[Music] thank you my name is Stuart Duncan but
thank you my name is Stuart Duncan but
thank you my name is Stuart Duncan but I’m actually probably better known
I’m actually probably better known
I’m actually probably better known online as autism father that’s me on the
online as autism father that’s me on the
online as autism father that’s me on the Internet
Internet
Internet I know the resemblance is uncanny but
I know the resemblance is uncanny but
I know the resemblance is uncanny but I’m going to talk a little bit today
I’m going to talk a little bit today
I’m going to talk a little bit today about Minecraft
about Minecraft
about Minecraft that’s my minecraft character but if you
that’s my minecraft character but if you
that’s my minecraft character but if you don’t know the game very well don’t
don’t know the game very well don’t
don’t know the game very well don’t worry too much about it it’s just the
worry too much about it it’s just the
worry too much about it it’s just the medium that I used at the time to fill a
medium that I used at the time to fill a
medium that I used at the time to fill a need and what I want to talk about
need and what I want to talk about
need and what I want to talk about applies to pretty much every situation
applies to pretty much every situation
applies to pretty much every situation so about four years ago I started a
so about four years ago I started a
so about four years ago I started a minecraft server for children with
minecraft server for children with
minecraft server for children with autism and their families and I called
autism and their families and I called
autism and their families and I called it at craft and since then we’ve been in
it at craft and since then we’ve been in
it at craft and since then we’ve been in the news all around the world on
the news all around the world on
the news all around the world on television and radio and magazines
television and radio and magazines
television and radio and magazines BuzzFeed called us one of the best
BuzzFeed called us one of the best
BuzzFeed called us one of the best places on the internet we’re also the
places on the internet we’re also the
places on the internet we’re also the subject of an award-winning research
subject of an award-winning research
subject of an award-winning research paper called appropriating minecraft as
paper called appropriating minecraft as
paper called appropriating minecraft as an assistive technology for youth with
an assistive technology for youth with
an assistive technology for youth with autism it’s a bit of a mouthful but you
autism it’s a bit of a mouthful but you
autism it’s a bit of a mouthful but you get the idea I think so I want to talk a
get the idea I think so I want to talk a
get the idea I think so I want to talk a little bit about that research paper and
little bit about that research paper and
little bit about that research paper and what it’s about but first I have to give
what it’s about but first I have to give
what it’s about but first I have to give you a little bit of history on how the
you a little bit of history on how the
you a little bit of history on how the server came to be back in 2013 everybody
server came to be back in 2013 everybody
server came to be back in 2013 everybody was playing Minecraft kids and adults
was playing Minecraft kids and adults
was playing Minecraft kids and adults alike with and without autism of course
alike with and without autism of course
alike with and without autism of course but it was the big thing but I saw
but it was the big thing but I saw
but it was the big thing but I saw parents on social media reaching out to
parents on social media reaching out to
parents on social media reaching out to other parents asking if their autistic
other parents asking if their autistic
other parents asking if their autistic children could play together and the
children could play together and the
children could play together and the reason is that when they tried to play
reason is that when they tried to play
reason is that when they tried to play on public servers they kept running into
on public servers they kept running into
on public servers they kept running into bullies and trolls when you have autism
bullies and trolls when you have autism
bullies and trolls when you have autism you behave a little differently
you behave a little differently
you behave a little differently sometimes sometimes a lot differently
sometimes sometimes a lot differently
sometimes sometimes a lot differently and we all know that a little bit of
and we all know that a little bit of
and we all know that a little bit of difference is all you really need for a
difference is all you really need for a
difference is all you really need for a bully to make you their next target so
bully to make you their next target so
bully to make you their next target so these terrible terrible people online
these terrible terrible people online
these terrible terrible people online they would destroy everything that they
they would destroy everything that they
they would destroy everything that they tried to make they would steal all their
tried to make they would steal all their
tried to make they would steal all their stuff and they would kill them over and
stuff and they would kill them over and
stuff and they would kill them over and over again making the game virtually
over again making the game virtually
over again making the game virtually unplayable but the worst part the part
unplayable but the worst part the part
unplayable but the worst part the part that really hurt the most was what these
that really hurt the most was what these
that really hurt the most was what these bullies would say to these kids they’d
bullies would say to these kids they’d
