Enhancing Social Collaboration in Autistic Pre-teens Through Minecraft®

Purpose: This research explored the use of Minecraft® as an accessible game-based program for facilitating social collaborative skill development in 10-12-year-old pre-adolescent autistic children. Method: Underpinned by inclusive research principles, the study was co-designed with consumers with lived experience, and used a mixed-method design to explore intervention effects across different intensities (high vs. low) and modalities (face-to-face vs. online).Results: A total of 11 children participated, divided into four groups of 2-3 players each. The findings from both quantitative and qualitative analysis were promising. Yet, more research is warranted to further validate the findings.Conclusion: The active involvement of consumers with lived experience in the program design and implementation was critical in producing a meaningful and valuable outcome for the families and children.