The Finest Contact Foundation (Mooiste Contact Fonds, in Dutch) launched on 21 June 2010 a mobile service called 'SociaalOpStap'(Social Stepping Stone, in English) aimed at helping autistic young people deal with unexpected situations during their social lives.

A telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies(ICT) service provider in the Netherlands along with a group of professionals in education and childcare work and the Dutch Autism Network (Landelijk Netwerk Autisme, in Dutch) developed at the Westerbeek College in The Hague a mobile service for autistic young people, which will be available for all by 1 January 2011.

This new service designed in the form of an application will be installed on mobile phones and available online at a dedicated website - www.SociaalOpStap.nl. The service aims to ensure a better social life for young people with autism. As many autistic people have difficulties in dealing with unexpected situations in social life, the new application gives them the opportunity to consult their mobile phones about how to deal with them. The application is filled with social stories, which the youngsters can adapt to their own situations. Examples of such stories include: how to buy cinema tickets, how to deal with friendship or more personal issues, etc.

Many people with impairments or disabilities find social situations too complex. Therefore, they need help in terms of enhancing their self-reliance and of integrating at schools as well as in the society. There may be situations at school, but in other cases too, such as housing, training, leisure, major life events such as relocation, divorce, births, funerals as well as social themes, such as elections or demonstrations. All these stories (200 in total) will be made available at the www.SociaalOpStap.nl website. Anyone interested will be entitled to consult the stories free-of-charge.

The 'Social Stepping Stone' project will furthermore expand the website dedicated to young people with autism, both in terms of its content and applications; furthermore, on regional level, meetings at schools will take place, aiming to bring people in touch.

Further information:

• Original News Article - Finest Contact Foundation (in Dutch)