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Thesis Defence: Examining End-user Perspectives and Usability of Online Resources for Parents of Autistic Children to Support Safe Recreation
March 5 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Rashid Bawumia Ali, supervised by Dr. Lise Olsen, will defend their thesis titled “Examining End-user Perspectives and Usability of Online Resources for Parents of Autistic Children to Support Safe Recreation” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nursing.
An abstract for Rashid Bawumia Ali’s thesis is included below.
Defences are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Registration is not required for in-person defences.
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges with accessing inclusive sport and recreation opportunities in community settings. Parents play a key role in supporting their children’s activity engagement but they may lack accessible and practical information to guide their efforts, and their concerns about safety can often present a barrier. The SPARK Kids website was developed as an online resource to provide parents with information on safety, inclusion, and participation in recreational activities for children with autism. The study used an online survey to evaluate the SPARK Kids website based on parent reported useability and satisfaction. Measures included the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the User Satisfaction Questionnaire (USQ), with summary scores generated for each. Open-ended questions on the survey were analyzed thematically.
Findings for the SUS indicated a score of 75.95, while the mean USQ score was 45.19. The results indicated good levels of satisfaction among the respondents regarding the SPARK Kids website. Parents generally perceived the website as easy to navigate and a helpful resource. Parents valued its focus on safety, inclusion, and raising awareness about autism in recreational contexts. Parents were found to value the design, layout, ease of navigation, and links to local resources, and however, they reported preference for more concise wording in written sections. Reported information gaps included practical guidance for managing children’s behavioural, sensory and emotional challenges during specific activities such as swimming, team sports, and outdoor play. Parents also expressed a preference for more visual and interactive content, particularly short videos demonstrating strategies in real situations and links to support groups.
The study showed the importance of embedding practical behaviour management strategies within sport content, addressing sensory supports, and providing video-based content and access to local resources in online informational resources. These findings contribute to understanding how online resources can meet the informational needs of families of children with autism and provide guidance for developing more accessible, parent-centred digital tools for safe recreational participation.
