The Science Behind Jam Up!
Jam Up! is an evidence-based, co-produced digital tool. We have worked with autistic children, parents and carers as well as key stakeholders from health and social care and education to ensure Jam Up! is accessible, feasible, sustainable and useable for its end-users.
- 89% of parents / carers reported Jam Up! helped their child to be more independent with dressing
- 67% of parents / carers said it helped their child get dressed with less stress
- Autistic children rated Jam Up! 4.4/5
Problem 1: Waiting over two years for a diagnosis
- 36% of children referred to NHS Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) services wait over 12 months for assessment⁵.
- 140,000 people are waiting for an autism diagnosis in England⁶.
- 500,000 people in England are waiting for a care needs assessment⁷.
Impact: Increasing complexity of a child's needs
- Autistic children’s needs are often more complex by the time they are assessed⁸.
- Economic impact due to managing waiting lists and associated complaints⁹.
- Higher levels of dissatisfaction from carers¹⁰.
- Lack of timely support increases the number of families reaching crisis point¹¹.
Problem 2: Demand on already overstretched services
- 40% increase in referrals for autism assessments in England between 2021-2022¹².
- On average, an autism assessment takes 11.5 hours of a healthcare professional’s time¹³.
- Unprecedented demand on neurodiversity services¹⁴.
- Child and carer needs associated with everyday tasks are not being met by health and/or social care services¹⁵.
Impact: Health and social consequences
- Reduced health and well-being outcomes for children (e.g. poor dental health, higher levels of anxiety, self-harm, and obesity)¹⁶.
- Reduced health and well-being outcomes for carers¹⁷.
- Reduced school attendance and academic performance¹⁸.
- Reduced ability for carers to perform additional roles¹⁹.
Our Solution
Immediate access to evidence-based support for autistic children and their families at the right time, in a way that is accessible to all.
What is Jam Up?
A multi-task toolbox app that uses digital play to empower autistic children to gain autonomy in everyday tasks.
Tailored to the individual child using fun, rewarding, and evidence-based methods.
- Helps Autistic Children age 5-14
- Guidance and education for children and their carers/parents.
- Co-developed with children
- Feedback loop encourages learning
- Gamified for improved engagement
- Provides intrinsic and extrinsic rewards
- Personalised action plan
- Evidence-based educational videos delivered by professionals
Benefits to the Child
- Immediate access to evidence-based support.
- Accessible, feasible, and usable.
- Improved health and well-being outcomes.
- Reduced overwhelm, frustration, and helplessness.
Benefits to the Carer
- Equips carers with additional skills to empower their children to become more independent with everyday tasks.
- Improved health and well-being outcomes for carers.
Benefits to the Nation
- Economic benefits due to reduced time spent processing complaints.
- Reduced health inequalities for autistic children.
- Alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
✔ Empowering children to gain skills to support physical and mental health.
(SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being)
✔ Enabling children to get to school.
(SDG 4 – Quality Education)
✔ Reduced travel to healthcare facilities and streamlining services.
(SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities)
The Jamup.io App is now available for download on Apple and Google.
What does Jam Up! do?
– Assists autistic children aged 5-14 in completing everyday tasks using digital play.
– Offers customisable tasks to ensure children can be supported whilst keeping to their usual routine.
– Provides educational videos and daily tips enabling parents / carers to promote their child’s independence
* References
1: Age Groups: Ethnicity Facts and figures: https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/uk-population-by-ethnicity/demographics/age-groups/latest
2. Nions, E., Peterson, I., Buckman, J. et al. (2023). Autism in England: assessing underdiagnosis in a population-based cohort study of prospectively collected primary care data. The Lancet Regional Health Europe. 29(100626)
3. Children with special educational needs (SEN) in England: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england-january-2023
4. How many smartphones are in the world?: https://www.bankmycell.com/blog/how-many-phones-are-in-the-world
5 UK Digital Strategy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uks-digital-strategy/uk-digital-strategy
6 A national framework to deliver improved outcomes in all-age autism assessment pathways: guidance for integrated care boards: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/a-national-framework-to-deliver-improved-outcomes-in-all-age-autism-assessment-pathways-guidance-for-integrated-care-boards/
7. Autism waiting times: https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/autism-assessment-waiting-times-2023#:~:text=Over%20140%2C000%20face%20waits%20for,waiting%20in%20just%20one%20year.
8. Rutherford, M., McKenzie, K., Forsyth, K. et al. (2016). Why are they waiting? Exploring professional perspectives and developing solutions to delayed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in adults and children. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 31, 53-65.
9. Jackson, L., Keville, S. and Ludlow, A. (2019). Mothers’ experiences of accessing mental health care for their child with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of child and family studies, 29, 534-545.
10. Male, I., Farr, W., Bremner. An observational study of individual child journeys though autism diagnostic pathways, and associated costs, in the UK National Health Service. Frontiers in rehabilitation Sciences,4.
11. Russell. G., Stapley. S., Newlove-Delgado. T. et al. (2022). Time trends in autism diagnosis over 20 years: a UK based cohort study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 63(6), 674-682
12. Absound, M (2022) Social determinants, inequality, and autism. The Lancet Child and Adolescent health, 6(12), 832-833.
13. Sharpe, R., Curry, W., Brown, R., and Shankar, R., (2019). A public health approach to reducing inequalities among adults with autism. British Journal of General Practitioners, 69(688) ,534-535.
14. Bonis. S. (2016). Stress and parents of children with autism: A review of literature. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 37(3), 153-163.
15. Hoffman. C., Sweeney. D., Hodge. D. et al. (2009). Parenting stress and closeness: Mothers of typically developing children and mothers of children with autism. Focus Autism Other Developmental Disabilities, 24,178–187.
16. Lee. G., Lopata, C., Volker. M. et al. (2009) Health-Related quality of life of parents of children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Focus Autism Other Developmental Disabilities, 24(4), 227–239.
17. Hasson. L., Keville, S., Allagher, J., et al. (2022). Inclusivity in education for autism spectrum disorders: Experiences of support from the perspective of parents/carers, school teaching staff and young people on the autism spectrum. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, doi:10.1080/20473869.2022.2070418
18. Cidav, Z., Marcus, S. and Mindell, D. (2012). Implications of childhood autism for parental employment and earnings. Pediatrics, 129(4), 617-623.
19. The 17 Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
20. Key facts and figures about the NHS: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/key-facts-figures-nhs
21. Barker, K., Room, J., Knight, R., et al. (2020). Health Economics Unit Costs. NIHR Journals Library, 24(65).