My experience working on the All Smiles Shine App

by Aliyah Rich 

According to the most recent report from the Centers for Disease Control, autism now affects 1 in 36 people. As someone with autism I don’t feel limited, and I don’t want society to think of limitations either when it comes to  thinking about the autistic community. To me, being autistic represents a wide spectrum of people from different walks of life with unique interests and skills. Is it only when people  choose not to recognize our needs or skills that we truly become limited. 

Some autistic people like myself can struggle when an environment is unknown, overwhelming, or chaotic. These environmental barriers might make me feel emotionally overwhelmed and easily upset. Understanding what to expect in new or highly-stimulating situations, and knowing what resources are available, can help reduce these barriers.

Addressing these types of environmental barriers led to the creation of InfiniTeach, a neurodiverse organization on a mission to make the world more accessible and inclusive for the autistic community through technology and consultation. I started working with InfiniTeach as a paid intern when I was in high school. During my internship, I built my professional skills by working behind the scenes to help create apps, websites, and write blogs for and about the autistic community. After I graduated from high school, InfiniTeach hired me to work on bigger projects that involved spreading awareness of disability and inclusion. 

I love the work that I do because It helped me grow and appreciate who I am and what I can do for others like me. Our projects revolve around one goal: to help the autism community access the places they love, with the people they love. Our team includes autistic self-advocates, family members, special educators, developmental therapists, and technologists. 

One of the projects we’ve worked on recently is our All Smiles Shine app, in partnership with the Delta Dental Foundation and Project Accessible Oral Health. All Smiles Shine is a free mobile app that helps children feel more comfortable visiting the dentist. The app includes social narratives that explain the steps of a dental visit, exercises to support relaxation, at-home preventative care tools, and resources for caregivers. The app also allows a family to create a profile for their child, by indicating sensory likes and dislikes, communication preferences, and interests that can be used to help cultivate a successful visit to the dentist. 

Over the past few months, through direct outreach to pediatric dental offices and autism organizations, we’ve had more than 600 families and professionals download and test out the app. 

But we are not done yet; the All Smiles Shine app is only in its first iteration. And I believe the app will grow into a life-changing resource for the autism community as we get feedback from families and professionals. In the app’s next version, we want to include similar resources for autistic adults, like myself. We also want to offer more provider training and help providers use Electronic Health Records to gather information about a patient’s sensory preferences, concerns, and questions prior to a dental visit. 

I’m proud of the work we are doing at InfiniTeach and the new projects we are taking on, such as the All Smiles Shine app. To me, being part of the InfiniTeach team has meant being part of a family that encourages me to be proud of who I am. I love what I do not only for InfiniTeach, but because I am supporting others like me in the autistic community. You can help our mission by sharing information on the All Smiles Shine app, providing feedback and ideas, or connecting with us directly with any questions or new partnership opportunities. And I can’t wait to see where our journey takes us next!

Aliyah Rich is a person with autism, who works for the company InfiniTeach. Aliyah first got started working at InfiniTeach as an intern at a special education high school called Ray Graham Training Center in Chicago, IL. Aliyah has continued to work for InfiniTeach, supporting app development, writing blogs, and supporting partnerships and outreach. Aliyah loves to promote InfiniTeach’s mission of supporting the Autistic community and families to feel more included and accepted wherever they travel.