Professor creates video game to help autistic children

Autistic children often pursue interests that keep them isolated and from interacting from others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that individuals who suffer from this condition often display social and communication challenges as well as have unusual behavior.

A Western Kentucky University professor recently received a $20,000 grant to start developing a video game for autistic individuals that may help them with these problems, the school's newspaper, Western Kentucky Herald, reports.

Officials told the news source that the the computer game is designed to teach social skills to people who suffer from autism. In the game, students are assigned a different character and what they decide to do with the script is their decision.

They added that the students are going to have choices about more skilled and less skilled behaviors that they can enact after a character invites them or engages them. Furthermore, officials noted that the game is all about giving the player responsibility and choices toward meeting a goal, which is to solve problems.

The CDC reports that nearly one in 110 children are diagnosed with autism each year.