STTR Phase I: Creating a virtual reality clinic to serve individuals with autism

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是改善自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)患者的治疗结果和生活质量。大约有350万美国儿童和成人被诊断为自闭症。自闭症被认为是一种终生的弥漫性疾病，如果没有适当的治疗，自闭症患者可能会在社会中面临挑战。根据疾病控制和预防中心的数据，治疗自闭症患者的费用约为每年5万美元，在所有50个州，公共和私人保险公司都被要求为委员会认证的分析师提供的应用行为分析疗法买单。然而，由于提供治疗的典型模式要么是基于家庭的，要么是基于诊所的，许多特定的美国公民群体无法获得治疗。居住在偏远地区、无法获得交通工具或需要在正常工作时间以外接受治疗的患者无法获得治疗。被诊断为自闭症儿童的父母还面临着额外的挑战，即面临漫长的等待时间，以及缺乏行为分析员的治疗计划。虽然远程健康治疗在新冠肺炎大流行期间有所增加，但通过电话或屏幕交谈并不能提供与面对面互动相同的社交技能治疗。为了解决这些挑战，该项目将创建一个虚拟现实(VR)自闭症诊所：一个沉浸式的虚拟现实环境，注册治疗师将在其中提供植根于应用行为分析研究的实时治疗。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将开发结合应用行为分析原理的软件，作为自闭症患者提高社交技能的模拟工具。该项目将开发一个交互式和身临其境的软件系统，专门设计来满足基于研究的应用行为分析的要求。该系统将包括从业者提供实时反馈的机制，并将纳入利用自闭症患者动机的方法。由于地理位置、交通不足或日程安排问题而无法获得治疗的情况，可能会通过设想的最终产品显著减少。拟议项目的预期技术成果是一个远程虚拟现实平台，模拟并实现面对面的社交技能治疗结果。设想中的虚拟自闭症诊所将使受自闭症影响的个人能够以一种变革性的、可扩展的、安全的和技术先进的解决方案来学习、联系和参与他人。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Approximately 3.5 million American children and adults have a diagnosis of autism. ASD is considered a lifelong pervasive disorder and, without proper treatment, individuals with ASD may have challenges functioning in society. The cost to treat an individual with autism is approximately $50,000 per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in all 50 states, both public and private insurance companies are mandated to pay for applied behavior analysis therapy delivered by board-certified analysts. However, since the typical model for delivering therapy is either home-based or clinic-based, many specific populations of U.S. citizens cannot access therapy. Patients who live in remote areas, do not have access to transportation, or need treatment outside of normal work hours are unable to access treatment. Parents of children diagnosed with ASD have additional challenges of facing long wait times and lack of input for the behavior analyst’s treatment plan. While tele-health treatment has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, speaking by phone or by screen doesn't provide the same social-skills therapy as in-person interactions. To solve these challenges, this project will create a Virtual Reality (VR) Autism Clinic: an immersive virtual reality environment where certified therapists would provide real-time treatment rooted in the research of applied behavior analysis. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop software that incorporates tenets of applied behavior analysis as a simulation tool for individuals with ASD to improve their social skills. The project will develop an interactive and immersive software system specifically designed to meet the research-based requirements of applied behaver analysis. This system will include mechanisms for practitioners to provide live feedback and will incorporate methods that leverage the motivation of individuals diagnosed with autism. The inability to access therapy because of location, lack of transportation, or scheduling issues may be significantly reduced by the envisioned end product. The anticipated technical result of the proposed project is a remote virtual reality platform that simulates and achieves in-person social-skills therapy results. The envisioned virtual autism clinic would enable ASD-affected individuals to learn, connect, and engage with others in a transformative, scalable, secure, and technically-advanced solution.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.