired by personal experience, this project aims to bridge the gap that often prevents highly talented individuals from reaching their full potential due to social communication challenges.
“The eyes are the window to the soul.”
Client
Young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who are transitioning from school to the workplace and face challenges in social interactions
Year
11/26/2024
Responsibilities
Instructional Design
Assessment Development
Storyboarding
Feedback Mechanism Design
Program Evaluation
Tools
Articulate Storyline
Adobe Illustrator
Canva
Google Forms
A Small Story behind EyeConnect Workshop
The genesis of the EyeConnect workshop was profoundly influenced by my friend Marco, a brilliant young man on the autism spectrum, with an exceptional memory, professional knowledge, and an intense focus on tasks. Despite his talents and a university degree, Marco struggled to find employment after graduation.
When Marco came to visit me at Harvard at the beginning of this year, we had a casual conversation about our job search. “Any luck with those applications?”
He shrugged, eyes on the ground. “I had some interviews, but they never move forward.”
“They told me I have the skills,” he continued “but I always feel weird when I talk to strangers, I just feel out of place.”
In that moment, I realized it wasn’t just about job skills—it was about these unspoken social interaction skills that can make or break opportunities. Recognizing the importance of these skills, I set out to design something to empower autistic young adults by helping them navigate these social nuances.
Narrowing Down the Problem: From Social Interaction Skills to Eye Contact
To design an effective intervention, I began by examining the broader social challenges faced by autistic young adults during their transition from school to the workplace. Through research, interviews, and observations, it became clear that many of these difficulties are linked to specific communication barriers. Eye contact, in particular, emerged as a critical skill that is often overlooked yet serves as a foundation for building trust, showing engagement, and interpreting social cues. Given its fundamental role, I decided to narrow the focus of the first workshop to enhancing eye contact skills.
Theory of Action
If young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) practice eye contact under professional guidance and support in a structured and positive learning environment, they will enhance their social reciprocity. This improvement will facilitate a smoother transition from school to the professional workplace by equipping them with a vital skill that underpins successful social interactions.
Understanding the Problem: Social Motivation Theory
Social Motivation Theory (Yi, L., Wang, Q., Song, C., & Han, Z. R., 2022) helps explain why autistic individuals may struggle with social interactions. It introduces two pathways—hypo-arousal and hyperarousal—that explain the social challenges faced by autistic individuals. The hypo-arousal pathway suggests that autistic individuals have a reduced natural motivation to process social cues, such as eye contact. This lack of social sensitivity can lead to disengagement from social interactions, as they do not inherently find these experiences rewarding (Chevallier et al., 2012). On the other hand, the hyperarousal pathway posits that social stimuli, including eye contact, can evoke heightened emotional and physiological responses, resulting in anxiety or sensory overload. As a defense mechanism, individuals may avoid eye contact to reduce discomfort (Tanaka & Sung, 2016).
The EyeConnect workshop combines evidence-based strategies tailored to address the unique social challenges faced by autistic young adults
By integrating positive reinforcement to boost social motivation (addressing hypo-arousal) with gradual exposure to ease anxiety (addressing hyper-arousal), the EyeConnect workshop provides a holistic, tailored approach. This dual-pathway strategy not only enhances eye contact skills but also fosters a more comfortable and confident approach to social interactions, supporting a smoother transition into professional settings for autistic young adults.
Final Workshop Design
The EyeConnect workshop is meticulously designed to enhance social interaction skills in autistic young adults, focusing on eye contact as a crucial communication element. The program employs a comprehensive approach, combining standardized assessments, personalized coaching, targeted exercises, and continuous evaluation to create a supportive learning environment tailored to each participant’s unique needs.
1. Pre-Workshop Assessment and Personalized Goal Setting
The workshop begins with a pre-assessment using a selection of 16 questions from the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). This standardized measure provides a baseline understanding of each participant's current social skills, particularly in areas related to eye contact and social reciprocity.
Based on the SRS scores, participants will engage in individualized coaching sessions to set specific, achievable social interaction goals. During these one-on-one sessions, coaches tailor the workshop experience to each participant’s comfort level and progress, allowing for breaks or activity adaptations as needed. Personalized feedback will be provided regularly to ensure a supportive environment where participants feel comfortable and encouraged to grow.
