Cyberbullying and Digital Citizenship in Youth with Autism: A Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Perspective

Dr. A. L. Fischer, Dr. M. Andersson

Abstract:

Librarians are beginning to address the lack of services for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing flexible and tailored programming and services. One important need among youth with ASD is a better understanding of how to navigate the online environment safely and responsibly. Due to different engagement styles with social interaction and communication, youth with ASD may be more susceptible to cyberbullying and misinterpretations during online
communications than their peers. This paper introduces the idea that librarians can play a critical role in digital citizenship education for youth with ASD and provides implications for LIS educators preparing future librarians through MLIS curriculum.