It all started when Google's Tom Wyman and Chris Cronin started getting enthusiastic calls and e-mails from architects who had children on the spectrum. Their kids, the parents reported, had discovered the software program and loved it. All they needed was their creativity and a computer mouse and they could design entire neighborhoods.
Autism can be a difficult and frustrating disability with people having difficulty communicating through speech and writing, but they can excel at visual thinking.
Using SketchUp, educators can map out unfamiliar environments that kids with autism might visit, like office buildings, city parks or doctors' offices. The unknown can be a major stressor for kids with autism. If the student has a teeth-cleaning appointment, for example, teachers can create a SketchUp model of the space, complete with the dentist's chair, then walk the child through what to expect when he gets there.
More information can be found at Project Spectrum or The Autism Collaborative.
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