bullies would say to these kids they’d call them rejects and defects and
call them rejects and defects and
call them rejects and defects and retards and they would tell these kids
retards and they would tell these kids
retards and they would tell these kids some as young as 6 years old that
some as young as 6 years old that
some as young as 6 years old that society doesn’t want them and their own
society doesn’t want them and their own
society doesn’t want them and their own parents never wanted a broken child so
parents never wanted a broken child so
parents never wanted a broken child so they should just kill themselves
they should just kill themselves
they should just kill themselves and of course these kids you’d
and of course these kids you’d
and of course these kids you’d understand they would sign off from
understand they would sign off from
understand they would sign off from these servers angry and hurt they would
these servers angry and hurt they would
these servers angry and hurt they would break their keyboards they quite
break their keyboards they quite
break their keyboards they quite literally hate themselves and their
literally hate themselves and their
literally hate themselves and their parents felt powerless to do anything so
parents felt powerless to do anything so
parents felt powerless to do anything so I decided I had to try and help I have
I decided I had to try and help I have
I decided I had to try and help I have autism
autism
autism my oldest son has autism and both my
my oldest son has autism and both my
my oldest son has autism and both my kids and I love Minecraft so I have to
kids and I love Minecraft so I have to
kids and I love Minecraft so I have to do something so I got myself a minecraft
do something so I got myself a minecraft
do something so I got myself a minecraft server and I spent some time built a
server and I spent some time built a
server and I spent some time built a little village with some roads and a big
little village with some roads and a big
little village with some roads and a big welcome sign and this guy and a lodge up
welcome sign and this guy and a lodge up
welcome sign and this guy and a lodge up on a mountaintop tried to make it
on a mountaintop tried to make it
on a mountaintop tried to make it inviting thought people would like it
inviting thought people would like it
inviting thought people would like it the idea was pretty simple I had a
the idea was pretty simple I had a
the idea was pretty simple I had a whitelist so the only people that I
whitelist so the only people that I
whitelist so the only people that I approved could join and I would just
approved could join and I would just
approved could join and I would just monitor the server as much as I could
monitor the server as much as I could
monitor the server as much as I could just to make sure that nothing went
just to make sure that nothing went
just to make sure that nothing went wrong now was it that was the whole
wrong now was it that was the whole
wrong now was it that was the whole promise just to keep the kids safe so
promise just to keep the kids safe so
promise just to keep the kids safe so that they could play when it was done I
that they could play when it was done I
that they could play when it was done I went to Facebook and posted pretty
went to Facebook and posted pretty
went to Facebook and posted pretty simple message just on my friends list
simple message just on my friends list
simple message just on my friends list not publicly I just wanted to see if
not publicly I just wanted to see if
not publicly I just wanted to see if there was actually any interest in this
there was actually any interest in this
there was actually any interest in this and if it really could help turns out
and if it really could help turns out
and if it really could help turns out that I greatly underestimated just how
that I greatly underestimated just how
that I greatly underestimated just how much this was needed because within 48
much this was needed because within 48
much this was needed because within 48 hours I got 750 emails I don’t have that
hours I got 750 emails I don’t have that
hours I got 750 emails I don’t have that many Facebook friends within 8 days I
many Facebook friends within 8 days I
many Facebook friends within 8 days I had to upgrade the hosting package 8
had to upgrade the hosting package 8
had to upgrade the hosting package 8 times from the bottom package the most
times from the bottom package the most
times from the bottom package the most expensive package they had and now
expensive package they had and now
expensive package they had and now almost four years later I have eight
almost four years later I have eight
almost four years later I have eight thousand names on the whitelist from all
thousand names on the whitelist from all
thousand names on the whitelist from all around the world it’s pretty crazy but
around the world it’s pretty crazy but
around the world it’s pretty crazy but the reason I’m up here today to talk to
the reason I’m up here today to talk to
the reason I’m up here today to talk to you isn’t just because I gave kids a
you isn’t just because I gave kids a
you isn’t just because I gave kids a safe place to play it’s what happened
safe place to play it’s what happened
safe place to play it’s what happened while they played I started hearing from
while they played I started hearing from
while they played I started hearing from parents who said that their children
parents who said that their children
parents who said that their children were learning how to read and write from
were learning how to read and write from
were learning how to read and write from playing on the server at first they
playing on the server at first they
playing on the server at first they spelled things the way they sound like
