Stuart Duncana single father from Ontario, has turned his passion to Minecraft into an incredible resource for autistic children and their families. In 2013, after noticing that his son Cameron, suffering from autismI had difficulty playing on public Minecraft servers Due to incidents of bullying, Stuart decided to create a server dedicated exclusively to these children, called Autcraft.
Stuart’s goal was simple: to provide a safe and welcoming environment for autistic children to play without fear of being marginalized or harassed. Autcraft, in fact, stands out for its positive and respectful approachwhere players are treated kindly and moderators work to resolve conflicts peacefully, avoiding any form of punishment.
Stuart’s idea was to create a space where children could express yourself freelyexplore the game and interact with others without the risk of bullying, a common issue on public servers. The success of the server was immediate: in the first days of opening, around 750 people tried to join.
Stuart has created a real community
In less than a decade, the server has embraced more than 17,000 playersconfirming the huge demand for a safe environment for autistic children who want to play Minecraft. Through his vision and commitment, Stuart has created a real communitywho not only connect through play, but also support each other.
Autcraft is not just a game server, but a therapeutic opportunity for children. Minecraft, with its freedom of exploration and the ability to build your own world, has been shown to have a positive impact on the communication and social skills of autistic children.
Stuart himself spoke about his personal experience, underlining how Minecraft was a bridge of communication between him and his son Cameronhelping him to enter his world and better understand his needs and preferences.
In addition to managing the server, Stuart Duncan has become an important supporter of the autistic cause, speaking at conferences and publishing articles. Autcraft has also received recognition from Mojang, the Minecraft development house, and is coming now studied by researchers for the psychological and social benefits it offers autistic children.
Meanwhile Stuart continues to work full time on this projectdemonstrating that passion, dedication and love for a child can transform a simple game into a vital resource for people in difficulty.
