CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND INTERACTIVE APPS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)

Abstract

This paper presents an important discussion about childhood, specifically young children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by challenges in communication and social interaction, with nonverbal children or those with Complex Communication Needs (CCN) being particularly affected. The objective of this research was to investigate how reading children's books and using the Matraquinha app contribute to the development of communication, language, and social interaction in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, analyzing the effects of these practices on stimulating verbal expression, expanding vocabulary, and promoting social skills in playful and mediated contexts. The research participants were children aged 4 to 6 years from a daycare center in a city in the state of Goiás. Methodologically, an integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches was adopted through a case study. Data collection occurred through observation, application of a questionnaire/completion of a behavioral form, storytelling, and use of the Matraquinha app. Data analysis was performed using content analysis as presented by Bardin (2004) and Likert scale data, using Excel. The results indicate that the Matraquinha app intervention enhances functional communication, while children's literature favors the development of symbolic understanding and social interactivity. It is concluded that reading mediation and the use of interactive apps contribute to the development of joint attention and eye contact by creating meaningful contexts for social interaction, based on interaction, shared focus, and the child's active engagement with the adult and the presented stimuli.