A Social Robot for Improving Interruptions Tolerance and Employability in Adults with ASD

A growing population of adults with Autism Spec-trum Disorders (ASD) chronically struggles to find and maintain employment. Previous work reveals that one barrier to employment for adults with ASD is dealing with workplace interruptions. In this paper, we present our design and evaluations of an in-home autonomous robot system that aims to improve users' tolerance to interruptions. The Interruptions Skills Training and Assessment Robot (ISTAR) allows adults with ASD to practice handling interruptions to improve their employability. ISTAR is evaluated by surveys of employers and adults with ASD, and a week-long study in the homes of adults with ASD. Results show that users enjoy training with ISTAR, improve their ability to handle various work-relevant interruptions, and view the system as a valuable tool for improving their employment prospects.