School purchase of a NAO robot

We're raising funds so Hamilton High School can purchase an NAO robot, which is a fully programmable humanoid robot intended for research, teaching and exploring new service robotics. Not only will the robot be used as a computer programming teaching aid for Hamilton students, jump starting their introduction to advanced engineering while still in high school, but the NAO robot is considered an important therapeutic tool for children with autism (ASD). Having a full time robot on premises will greatly benefit the local children with autism, who are only able to work with a visiting NAO robot for two hours a week at present.

NAO robots are capable of interactive speech and gestures to help children with autism coordinate their attention with other people and objects in their environment. Children with autism have difficulty mastering joint attention and social skills and that inability can compound into a variety of learning difficulties as they age. Research has shown that early intervention, individualized to the learner's needs, is currently the most effective approach for helping children with autism develop the foundational social communication skills they need to become productive adults. Testing has shown that children with autism interact with the NAO robot at a higher level than with a human counterpart, making these cute robots a powerful tool in ASD therapy.

Your support of this very worthwhile cause is greatly appreciated!