As part of our mission at Dynseo, we are committed to creating tools that meet the concrete needs of the education world. Every day, you, teachers, speech therapists, psychomotor therapists, and parents, face the beautiful complexity of children's minds. Among them, students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) represent a particular challenge, but also a source of profound learnings. They invite us to rethink our approaches, to structure our methods, and to celebrate every progress, no matter how small. It is with this in mind that we designed our COCO PENSE and COCO BOUGE applications, not as a magic solution, but as a reliable and structuring ally. This article aims to show you how, beyond games, our COCO universe can become a pillar in supporting students with ASD, by offering reassuring routines and allowing for tangible and compassionate progress measurement.
Before diving into the features of our tools, it seems essential to set the framework. Talking about autism means discussing an immense spectrum where each individual is unique. However, common characteristics can guide us in establishing appropriate support. For us, each child is like a computer with its own operating system; for children with ASD, this system processes information differently, with its own strengths and sensitivities. Our role is not to change it, but to provide compatible software and an environment where it can function optimally.
The urgent need for predictability and routine
One of the cornerstones of supporting individuals with ASD is routine. The world can often appear chaotic, unpredictable, and anxiety-inducing. A classroom, with its constant social interactions, schedule changes, and multiple stimuli, can quickly become a stressful environment. Routine is not a constraint; it is an anchor. It allows the student to anticipate what will happen, reduces their cognitive load related to uncertainty, and thus frees up mental resources for learning. A clear sequence of activities, a well-defined beginning and end, stable instructions: this is what builds an essential sense of security.
Managing sensory sensitivity and cognitive overload
Many students with ASD have heightened or, conversely, diminished sensory perception. The sound of a fluorescent light, the rubbing of clothing, bright light, or the noise of a playground can be experienced as an assault. This hypersensitivity can lead to cognitive overload, a state where the brain, bombarded with information, can no longer process it. The student may then seem "in their bubble," agitated, or withdrawn, not due to a lack of will, but purely as a protective instinct. An effective learning environment must therefore allow for the modulation of these stimuli, offering moments of calm and concentration in a controlled setting.
The challenges of communication and intrinsic motivation
Social interactions and verbal communication can be complex for a student with ASD. Understanding implicit meanings, non-verbal language, or social rules requires considerable effort. Furthermore, motivation may work differently. Where a neurotypical student may be motivated by competition or social recognition, a student with ASD often finds motivation in their specific interests, in the satisfaction of solving a logical problem, or in the pleasure of repeating a task they master. The challenge is therefore to find supports that speak their language, that rely on clear visual instructions, and that offer immediate and concrete gratification, without going through the complex filter of human interactions.
COCO, a secure and predictable digital framework
It is with these fundamental needs in mind that we developed the COCO ecosystem. Our applications, COCO PENSE and COCO BOUGE, are not just simple collections of games. They have been designed as a stable, predictable, and compassionate digital environment, a kind of "digital classroom" where the student can practice in complete serenity.
A clear and repetitive structure as a foundation
From the moment the application is launched, the student finds a familiar universe. The character of Coco the parrot is a constant and friendly guide. The interface is clean, the menus are simple, and access to the various games is intuitive. Each game follows a similar structure: a clear instruction (often visual and auditory), a gameplay phase, and a conclusion with immediate feedback on performance (stars, a success sound). This repetition in structure, game after game, day after day, creates the digital routine the student needs. They know what to expect. There are no unpleasant surprises, no abrupt interface changes. This predictability reduces anxiety and allows the student to focus entirely on the cognitive or motor task at hand.
A controlled visual and auditory environment to avoid overload
We have paid particular attention to the sensory environment of our applications. Unlike many children's applications, overloaded with garish colors, animations in all directions, and intrusive sound effects, COCO offers a sober and calming aesthetic. The graphics are clear and readable, the colors are soft, and the sounds are functional: they indicate success, error, or the end of an exercise, without ever being aggressive or superfluous. There are no advertisements, no unexpected pop-ups. The application becomes a bubble of concentration, a protected space where the student can engage in an activity without being distracted or overwhelmed by extraneous stimuli.
The student's autonomy at the heart of the experience
Thanks to this clear structure and controlled environment, the student with ASD can quickly become autonomous in using COCO. They can choose their games, start them, finish them, and move on to the next one without needing constant verbal prompting from the adult. This autonomy is extremely rewarding. It gives them a sense of control and competence, which boosts their self-esteem. For the teacher or therapist, it is also a valuable time saver, allowing them to observe the student and focus on analyzing their progress rather than managing the materials.
Developing cognitive and motor skills step by step
Beyond its reassuring framework, COCO is primarily a comprehensive brain and physical training program. Each game has been designed with health professionals to target specific skills, which are often points of vigilance in supporting students with ASD.
Coco Pense: strengthening executive functions
Executive functions are somewhat the "conductors" of our brain. They allow us to plan, organize, adapt to unforeseen events, and control our impulses. For many students with ASD, these functions can be a real challenge. The games in COCO PENSE are specifically designed to stimulate them in a playful way.
- Attention and concentration: Games like "Intruder in a Series" or "Moving Targets" require the student to maintain their attention on a specific task for a set duration, ignoring distractions.
- Working memory: The classic pairs game, "Coco's Pairs," or sequence memorization games actively engage this short-term memory, essential for following instructions or solving a multi-step problem.
