Students on the autism spectrum are often faced with boundaries between themselves and a successful future because despite having the same abilities and goals as others, there is a lack of resources for them. They can often struggle with going to school or getting a job, and our app will help to address these issues. For one, the app contains simulations to familiarize users with new situations they could be put in during school or work, in order to help ease any nerves they might have. It also contains a forum to connect students on the spectrum so they can communicate with others who have gone through the same experiences and ask questions or converse. Lastly, the app contains information and statistics regarding post secondary education, including various colleges that have good programs for students on the autism spectrum, to help put them on the path to a bright future. While the app won't act as a permanent solution toward students on the autism spectrum, it will certainly help to break some boundaries which they face by easing nerves and familiarizing them with new situations, and acting as a resource to direct them toward success.

Link'd is an app that can be used by people with autism in order to help them with real-life scenarios and interactions. This is something that hasn't been done before in an app. We are connecting colleges and people on the autism spectrum, something that hasn't been done before and needs to be done. Link'd gives users information about different colleges that have programs for students on the spectrum so they can be more supported in this difficult transition.

When first researching our app, we came up with a lot of ideas to help students on the autism spectrum. We came up with these ideas by talking directly to students that are on the spectrum at our own school. We realized that they have so much potential to be successful but their are boundaries keeping them from doing that. One aspect that stood out to us while researching was that students on the spectrum rarely attend college. While there is an expectation that neurotypical students attend college, something that some kids resent, students on the spectrum don't have this expectation. Our group members now appreciate this expectation placed on us, because we realize that it pushes us to work harder.

With this in mind, we had so many different ideas that we can tackle this issue with. We wanted to create an app that was unique and helped all students on the autism spectrum, which is where we came up with Link'd. Wherever students with autism want to go after highschool, Link'd provides them with the resources they need to be successful. We had to nitpick our ideas to make sure that our final project was most helpful.

While there are apps that simulate new situations for people on the spectrum and teach them the right way to respond, there isn't an app tailored to post-secondary education. Our app is tailored to a niche group that will benefit immensely from the information and help provided by our app. Apps that help people on the autism spectrum include Autism iHelp, Autism Emotion, and Otismo. Autism iHelp helps children on the autism spectrum with comprehension (matching colors, words, and pictures to build vocabulary and speech). Autism Emotion uses music and photos to teach kids about different emotions sense it is hard sometimes for kids on the spectrum to identify different emotions on people. Otismo helps kids with autism connect with their parents and keep track of their progress throughout the week. Another app that helps people on the spectrum is Choiceworks. This app uses images and helps kids stay engaged and focused when completing tasks and also has a scheduling tool with rewards/breaks.

This app uses the theme of breaking boundaries as an inspiration, regarding the topic of autism. The app can help people with autism to improve issues with communicating in real-world situations. We are breaking boundaries between students on the autism spectrum and colleges as well as students on the spectrum and each other. Link'd also breaks the stigma that people on the autism spectrum can't attend college or be successful in life.

We are providing students on the spectrum with the resources they need so they can attend college if they choose. Link'd also gives users a chance to interact with students and people like them, that are going through or have gone through the same experiences as them. In these ways and many others, we are breaking the boundary between people on the spectrum and their success in the future.