Supporting user participation in developing mobile technology to help young people with autism: the HANDS smartphone project

Located within the field of the development of mobile technology, the HANDS project aims to develop software to support the social and self-management skills of children with autism. As part of the HANDS project 10 young people were interviewed during the specification stage. This paper explores the methodological aspects of involving young people with autism spectrum disorders in research and argues that consulting children at the earlier stages of research can be a valid contribution to software development. The presentation draws from the voice of the young people in relation to what the mobile technology should have helped them with