spelled things the way they sound like
spelled things the way they sound like most kids do but because they were part
most kids do but because they were part
most kids do but because they were part of a community they saw other people
of a community they saw other people
of a community they saw other people spelling the same words properly and
spelling the same words properly and
spelling the same words properly and they just picked it up I started hearing
they just picked it up I started hearing
they just picked it up I started hearing from parents who said that their
from parents who said that their
from parents who said that their nonverbal children were starting to
nonverbal children were starting to
nonverbal children were starting to speak they only talked about Minecraft
speak they only talked about Minecraft
speak they only talked about Minecraft but they were talking some kids were
but they were talking some kids were
but they were talking some kids were making friends at school for the first
making friends at school for the first
making friends at school for the first time ever some were starting to share
time ever some were starting to share
time ever some were starting to share and even give things to other people was
and even give things to other people was
and even give things to other people was amazing and that every single parent
amazing and that every single parent
amazing and that every single parent came to me instead it was because of our
came to me instead it was because of our
came to me instead it was because of our craft is because what are you doing
craft is because what are you doing
craft is because what are you doing but why though how could all of this be
but why though how could all of this be
but why though how could all of this be just from a video game server
just from a video game server
just from a video game server well that goes back to that research
well that goes back to that research
well that goes back to that research paper that I was talking about in it she
paper that I was talking about in it she
paper that I was talking about in it she covers some of the guidelines that I use
covers some of the guidelines that I use
covers some of the guidelines that I use when I created the server guidelines
when I created the server guidelines
when I created the server guidelines that I think help encourage people to be
that I think help encourage people to be
that I think help encourage people to be their very best I hope for example
their very best I hope for example
their very best I hope for example communication that can be tough for kids
communication that can be tough for kids
communication that can be tough for kids with autism get tough for grownups
with autism get tough for grownups
with autism get tough for grownups without autism but I think that kids
without autism but I think that kids
without autism but I think that kids should not be punished they should be
should not be punished they should be
should not be punished they should be talked to you nine times out of ten when
talked to you nine times out of ten when
talked to you nine times out of ten when the kids on the server act out it’s
the kids on the server act out it’s
the kids on the server act out it’s because of something else has happened
because of something else has happened
because of something else has happened in the day at school or at home maybe a
in the day at school or at home maybe a
in the day at school or at home maybe a pet died sometimes it’s just a simple
pet died sometimes it’s just a simple
pet died sometimes it’s just a simple miscommunication between two children
miscommunication between two children
miscommunication between two children they don’t tell the other person what
they don’t tell the other person what
they don’t tell the other person what they’re about to do and so we just offer
they’re about to do and so we just offer
they’re about to do and so we just offer to help we always tell the children on
to help we always tell the children on
to help we always tell the children on the server that we’re not mad and
the server that we’re not mad and
the server that we’re not mad and they’re not in trouble we only want to
they’re not in trouble we only want to
they’re not in trouble we only want to help and it shows that not only do we
help and it shows that not only do we
help and it shows that not only do we care but we respect them enough to
care but we respect them enough to
care but we respect them enough to listen to their point of view respect
listen to their point of view respect
listen to their point of view respect goes a long way plus it shows them that
goes a long way plus it shows them that
goes a long way plus it shows them that they have everything they need to be
they have everything they need to be
they have everything they need to be able to resolve these problems on their
able to resolve these problems on their
able to resolve these problems on their own in the future and maybe even avoid
own in the future and maybe even avoid
own in the future and maybe even avoid them because you know communication on
them because you know communication on
them because you know communication on most servers as video games our children
most servers as video games our children
most servers as video games our children are rewarded well players are rewarded
are rewarded well players are rewarded
are rewarded well players are rewarded for how well they do in a competition
for how well they do in a competition
for how well they do in a competition right the better you do the better
right the better you do the better
right the better you do the better reward you get that sort of thing can be
reward you get that sort of thing can be
reward you get that sort of thing can be automated the server does the work the
