Everything from car crashes and reports of people falling off a cliff has been associated with playing Pokémon Go. But the wildly popular game may hold surprisingly helpful benefits for children with autism.
How Exactly Can Pokémon Go Help Children With Autism?
For the uninitiated, Pokémon Go is a mobile app that uses GPS technology to overlay Pokémon into what users see in front of them while walking around their neighborhoods. The goal is for users to catch all the Pokémons while simultaneously battling other players.
According to reports in Education Week, teachers say that Pokémon Go’s visually-stimulating components actually encourage autistic children to make friends as they go out and explore their community.
Speaking with New York Magazine, autism specialist James McPartland of Yale University said, “(Pokémon Go) is a great conversation starter and gives children on the spectrum a topic they are comfortable with and are knowledgeable about.”
Autistic Boy Goes From Panic to High-Fiving Others
A 6-year-old boy with autism was featured on NBC’s Today Show because of his tremendously powerful reaction while playing Pokémon Go.
Normally, the boy doesn’t make eye contact with strangers, has difficulty maintaining conversations and often panics when changes are made to his routine.
Within minutes of playing Pokémon Go for the first time, his parents were stunned to see him smiling, laughing and even high-fiving other children he did not even know.
If Your Child Has Autism, The Fitzgerald Law Firm Will Fight for You
The benefits made available to autistic children by Pokémon Go are definitely encouraging, and we’re very happy that the app is having such a positive effect.
Children with autism are very special to us and we fight on their behalf. If you feel your child has developed autistic-like symptoms from exposure to toxins or malpractice, contact us here at The Fitzgerald Law Firm today at 800-323-9900 for a free consultation.