2. Eye Contact Exercises with Positive Reinforcement
To address the hypo-arousal and hyperarousal pathways in social interactions, the workshop incorporates eye contact exercises designed around each participant’s goals. For example, exercises might include a simple ball game that encourages eye contact in a non-threatening way. Throughout these activities, positive reinforcement is used to acknowledge progress and boost motivation. This strategy is essential to creating a positive association with eye contact, ultimately facilitating more active engagement in social interactions. Coaches will measure learning outcomes against the individual goals set during the initial coaching session, allowing for a clear evaluation of progress.
3. Reward-Based Role-Playing in Real-Life Scenarios
To simulate real-world social dynamics, the workshop includes reward-based role-playing exercises that mimic various workplace situations, such as job interviews, team meetings, networking events, customer service interactions, and performance reviews. Conducted in a safe and controlled environment, these scenarios allow participants to practice eye contact and social interactions without the pressure of real-life consequences. Positive reinforcement is embedded in these role-plays through a reward system, providing tokens or points for active engagement and successful completion of exercises. This system not only encourages participation but also makes social interactions feel more rewarding and accessible.
4. Reflecting on Progress: Evaluation and Feedback
The effectiveness of the workshop is assessed through a multi-method evaluation conducted at two key points: pre- and post-workshop. The evaluation utilizes five distinct measurement methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of participant progress:
Self-Report Measures: Participants complete a Program Satisfaction Survey (PSS), rating five aspects (helpfulness, impact, progress satisfaction, acceptability, and likelihood of recommending the program) on a 5-point scale. A post-treatment assessment using the SRS will also measure changes in social skills.
Observation: Coaches conduct direct observations during exercises and role-playing to assess participants' progress and provide real-time feedback, facilitating ongoing improvement.
Reward System Tracking: The points or tokens earned during role-playing are tracked to measure engagement levels and motivation in social interactions.
Goal Achievement: Progress toward personal social interaction goals is monitored to evaluate the workshop's effectiveness in meeting individual needs.
5. Signs of Impact: Measuring Success
The workshop’s impact is gauged through several indicators:
Decrease in SRS Scores / High PSS Scores: A reduction in SRS scores or high satisfaction ratings indicates increased comfort with eye contact.
High Number of Tokens Earned / Achievement of Personal Goals: These metrics show active engagement in social interactions and successful attainment of personalized social skills goals.
Workshop Design Reflection
A key aspect of this design was incorporating Dr. Li Yi’s dual pathways of hypo-arousal and hyperarousal. Recognizing that some autistic individuals may lack intrinsic motivation for social interactions (hypo-arousal) while others experience anxiety or sensory overload with eye contact (hyperarousal) guided our use of positive reinforcement and gradual exposure techniques. This dual approach not only enhances social motivation but also provides a safe structure to address anxiety.
Personalized assessment using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) allowed for individualized goal setting, creating a tailored coaching model that adapts to each participant’s comfort level and pace. The inclusion of a reward system within role-playing exercises was crucial to keep participants engaged and motivated. Additionally, balancing structured activities with flexibility in coaching sessions ensured a supportive environment. Incorporating ongoing observation and feedback mechanisms fostered a continuous cycle of improvement, reinforcing the workshop’s effectiveness.
Future Directions
Moving forward, several areas for enhancement include:
Incorporating Technology: Introducing virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) to role-playing exercises would provide a more immersive experience, allowing participants to practice eye contact in simulated real-world settings. This could facilitate a smoother application of skills in everyday interactions.
Longitudinal Studies: Implementing long-term follow-ups would provide insights into the enduring effectiveness of the workshop, informing future iterations and areas for refinement.
Parental and Peer Involvement: Expanding the workshop to include sessions for parents and peers would create a more supportive ecosystem, reinforcing learned skills within participants’ immediate social circles.
Customization for Diverse Populations: Future iterations could be adapted for subgroups within the autism spectrum, considering variations in verbal communication abilities and sensory sensitivities.
Expanding Measurement Methods: Utilizing additional tools such as physiological markers (e.g., heart rate variability) or eye-tracking technology could offer more nuanced data on arousal levels, allowing for precise tailoring of interventions.