automated the server does the work the
automated the server does the work the code is there on our craft we don’t do
code is there on our craft we don’t do
code is there on our craft we don’t do that we have things like Player of the
that we have things like Player of the
that we have things like Player of the Week and CBA’s which is copying awesome
Week and CBA’s which is copying awesome
Week and CBA’s which is copying awesome we award players ranks on the servers
we award players ranks on the servers
we award players ranks on the servers based on the attributes that they
based on the attributes that they
based on the attributes that they exhibit such as the buddy ranked for
exhibit such as the buddy ranked for
exhibit such as the buddy ranked for people that are friendly towards others
people that are friendly towards others
people that are friendly towards others and junior helper for people that are
and junior helper for people that are
and junior helper for people that are helpful towards others we have senior
helpful towards others we have senior
helpful towards others we have senior helper for get parent for the adults but
helper for get parent for the adults but
helper for get parent for the adults but they’re exactly they’re obvious right
they’re exactly they’re obvious right
they’re exactly they’re obvious right like people know what to expect and how
like people know what to expect and how
like people know what to expect and how to earn these things because of how
to earn these things because of how
to earn these things because of how they’re named as soon as the somebody
they’re named as soon as the somebody
they’re named as soon as the somebody signs on to the server they know that
signs on to the server they know that
signs on to the server they know that they’re going to be rewarded for who
they’re going to be rewarded for who
they’re going to be rewarded for who they are not what they can do our top
they are not what they can do our top
they are not what they can do our top award the autism father sword which is
award the autism father sword which is
award the autism father sword which is named after me because I’m the founder
named after me because I’m the founder
named after me because I’m the founder is a very powerful sword that you can’t
is a very powerful sword that you can’t
is a very powerful sword that you can’t get in the game any other way than to
get in the game any other way than to
get in the game any other way than to show that you completely put the
show that you completely put the
show that you completely put the community above yourself and that
community above yourself and that
community above yourself and that compassion and kindness is at the core
compassion and kindness is at the core
compassion and kindness is at the core of who you are we’ve given away quite a
of who you are we’ve given away quite a
of who you are we’ve given away quite a few of those swords actually I figure if
few of those swords actually I figure if
few of those swords actually I figure if we’re going to watch the server to make
we’re going to watch the server to make
we’re going to watch the server to make sure nothing bad happens we should also
sure nothing bad happens we should also
sure nothing bad happens we should also watch for the good things that happen
watch for the good things that happen
watch for the good things that happen and reward
and reward
and reward for them we’re always trying to show all
for them we’re always trying to show all
for them we’re always trying to show all the players that everybody is considered
the players that everybody is considered
the players that everybody is considered to be equal even me but we know that we
to be equal even me but we know that we
to be equal even me but we know that we can’t treat people equally to do that
can’t treat people equally to do that
can’t treat people equally to do that some of the players get angry very
some of the players get angry very
some of the players get angry very easily some of them have additional
easily some of them have additional
easily some of them have additional struggles on top of autism such as OCD
struggles on top of autism such as OCD
struggles on top of autism such as OCD or Tourette’s so I have this knack of
or Tourette’s so I have this knack of
or Tourette’s so I have this knack of remembering all of the players I
remembering all of the players I
remembering all of the players I remember their first day and the
remember their first day and the
remember their first day and the conversations we’ve had things we talked
conversations we’ve had things we talked
conversations we’ve had things we talked about and that they’ve built and so when
about and that they’ve built and so when
about and that they’ve built and so when somebody comes to me with a problem I
somebody comes to me with a problem I
somebody comes to me with a problem I handled that situation differently than
handled that situation differently than
handled that situation differently than I would with any other player based on
I would with any other player based on
I would with any other player based on what I know about them for the other
what I know about them for the other
what I know about them for the other admins and helpers we document
admins and helpers we document
admins and helpers we document everything so that whether it’s good or
everything so that whether it’s good or
everything so that whether it’s good or bad or a concerning conversation it’s
bad or a concerning conversation it’s
bad or a concerning conversation it’s there so everybody is aware I want to
there so everybody is aware I want to
there so everybody is aware I want to give you one example this one player he
give you one example this one player he
give you one example this one player he was with us for a little while but at
