Minecraft is a game beloved by many. The online building game’s ability to entertain while facilitating players to connect with each other attracts all walks of life, not least children with autism. Sadly, despite enjoying the game, many of these children often get bullied by other players.
Knowing their predicaments, Stuart Duncan decided to create a special platform for them. Himself familiar with autism, Duncan set up an invite-only version of Minecraft, called Autcraft, exclusively for children with autism and their families. Within days of launching, the server received hundreds of requests to join. Now it boasts nearly 7000 members, with a team of admin to manage the growing users.
In Autcraft, the children can freely enjoy the experience of Minecraft - using blocks of materials to build whatever they can think of - without the stress of dealing with physical contacts, something that is distressing for children with autism. The game gives them a platform to just express themselves, unbothered by the pressure of the real world.
Stuart Duncan's TED Talk: How I use Minecraft to help kids with autism.
What is Autcraft? (7 Years Later)