Enhancing Soft Skills in Autistic Children: The Next Generation of Mind Champ's Technological Approach

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) significantly impacts a child's ability to navigate social interactions, regulate emotions, and develop adaptive skills crucial for daily functioning. While various interventions exist to address cognitive and academic skills, the development of soft skills such as communication, emotional regulation, social interaction, and creativity remains an under explored area. This paper builds upon the foundational work of the Mind Champ platform, which originally targeted both learning and soft skills, by focusing exclusively on enhancing the soft skills development of autistic children. This enhanced version of the Mind Champ platform leverages advanced behavioral and emotional analysis techniques to offer a comprehensive technological solution. Through interactive activities centered on painting and music, the platform creates a structured, engaging, and supportive environment tailored to the unique needs of children with ASD. By prioritizing emotional engagement and creative expression, the platform empowers children to improve their social abilities, emotional regulation, and adaptability. The results from our continued research indicate that these technology-driven interventions contribute significantly to the holistic development of soft skills in autistic children, providing them with valuable tools to navigate social environments more effectively.