Accessible Gaming

Because people with disabilities are so varied in the levels of disability, it would be really hard to design a game that fits that audience. However, simple games, with no hidden information, might play well with a group like that.

Now, if you're aiming for moderate-functioning autism spectrum disorders or high-functioning/ Asperger's Syndrome, games that are thoroughly entrenched in strategy, emergent gameplay, and low in chance are their strong suit. That's why a lot of them really like video games: they can study it, play it over and over in the same predictable ways, but excel in playing the best way within the constraints of the game. My older brother is among this class of individuals, and don't even think about challenging him to a RTS.

However, for board games, might I suggest these ones for individuals with High-Functioning Autism or Asperger's:

1. Pandemic - The game forces the players to communicate and work together and share ideas. Granted, it could lead to frustration as other players don't do what you want, but at the same time, it could help them learn to value suggestions from others. The best part is that it lets intelligence shine brightly, and individuals who hav ea hard time communicating, as with ASDs, might be able to grasp onto it. And either you all win or all lose: there isn't any feeling bad alone, but as a group.

In similar light, Forbidden Island and Forbidden Desert (made by the same guy) fit that niche as well, but have a different flavor.

EDIT: Forbidden Island is the game to start them on here, actually

2. 7 Wonders: Great because it emphasizes strategy, but if you play badly, it's still fun to play. The rules are a bit different from other games though, and they are a bit complicated, but after the players get them, I bet they wouldn't want to put it down. You could likely play a round or two with them watching (it's a 30-minute game), and they could pick up on it and maybe start helping you out. Another plus for those with high-functioning ASDs is that it doesn't force them to talk between each other for negotiations, though player interaction can help the players do better.

3. Ticket to Ride: Now, this game is simple enough for almost anyone who can grasp the ides of connecting point A to point B and collecting sets of colors to make trains. However, this game can lead to frustrations and tantrums if a player comes to realize that they can very thoroughly and completely stab someone in the back (not that there isn't a way to overcome that and still win).

4: Set: Players look among the twelve cards placed on the table to find the ones that form sets of three cards that all share a trait or all diverge in a trait. Forming a set is tricky, but the game is simple enough for many people, and you could simplify it to make it about finding one common thing among all of the cards or something. This one I recommend for all mental capacities.

5. to help my brother learn to communicate, we would often play D&D on Sundays together. being the party's wizard, he played an integral role, and he had to communicate with us to tell us what he was doing so that we could work together and slay the dragon as a team. I also play with a group right now with two individuals with ASDs, and as they have come to understand the game, they have become very comfortable expressing themselves and thinking strategically with us. Downside: people have an aversion to the game sometimes, and the manuals have a relatively high starting cost. But, for some individuals, this game helped them to learn how to communicate.

I hope I was able to help with these. Shop around and find similar games to those mentioned above on gaming websites. Like I said earlier, I have experience with moderate-functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome (brother and family friends), though that doesn't make me an expert.

However, my rules for games for people with ASDs are the following:
1. No hidden information or deception (at least not until they are comfortable with the idea of playing with a specific group of friends. At that point, they might actually like it).
2. Emphasize strategy and games with emergent gameplay (where the game is simple to learn, but difficult to master)
3. Try to find games where losing doesn't hurt. It hurts to lose in Risk (but in a pinch, this game might work), but losing in 7 wonders or set really doesn't irk many people. Shorter games make this easier. After a while, longer games are more acceptable because they're used to the idea of playing and having fun, rather than playing to win all the time.