was with us for a little while but at
was with us for a little while but at some point he started spamming dashes in
some point he started spamming dashes in
some point he started spamming dashes in the chat like a big long line of dashes
the chat like a big long line of dashes
the chat like a big long line of dashes all the way across the screen and a
all the way across the screen and a
all the way across the screen and a little while later he’d do it again and
little while later he’d do it again and
little while later he’d do it again and so the other players asked him not to do
so the other players asked him not to do
so the other players asked him not to do that he’d say ok and then he’d do it
that he’d say ok and then he’d do it
that he’d say ok and then he’d do it again so it started to frustrate the
again so it started to frustrate the
again so it started to frustrate the other players they asked me to mute him
other players they asked me to mute him
other players they asked me to mute him or to punish him for breaking the rules
or to punish him for breaking the rules
or to punish him for breaking the rules but I knew there had to be something
but I knew there had to be something
but I knew there had to be something more to it so I went to his aunt who’s
more to it so I went to his aunt who’s
more to it so I went to his aunt who’s the contact that I have for him and she
the contact that I have for him and she
the contact that I have for him and she explained that he had gone blind in one
explained that he had gone blind in one
explained that he had gone blind in one eye and was losing his vision in the
eye and was losing his vision in the
eye and was losing his vision in the other so what he was doing was splitting
other so what he was doing was splitting
other so what he was doing was splitting up the chat into easier to see blocks of
up the chat into easier to see blocks of
up the chat into easier to see blocks of text which is pretty smart so that very
text which is pretty smart so that very
text which is pretty smart so that very same night I talked to a friend of mine
same night I talked to a friend of mine
same night I talked to a friend of mine who writes code and we created a brand
who writes code and we created a brand
who writes code and we created a brand new plugin for the server that makes it
new plugin for the server that makes it
new plugin for the server that makes it so that any player on the server
so that any player on the server
so that any player on the server including him of course could just enter
including him of course could just enter
including him of course could just enter a command and instantly have every
a command and instantly have every
a command and instantly have every single line separated by dashes
single line separated by dashes
single line separated by dashes plus they can make it faster ixas or
plus they can make it faster ixas or
plus they can make it faster ixas or blank lines or anything they will they
blank lines or anything they will they
blank lines or anything they will they want whatever works best for them we
want whatever works best for them we
want whatever works best for them we even went a little bit extra and made it
even went a little bit extra and made it
even went a little bit extra and made it so that it highlights your name so that
so that it highlights your name so that
so that it highlights your name so that it’s easier to see if somebody mentions
it’s easier to see if somebody mentions
it’s easier to see if somebody mentions you it’s just one example of how doing a
you it’s just one example of how doing a
you it’s just one example of how doing a little bit extra small modification
little bit extra small modification
little bit extra small modification still helps everybody be on equal
still helps everybody be on equal
still helps everybody be on equal footing even though you did a little
footing even though you did a little
footing even though you did a little extra just for that one player the big
extra just for that one player the big
extra just for that one player the big one is to be not afraid the children on
one is to be not afraid the children on
one is to be not afraid the children on my server are not afraid they are free
my server are not afraid they are free
my server are not afraid they are free to just be themselves and it’s because
to just be themselves and it’s because
to just be themselves and it’s because we support and encourage and celebrate
we support and encourage and celebrate
we support and encourage and celebrate each other we all know what it feels
each other we all know what it feels
each other we all know what it feels like to be the outcast and to be hated
like to be the outcast and to be hated
like to be the outcast and to be hated simply for existing and so when we’re
simply for existing and so when we’re
simply for existing and so when we’re together on
together on
together on server we’re not afraid anymore for the
server we’re not afraid anymore for the
server we’re not afraid anymore for the first two years or so on the server I
first two years or so on the server I
first two years or so on the server I talked to two children per week on
talked to two children per week on
talked to two children per week on average that were suicidal but they came
average that were suicidal but they came
average that were suicidal but they came to me because I’m the one that made them
to me because I’m the one that made them
to me because I’m the one that made them feel safe they felt like I was the only
feel safe they felt like I was the only
feel safe they felt like I was the only person in the world they could talk to
person in the world they could talk to
person in the world they could talk to so I guess my message is whether you
