Increasing Impact and Reach of a Positive Psychology-Based Curriculum to Help Young People with Autism Flourish

Proof Positive Autism Wellbeing Alliance

7/1/25-6/30/27

Lynn Fiellin, MD (Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth)

Tyra Pendergrass Boomer, MEM; Katie Haile, MPH; Caroline M. Barry, MPH, PhD; Filament Games; additional collaborators TBD, in partnership with the national Proof Positive Autism Wellbeing Alliance

Wellbeing outcomes for individuals with autism are consistently lower than those of the general population. Research shows that positive psychology practices, such as gratitude exercises and strengths-based reflection, can improve learning, life satisfaction, and wellbeing. Yet, few interventions for this population have focused on promoting happiness. To address this well-being gap, accessible tools that support the autism community to effectively learn and adopt positive psychology practices are needed. This project will harness the power of game-based interventions and components of effective positive psychology curriculum to develop an evidence-informed game-based learning platform to promote happiness and wellbeing in autistic youth. Players will build and practice the skills of happiness – like gratitude, strengths-based reflection, and joyful movement –through repetitive and engaging game play to support their social, emotional, and mental health. The project will follow a three-phase plan including: co-designing, pilot testing, and refining game-based learning components iteratively with youth (ages ~ 8-13) with autism, their parents, educators, and clinicians, and in collaboration with Proof Positive and Filament Games (phase 1); conducting a rigorous pre-post evaluation study of the new game-based learning modules in youth with autism (phase 2); and designing and implementing a scalability, sustainability, and dissemination plan for the new game-based learning curriculum (phase 3). This work has considerable potential for wide implementation, reach, and impact on autistic youth across school and community settings.

This project addresses a critical public health need by promoting the mental health and wellbeing of people with autism, who are disproportionately affected by mental health disparities. By developing and testing this game-based learning platform, we aim to empower neurodivergent youth to develop positive life skills, emotional resilience, self-regulation, and social confidence to live happier and healthier lives. This pioneering approach leverages game-based learning to translate proven strategies into a tool that can be scaled up to benefit not only individuals with autism but eventually the broader population.