Although Aldebaran is a French company, it is working with Englishspeaking schools because, Joubert explains, “The autism community is stronger in the UK and USA, and special education programs in French schools are generally not ready to integrate technology like NAO.” Autism is not diagnosed by a single symptom, but rather by a series of symptoms, including impairments in social interaction and communication, limited interests and stereotyped behaviors. It affects 1 out of 88 children in the United States, says the research and advocacy group Autism Speaks. The Autis m Society of North Carolina estimates the state’s rate is above the national average, at 1 in 70. Of the 1.5 million people in the country with a disorder on the autism spectrum, the state group says more than 60,000 live in North Carolina. t can be difficult for children with autism to interact with other people, so one company is offering them special help – from a robot. The two-legged, two-armed NAO robot is barely two feet high. It has two, flashing eyes and threefingered hands. Though children with autism are generally drawn to technology, NAO is specially designed for them. Aldebaran Robotics has programmed each NAO with interactive games to stimulate the children’s social and interpersonal skills, help them meet learning goals and become more independent. “I personally have a passion for creating robots for the well-being of mankind, to help and support humans,” says Aldebaran business unit manager Dr. Olivier Joubert. “We are using NAO to help children.” Founded in 2005, Aldebaran has deployed NAO in two schools, one in Haverhill, Mass., for children aged 3 to 5, and one in Birmingham, England, for children aged 5 to 10. Because they are prototypes, Aldebaran provided the robots at no cost. 10 – My School Rocks! | September 2013
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There is no cure. Although the NAO prototypes have been in use for less than a year, initial results suggest the therapy is helping. Research shows when an autistic child is in a room with a robot, the number of the child’s social interactions increases 30 percent. Some children also experience better verbal communication.
According to Joubert, about 70 percent of autistic children are spontaneously attracted to NAO. The robot is only for sale to institutions, so families can’t buy one yet. NAO came on the market in the spring, and, by late June, Joubert estimated 15-20 schools had placed orders. Each robot costs $14,000, which also includes a web portal and a year of support.
Bridging the gap
Although the robots provide special education teachers with an innovative unique tool, the robots’ programming is based on well-established techniques and approaches for teaching autistic children. For example, the robot can work with children on emotion recognition. In this lesson, NAO would mimic
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