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Clarence P. Dow-Spielman edited this page Jun 24, 2016 · 6 revisions

Welcome to the Life Credit System (c) (LCS) app project Wiki!

What is the Life Credit System?

Created by Clarence Dow-Spielman, The Life Credit System (c) (LCS) is both a method and a set of digital applications to work with high-functioning children, teens and young adults diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The Life Credit System treats clients themselves as stakeholders by including them in the process of creating a game-based reward system that is custom tailored to their own personal, familial and professionally determined transition goals, targeted behaviors, skill strengths and deficits and unique cognitive-emotional presentation. By treating clients as stakeholders in this process, LCS helps to build a culture and common language of authenticity, accountability and interdependence.

Typically, data is collected by professionals, evaluated by professionals, and viewed by stakeholders which may or may not include those with the diagnoses that are selected for treatment. LCS uses numerical and graphical data arrays as well as a Client Avatar - a virtual character that represents the client and changes depending on performance - to connect clients to their data in realtime. Data collection and automatic aggregation are all achieved by using Google products and services (Google Drive, Google Forms, Google Sheets and Google Scripts). Trello, another propriety platform that provides an elegant visual organizer, is used to structure the process of reviewing the data with clients.

Helping clients engage in being and becoming their best selves is at the core of LCS. This means both making good choices in the moment and setting clear goals for positive future outcomes. A fundamental part of how this is put into practice is through documentation. In addition to serving as an executive functioning tool, Trello is also used to document events and capture insight. Over time clients, together with their parents, teachers and/or therapists, learn to manage a constantly evolving document that can transition with them throughout their life.

Gamification is the application of gaming principles and methods in a traditionally non-game arena. The gamified reward system used in LCS grants experience points, or 'Life Credits', for performance across categories determined by all stakeholders in the treatment team. Click here for an example spreadsheet and legend of a generic LCS user. Life Credits may be exchanged for money, time towards a preferred activity, or any other tangible reward.

Links to relevant information

For more information and to get involved:

[link to sign up on email list/google group]