so I guess my message is whether you
so I guess my message is whether you have a charity or some other
have a charity or some other
have a charity or some other organization or your teacher or a
organization or your teacher or a
organization or your teacher or a therapist or your parent who’s just
therapist or your parent who’s just
therapist or your parent who’s just doing your very best or you’re an
doing your very best or you’re an
doing your very best or you’re an autistic like I am no matter who you are
autistic like I am no matter who you are
autistic like I am no matter who you are you absolutely must help these children
you absolutely must help these children
you absolutely must help these children strip away those fears before you do
strip away those fears before you do
strip away those fears before you do anything else because anything else is
anything else because anything else is
anything else because anything else is going to feel forced unless they’re not
going to feel forced unless they’re not
going to feel forced unless they’re not afraid it’s why positive reinforcement
afraid it’s why positive reinforcement
afraid it’s why positive reinforcement will always do better than any form of
will always do better than any form of
will always do better than any form of punishment they want to learn when they
punishment they want to learn when they
punishment they want to learn when they feel safe and happy
feel safe and happy
feel safe and happy it just happens naturally they don’t
it just happens naturally they don’t
it just happens naturally they don’t even try to learn so I guess my one the
even try to learn so I guess my one the
even try to learn so I guess my one the one thing that I hope you could take
one thing that I hope you could take
one thing that I hope you could take away from my time here these are words
away from my time here these are words
away from my time here these are words from the kids on the server to describe
from the kids on the server to describe
from the kids on the server to describe the server the one thing I would hope
the server the one thing I would hope
the server the one thing I would hope that you could take away is that no
that you could take away is that no
that you could take away is that no matter what somebody else is going
matter what somebody else is going
matter what somebody else is going through in life right now whether
through in life right now whether
through in life right now whether they’re being bullied at school or at
they’re being bullied at school or at
they’re being bullied at school or at home if they’re questioning their
home if they’re questioning their
home if they’re questioning their sexuality or even their gender which
sexuality or even their gender which
sexuality or even their gender which happens a lot in the autism community if
happens a lot in the autism community if
happens a lot in the autism community if they’re feeling alone or even suicidal
they’re feeling alone or even suicidal
they’re feeling alone or even suicidal you have to live your life in such a way
you have to live your life in such a way
you have to live your life in such a way that that person feels like they can
that that person feels like they can
that that person feels like they can come to you and tell you they have to
come to you and tell you they have to
come to you and tell you they have to feel perfectly safe in talking to you
feel perfectly safe in talking to you
feel perfectly safe in talking to you about it if you want to see a group of
about it if you want to see a group of
about it if you want to see a group of autistic children kids whose society
autistic children kids whose society
autistic children kids whose society wrongly thinks are supposed to be
wrongly thinks are supposed to be
wrongly thinks are supposed to be antisocial and lacking in empathy you
antisocial and lacking in empathy you
antisocial and lacking in empathy you want to see them come together and build
want to see them come together and build
want to see them come together and build the most compassionate and friendly and
the most compassionate and friendly and
the most compassionate and friendly and generous community you’ve ever seen the
generous community you’ve ever seen the
generous community you’ve ever seen the kind of place that people were right
kind of place that people were right
kind of place that people were right about as one of the best places on the
about as one of the best places on the
about as one of the best places on the internet they’ll do that I’ve seen it
internet they’ll do that I’ve seen it
internet they’ll do that I’ve seen it I’m there every day but they have some
I’m there every day but they have some
I’m there every day but they have some huge obstacles that they have to
huge obstacles that they have to
huge obstacles that they have to overcome to do that and it would be
overcome to do that and it would be
overcome to do that and it would be really helpful to have somebody there
really helpful to have somebody there
really helpful to have somebody there who could help to show them that the
who could help to show them that the
who could help to show them that the only thing they really have to fear is
only thing they really have to fear is
only thing they really have to fear is self-doubt so I guess I’m asking you to
self-doubt so I guess I’m asking you to
self-doubt so I guess I’m asking you to please be that person for them because
please be that person for them because
please be that person for them because to them those kids it means everything
to them those kids it means everything
to them those kids it means everything thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
you
you [Music]
”
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