On October 8, 2024, a workshop on “Neurodiversity and University” took place at TU Dresden, providing important insights into the study situation of neurodivergent students. The event, organized by the research project AutARK, the project Neuroqueer@TUD, and conducted by Lars… Read More »Workshop on “Neurodiversity and University” at TU Dresden
Invitation for submissions to the special issue of Interacting with Computers with the title “Designing Technology for Neurodivergent Self-Determination: Challenges and Opportunities”! The topic area covers the use and development as well as the design of assistive technologies for neurodivergent people. Personal experience reports are also welcome!
Submission Deadline for Extended Abstracts:
08.12.2024 (extended)
On November 8, 2024, the AutARK research project held its second advisory board meeting at the Faculty of Computer Science. The all-day event was attended by participants from the advisory board as well as Dr. Prof. Weber and the AutARK team. The invited persons represent various areas of interest and institutions throughout Germany, such as autistic self-representations, representatives of the vocational training center, science and the employment agency. The advisory board meeting was held in hybrid mode with a total of 6 people invited on site and 2 people in online mode. The results and solutions presented were discussed with interest by all participants and activities for future work were derived.
The Center for Demography and Diversity at TU Dresden (CDD) and the State Statistical Office of Saxony organized the Saxon Data Salon for the 9th time this year on October 1, 2024, at which current key topics and challenges in Saxony are highlighted and possible solutions are discussed with an audience of experts. Around 90 participants from politics, business and science discussed issues of increasing importance for the Free State of Saxony in particular. “Demography: Ideas. Perspectives. Potentials” – the title already reveals the focus of the event.
On 24.09.2024, the network meeting of funded projects for professional participation with a focus on digitalization initiated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs took place in Berlin. The meeting provided insights into the diverse approaches to support inclusion as well as related discussions, knowledge exchange, and networking.
The international conference ICCHP this year took place from July 8-12 in Linz (Austria) where Mr. Weber presented the successfully accepted full paper contribution of the AutARK project entitled “Open Sesame!
Use of Headphones at Work Considering Social Acceptance”. The paper shows the results of the context analysis on the use of ANC headphones at the workplace to support concentration, identifies challenges and proposes an adaptive system that allows social interaction while wearing ANC headphones depending on current contextual factors.
AutARK presents a full paper contribution at this year’s international conference “HCI International” in Washington DC. The paper entitled “Unlocking Opportunities: Empowering Autistic Adults in Vocational Training and Employment Through Assistive Technologies” presents current research results and outlines requirements for assistive technologies to support autistic people in vocational training and at the workplace.
The results of the practical part of the workshop “Designing Accessible Extended Reality”, organised by the AutARK team as part of the Mensch und Computer 2023 conference, include insightful ideas and suggestions developed by various participants on challenges and solutions for different target groups in different contexts. In addition, requirements as well as ethical and social aspects relating to the use of assistive technologies were discussed.
The project successfully conducted its inaugural advisory board meeting on November 17, 2023. Our advisory board consists of 10 institutions and individuals engaged in the field of autism in the workplace through various professional, voluntary, or personal capacities. The meeting also included representation from two individuals on the autism spectrum, who offered valuable personal insights into the workplace challenges faced from an autistic perspective, drawing from their own experiences.
AutARK was represented at this year’s vocatium trade fair for training and studies in Dresden with an information and hands-on booth as well as a presentation to inform trade fair visitors about inclusive studies, digital accessibility and the various needs of people with disabilities or disorders in the context of training and studies.
