Minecraft+and+Autism

**Minecraft and Autism**
Minecraft is a virtual reality where users have the ability to create their own worlds. By using building blocks and personal creativity each user’s experience can be authentic. Because of its virtual reality, Minecraft connects users just as effectively as any other social media tool. With Minecraft’s ability to create a sense of community between virtual worlds users who experience social anxieties or disabilities collaborate with others through building in ways they may not be able to in everyday interactions. By joining the Minecraft community a person is joining an already existing population of like minded individuals. There is no social pressure to perform or act a certain way, users are viewed by merely their building track record.

Minecraft has been said to have a positive impact on children and teenagers on the Autistic spectrum. Dr. Randy Kulman interviewed a number of his patients with Autism, and who engage in the Minecraft world about why they like Minecraft. One such liking is the no rules aspect of the game. Children and teens can build anything they desire, with no rules or guidelines to follow. Through Minecraft kids with Autism can gain and possess a sense of control they may not have in the real world. Dr. Erinn H. Finke, a colleague of Dr. Randy Kulman says Minecraft is a “world where they are knowledgeable…and can be successful, allowing them to navigate the video game world rather than the real world”. This power of control also bleeds through Minecraft’s social aspects. Children and teenagers have the freedom to build whatever they want, with limited opportunities to get bullied. An eleven year old patient of Dr. Kulman’s stated that, “people can’t make fun of it”, and how you could further more kick a person out of your community if you no longer want to play with them. Dr. Kulman explains the forgiving nature of Minecraft and it’s ability to create a safe space for creation, and socialization, “As with Legos, there is virtually nothing that you can do in Minecraft that is actually wrong, that a player cannot take apart and try again…In the creative mode, which most of the kids with Autism that I interviewed like best, players do not need to be concerned with someone destroying or changing their creations”. A key characteristic of many children with Autism is routine, and familiarity and the need to constantly have that presence. While harboring a world of exploration and creativity Minecraft can also challenge users with Autism to safely develop flexibility.

What is Minecraft? 7 Reasons Kids with Autism Love Minecraft How Minecraft is Helping Children with Autism Make New Friends
 * __ Reference Articles __**

As with many online games, there is a social aspect that comes into to play. Millions of people play Minecraft daily and can in a way be totally anonymous within the game. Many think they can so, say, and behave however they like without consequences to themselves. Minecraft is played on public servers and there is a chance some these people are not so nice, especially to children or persons with disabilities. Minecraft is a platform for children and adults to interact with others in a virtual world that they normally would not be doing in their normal life. “According to an expert from the National Autistic Society (NAS), the game can help children to improve in many of the key areas that those with autism struggle with, including communication.” Stuart Duncan is autistic and has a son who is also autistic. Mr. Duncan discovered that Minecraft communities were not always welcoming places for autistic children or people with disabilities. Bullying and targeting of people with disabilities was rampant on other servers. He created Autcraft, for autistic people and their families to use so they would have a safe place to play Minecraft with worrying about awkward social interaction. “There are currently 6,000 members in the //Autcraft //community, including young people from all points of the autism spectrum. The importance of teambuilding, compromise and respecting others are amongst the key things that parents report their children are learning via the game.” Mr. Duncan has found that Autcraft is helping children understand and deal with common autistic behaviors and learn to function within the game and socialize with others. Autistic children often don’t know how to deal with their own frustration and act out of control when they can’t work out a problem on their own. “However, many of these children, most even, have this remarkable ability to stop, recognize this is happening and remove themselves from the situation and return after calming down.” Other autistic people often recognize this behavior and can offer quick resolutions and forgiveness after the child has returned to the game and is calm. Autcraft removes the fear of being bullied, allows children to be themselves without judgement, and removes people that would target people with disabilities. Children and adults can share in doing something they love in a safe space.
 * Minecraft, Autism, and Child Safety**

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=**Minecraft**=

Minecraft has been proven to help children with autism. Countless articles and videos show that children with autism preform better around family and peers after playing the game. There have been some cases where in the world of minecraft, there can be bullies and people who go out to destroy property or things that others have created in minecraft. The good news is that there is now a special type of minecraft which is called Autcraft. Autcraft is the game of minecraft however it had moderators to block bullying as well as special plug-ins that do not allow others to destroy others work. This a great self confidence boost for those with autism because they can truly be themselves without having to worry about anything else around them. With all of this background information of how well people with autism can perform playing minecraft, some advocacy groups and support groups have offered special classes for others to join who are just like them to play and do the same things that they all share and love. The best way to deal with autism is to make someone with autism feel included. When they can focus on a task at hand and work together as a group, they build their self confidence and this in turn enriches their lives as well as the lives of friends and family all around them. The stronger support base these people with autism can build, the higher they can climb their tower to success.

[|austim minecraft classes offered] [|aucraft]