- Mental flexibility: Games that require changing rules mid-game (for example, sorting objects by color at times, by shape at others) help develop the ability to adapt and not get stuck on a single strategy.
- Planning and logic: Puzzles, brain teasers, or reasoning games like the Color Sudoku ("Logi-Coco") encourage the student to anticipate their actions and devise a strategy to achieve a goal.
Coco Bouge: the importance of coordination and body awareness
We now know that body and mind are inseparable. Movement is essential for cognitive development. COCO BOUGE offers gentle and guided physical activities, achievable indoors, that target coordination, balance, and body awareness in space (proprioception). For a student with ASD, who may have motor peculiarities or difficulties navigating space, these exercises are particularly beneficial. They can have a calming effect, help regulate energy, and improve concentration for the more academic activities that will follow.
An adaptive difficulty for frustration-free learning
This may be one of the most important aspects of our approach. The COCO algorithm automatically adjusts the difficulty level of the games based on the student's performance. If they succeed easily, the game becomes slightly more complex. If they struggle, the level decreases to reassure them. This principle ensures that the student is always faced with a "tailored challenge," stimulating enough to help them progress, but never to the point of repeated failure and generating frustration. This is key to maintaining motivation and engagement in the long term.
Tracking progress in an objective and compassionate manner
One of the biggest challenges for you, professionals, is assessing the progress of a student with ASD. Traditional school assessments are often inadequate, sources of stress, and do not always reflect the child's actual skills. COCO integrates a powerful tracking tool that transforms this assessment into a continuous, objective, and above all, compassionate process.
The dashboard: a compass for the teacher and therapist
Each gaming session is recorded, and the data is analyzed to be presented clearly and visually on a secure dashboard. You can consult the playtime, success rate per game and cognitive function (memory, attention, logic, etc.), and track the evolution of these indicators over several weeks or months. This dashboard is not a report card. It is a compass. It indicates the direction the student is taking, the speed at which they are progressing in each area, and the areas where they need a little more wind in their sails.
Identifying strengths and areas for improvement with precision
Thanks to this numerical data, you can go beyond simple feelings. You can objectively see that a student may excel in visual memory tasks but struggle with mental flexibility exercises. This information is crucial. It allows you to adapt your pedagogy, propose targeted complementary activities, and truly personalize your support. It is a valuable tool for preparing educational team meetings and for discussing concrete bases with parents.
Valuing every small victory to strengthen self-esteem
Tracking progress allows for materializing and celebrating every advancement. A 5% improvement in the success rate on a game in a month may be invisible to the naked eye in the tumult of a classroom, but it is clearly visible on a graph. Being able to tell the student (or show them): "Look, last month you succeeded 6 times out of 10 in this game, and now it's 7 times out of 10!" offers them tangible proof of their abilities and efforts. This recognition is a powerful engine for self-esteem, essential fuel for daring to face new challenges.
Our commitment beyond the tool: training for better support
At Dynseo, we believe that a good tool is not enough. Its effectiveness depends on the understanding and skills of the people who use it. That is why we do not just develop applications. We invest in training the educational community to give you the keys to understanding and acting in the face of students with specific needs.
Training on DYS disorders: bridges with ASD
We offer a comprehensive training titled "Identifying and supporting DYS disorders in primary school". You might wonder what the link is with autism. It is twofold. On one hand, comorbidities are common: it is not unusual for a student with ASD to also present specific learning disorders such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or attention disorders. On the other hand, the strategies and pedagogical posture we teach to support DYS students are largely transferable to students with ASD. It is always about understanding a different neurological functioning, adapting one's demands, breaking down tasks, using visual supports, and demonstrating patience and kindness.
Giving teachers the keys to reading behavior
Our training aims to help you "decode" your students' behaviors. A student who rocks, refuses to work, or has a tantrum is not necessarily a student who opposes. They may be experiencing sensory overload, struggling with an overly abstract instruction, or feeling anxious about the unexpected. By providing you with knowledge about brain functioning and practical tools for observation and analysis, we enable you to move from a reaction to behavior to a response to the need hidden behind that behavior. It is a paradigm shift that transforms the pedagogical relationship.
Creating a support ecosystem: school, family, therapists
Our vision is one of holistic support where all actors around the child work in synergy. Our tools are designed to facilitate this collaboration. The COCO dashboard can become a common dialogue support between the teacher, the AVS/AESH, the speech therapist, and the parents. The training we offer provides a common language and references for the entire educational team. By equipping and training the community surrounding the student, we contribute to weaving a solid safety net of skills, allowing every child, regardless of their particularities, to thrive and progress at their own pace.
In conclusion, our COCO application is much more than a digital pastime. It is a structured learning environment designed to soothe, stimulate, and value students with autism spectrum disorders. By offering them the routine they need, challenges suited to their abilities, and an objective tracking of their progress, we empower them to develop their potential with confidence. And by supporting you, professionals, through tailored training, we hope to provide you with the tools and confidence necessary to carry out your essential mission. We invite you to explore this universe, to experience it with your students, and to see for yourself how technology, when designed with empathy and rigor, can become a powerful lever for inclusion and success.
The article "COCO for students with autistic disorders: reassuring routines and measurable progress" highlights the importance of structured routines and adapted tools to promote learning in autistic children. A related article that might interest you is The adapted applications for autistic children. This article explores various applications designed to meet the specific needs of autistic children, focusing on improving their cognitive and social skills through innovative digital tools.
