ModMatAutSWOT: A mathematical model for categorizing autistic traits into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52076/eacad-v6i3.668Keywords:
Autism Spectrum Disorder; Self-Testing; Indicators (Statistics); Learning; Autonomy.Abstract
The lack of appropriate instruments for assessing autistic traits in adulthood has restricted autistic people’s access to support, accommodations, and self-understanding. Most existing tools are based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria, binary scales, or childhood-oriented measures, which overlook the variability, context, and intensity of traits experienced by adults. This article aims to present the ModeMatAutSWOT, a mathematical model created to measure the frequency and intensity of autistic traits not described in diagnostic manuals, categorizing them into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The model was developed as part of the AutSWOT project, an assistive technology aimed at promoting learning and autonomy among autistic adults. The methodology integrated participatory design, mathematical reasoning, and a comprehensive review of classical and contemporary literature. Nine specialists contributed to the establishment of analytical parameters through collaborative procedures incorporating fuzzy logic, medians, interquartile ranges, and discretization by thresholds. The results demonstrate that the combination of applied mathematics and lived experience enables classifications that are sensitive to individual variability, overcoming limitations of traditional assessment scales.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Renato Schneider Rivero Jover; Priscila Ferreira Beni; Daniela Duarte da Silva Bagatini; Dante Augusto Couto Barone; Renato Ventura Bayan Henriques
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