From Pepe to Facepalm Picard: Bridging the ASD Communications Gap Using Memes
Abstract: Among the aspects typically attributed to adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are difficulties in conveying and comprehending appropriate context in communication, and a propensity for visual information and recall of subject details. This paper is a brief for a proposed study on the use of memes as a strategy for fostering communication skills and addressing relatability challenges in adults with ASD. Visual characteristics, media correlations, and the associative social dynamics of memes are key aspects that propagate their appeal. Study methods will leverage the various popular cultural attributes that are familiar across most audiences, variations of the available visual representation for known media, and contextual perspectives of established storylines. Participants should be able to better communicate concepts within appropriate contexts, and understand messages with a clearer notion of actual intention. The lack of existing research merits an investigation.