Thursday, February 8, 2007.
4:15 PM.
Location: Building 380, Room 380C
Dan Gillette, Greenleaf Institute
"User Centered Design and Autism"
ABSTRACT:
In this talk, Dan Gillette will discuss his experience conducting collaborative, field-based, user-centered design in cultures that include individuals with severe autism. He will also give examples from the work of other designers that show why it is critical to employ user-centered design practices in developing products for individuals with autism. Time permitting, Dan will also describe some of the exciting new projects being funded by the Cure Autism Now Innovative Technology for Autism Initiative.
Bio:
Dan Gillette is the director of the Education and Behavioral Healthcare Initiative at the Greenleaf Institute, and is a lead designer in behavioral medicine at Greenleaf Medical. Additionally, Dan is chair of the Innovative Technology for Autism Board at Cure Autism Now, and regularly consults and conducts research in education, psychology, product design, and disability studies. Dan has held research and teaching positions at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Mills College, and CSU Monterey Bay. Additionally, Dan has extensive experience as a learning specialist and administrator at the middle school, high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Before getting into educational psychology and product design, Dan had a ten-year career as a musician and composer, as well as a stint as a bicycle courier.
Dan holds a B.A. in human development from the Lesley College Graduate School, and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he concentrated in cognitive science, psychology, and instructional design.
Dan can be reached at: info@gillettedesign.com
