There are 22 million children with autism worldwide. 30% of them are non-verbal. The only way they can communicate is through the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). The problem is that these communication cards were created in 1985 and have not been updated since. They are standardized as if all children were the same, but each child with autism is unique. Moreover, in almost 40 years since the creation of PECS, experts have discovered that a learning accelerator can be the child's hyperfocus - an intense interest in a specific topic. So, Vivo, the largest telecom company in LATAM, used A.I. to improve these children's communication skills. We utilized an AI-generated image tool, but rewrote the code completely to generate images that were autism-friendly, considering layout, typography, and depth of field. The tool is available online, forever, and can be accessed for free by any family worldwide.

There are two types of people with autism: verbal and nonverbal. For nonverbal, the top communication is the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). PECS consists of cards with images that request simple things: drinking water, eating, or watching TV. The problem is that these cards were created in 1985 and remain the same today. During this time, scientific studies have discovered that the best technique for interacting with autists is to address their interests in a specific topic, also known as hyperfocus. With this in mind, Vivo Telecom, a specialist in connecting people, has democratized an expensive A.I. tool through a free online platform, allowing families to create their own PECS inspired by each child's hyperfocus. If a child has a hyperfocus on dinosaurs, for example, their family can create cards featuring dinosaurs drinking water, eating, or watching TV. This turns the old PECS into a much more engaging

A.I. generated images are a hit. However, they do not follow the pattern that is best visualized by people with autism. They assimilate images that follow various details better, which have been addressed by the UK design convention for people with autism. So, we took the Stable Difusion code and rewrote it so that the platform always generates images that follow the pattern: Soft shading creates smoother transitions and textures; Blurred depth of field can help to avoid sensory overload; To reduce distraction, we used soft pastel colors instead of vivid ones. Comic Sans, which according to researchers, is the best font for people with intellectual disabilities, and also to obtain a friendlier design. Every prompt had to be carefully calibrated to obtain funnier visuals. These images have this configuration when viewed on screen and also for printing to be used like the old PECS.

Autism Journey was launched by the largest TechCo company in Latin America and also by the first autism shelter institution in Brazil. Immediately, the entire country became aware of the initiative, and the results were as impactful as the project itself. There were 1,175,000 website visits, 133,000 cards, and an average of 2 hours spent on the platform. It became the most accessed AI platform in Brazil, with an 850% increase in brand recall and 1000% increase in brand recognition.

In Brazil, 1 in 36 children has autism. However, this number may be much higher as the diagnosis rate is still low. Therefore, shedding light on the subject is important for early diagnosis. One of the characteristics of people with autism is difficulty expressing themselves. That's why there are Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), which are cards that help children with autism indicate through pictures what they feel or need. The problem is that these PECS were created in 1985 and haven't changed since. Additionally, this material is expensive and does not respect the individuality of each child, making it less engaging. In light of this, Vivo, a company that uses technology to improve people's lives, in partnership with the first autism shelter in Brazil, AMA, democratized the use of AI and now families can create PECS inspired by each child's hyperfocus, making the material much more engaging.