iFAREX: An Integrated Framework for Educating Children with Autism

During COVID-19, special education schools and programs faced difficulties in taking classes for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Teaching these children through video calls and a lack of efficient e-learning platforms proved to be challenging for the children, their teachers and parents. ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the language, cognition, motor skills and social interaction of a child at an early age and lasting throughout their lifetime. It affects approximately 1 in 100 children worldwide. A case study is conducted in a school for autistic children that included examining their routines, behaviour and learning patterns. The gaps from this study revealed the need for a technology-based intervention for holistic learning. Thus, this study leads to the development of an integrated framework—iFAREX, that is deployed in the form of a smartphone application for autistic children. The goal is to create a solid foundation for future educational and social success by creating a high quality online educational resource for ASD children that is reliable and trustworthy.