Teachers’ evaluation of tools for assessing the usability of technology designed for children with autism

The inclusion of children with autism in classroom play activities involving technology requires consideration of the usability level of these technologies. However, methods for assessing user experience are not always designed around the specific needs of children with autism and are often limited to observations made during play. The broader PRIN 2022 Family of ROBots for children with disabilities (FROB) project aims to design and implement modular playful robots for school-based interventions with children with motor disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and complex disabilities. The present study aimed to redesign some evaluation tools by involving 41 teachers who have at least one child diagnosed with autism in their classrooms. Teachers gave their opinions on four user experience assessment tools that could involve verbal, visual, or even motor processing. The co-design activity made the assessment tools considered more suitable for the needs of children with autism, proposing an approach that integrates direct assessments with observations during play.