A systematic literature review of assistive technology for neurodivergent individuals

Assistive technologies are increasingly being developed to support the diverse cognitive, social, and sensory needs of neurodivergent individuals to improve their quality of life. Technologies such as virtual reality (VR), mobile applications, and smartwatches facilitate participation in daily activities, education, work, and social interactions. This paper presents a systematic literature review of 38 articles examining assistive technologies designed for neurodivergent individuals, with the aim of identifying technological advances and their impact on independence and quality of life. Following the PRISMA framework, papers published between 2018 and 2024 were retrieved from the IEEE Xplore and ACM Digital Library databases using neurodiversity-oriented terminology. The findings highlight how assistive technologies such as mobile applications, VR headsets, and smartwatches support daily activities including social interaction, physical exercise, routine management, and self-regulation. The review also underscores the importance of participatory and co-design approaches in technology development and identifies a significant research gap regarding the needs of older neurodivergent populations, calling for further investigation in this area.