A Strength‑Based Neurodiversity‑Affirming Investigation of Digital Interventions for Autistic Children in China: Multi‑Perspective Thematic Analysis With Parents and Therapists
Abstract
Autistic children in China often experience disparities in access to high-quality autism support. Digital tablet‑based interventions offer scalable potential, yet its real‑world performance is inconsistent. This qualitative study intends to understand why and how digital interventions can be more effective for autistic children in China using a neurodiversity‑affirming framework. Reflexive thematic analysis is conducted using semi‑structured interview data from seventeen parents and five therapists after trialling a tablet‑based digital cognitive intervention over two months. Participants reported tangible benefits including fine‑motor skill gains. However, digital tools required design adjustments to accommodate autistic children’s strengths, namely pattern‑seeking reasoning, perceptual acuity, and deep‑focus capacities. Effective personalisation relied on alignment between digital content and offline therapeutic practice alongside reliable skill‑level calibration. Findings indicate digital interventions work best as complementary practice to adult emotional co-regulation and scaffolding.
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BibTeX
@misc{zhao2026strengthbased,
title = {{A Strength‑Based Neurodiversity‑Affirming Investigation of Digital Interventions for Autistic Children in China: Multi‑Perspective Thematic Analysis With Parents and Therapists}},
author = {Vicky Yiran Zhao and Ling Li and Gang Zeng and Zhaona Cai and Huali Song},
howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.31234/osf.io/qhy68_v1},
url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/qhy68_v1/},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - A Strength‑Based Neurodiversity‑Affirming Investigation of Digital Interventions for Autistic Children in China: Multi‑Perspective Thematic Analysis With Parents and Therapists
AU - Vicky Yiran Zhao
AU - Ling Li
AU - Gang Zeng
AU - Zhaona Cai
AU - Huali Song
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
PB - PsyArXiv
DO - 10.31234/osf.io/qhy68_v1
UR - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/qhy68_v1/
AB - Autistic children in China often experience disparities in access to high-quality autism support. Digital tablet‑based interventions offer scalable potential, yet its real‑world performance is inconsistent. This qualitative study intends to understand why and how digital interventions can be more effective for autistic children in China using a neurodiversity‑affirming framework. Reflexive thematic analysis is conducted using semi‑structured interview data from seventeen parents and five therapists after trialling a tablet‑based digital cognitive intervention over two months. Participants reported tangible benefits including fine‑motor skill gains. However, digital tools required design adjustments to accommodate autistic children’s strengths, namely pattern‑seeking reasoning, perceptual acuity, and deep‑focus capacities. Effective personalisation relied on alignment between digital content and offline therapeutic practice alongside reliable skill‑level calibration. Findings indicate digital interventions work best as complementary practice to adult emotional co-regulation and scaffolding.
ER -