A New Zealand company, BrightMind Labs, has created MyFriendQuest - a game that teaches children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to better recognise and respond to emotions from facial expressions. MyFriendQuest ’s target market is parents of children on the higher functioning end of the Autism Spectrum:
…MyFriendQuest is a downloadable computer game designed to teach children to recognize, perceive and respond appropriately to emotions. Unlike many educational or learning resources, MyFriendQuest has been designed by a clinical psychologist working closely with computer gaming specialists to create a product that has clinical input – and is also engaging for kids to play on its own merits.
MyFriendQuest does not require intensive training by the parent or caregiver. This game is embedded with specialized knowledge and clinical experience…
…MyFriendQuest can be played and enjoyed by any child regardless of age who is able to learn about the perception and management of emotions and how to act in social situations.
After an introduction with an adult, your child will probably be able to play MyFriendQuest by themselves. However, for best results we suggest that the full range of activities described in this User Guide are also used in conjunction with the game, which will require input from a parent or caregiver.
The intended outcomes for your child from playing MyFriendQuest in accordance with this User Guide are:
For the Easy Level
For your child to develop skills in recognizing emotions;
Deciphering emotions;
Learn to copy these emotions;
Learn to practice emotions; and
Learn to convey emotions more appropriately.
For the Difficult Level
All the above in easy level plus:
For your child to improve social skills;
Understand inner feelings; and
To improve management of his or her own emotions…
Fraser Hurrell is the CEO and Co-Founder of BrightMind LABS; a Chartered Accountant with a strong interest in the process of bringing great ideas to fruition. Dr Yvett Salma Ahmad is a Clinical Psychologist and co-director of The Starfish Clinic in Whangarei and Auckland. Her job is to ensure the clinical integrity of MyFriendQuest :
…[Dr Ahmad] qualified In the U.K and has been living In New Zealand for the last ten years… She has extensive experience (over 20 years) working with both adults and children her last public post was in 2003 as Senior Clinical Psychologist for Waitemata health. [Dr Ahmad] has extensive training in a range of therapeutic modalities including art, sand tray, narrative, cognitive behaviour therapy, interpersonal therapy and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.
(sources: http://www.myfriendquest.com/guide.pdf ; Starfish Clinic - Independent Specialist Centre for Child, Youth, Adult and Family Psychological Medicine )