VR Educational Program for Autistic Teens

A world-first virtual reality program is empowering therapists to individualise their treatment programs for autistic teens to help them face and engage in challenging social scenarios without the real-life emotional risk.

Start Beyond, a leading Australian virtual reality (VR) and augmented (AR) reality studio, engaged by UK and American based company SocialWise VR, created the learning program which provides a suite of interactive, cinematic and immersive experiences where the teen can experience first-hand a variety of social interactions, from being at a party where they might be bullied or harassed to going on a date, all within the safety of the therapist environment.

The fully immersive program transports the user to a variety of highly realistic and challenging social scenarios, where they can choose from three different responses when prompted. Depending on what answer is selected, they will either receive a neutral, negative or positive reaction.

One of the benefits of SocialWise is that through the companion app therapists can watch how their client is responding to the different situations remotely, offering the same intimacy as a regular therapy session in the same room would.

This format allows therapists to provide more thorough feedback and counsel to clients, where they can guide them through challenges and explain why they received certain reactions for the responses chosen. It equips autistic teenagers with crucial social communication and interaction skills to take away and apply to real world scenarios.

It is estimated that 1 in 100 people are on the autism spectrum (over 200,000 people) in Australia. In 2015, over half (55.8%) of young people with autism needed special tuition and 41.8% needed help from a counsellor or disability support person. The SocialWise VR program should give people on the spectrum a safe avenue to navigate interactions and come away feeling confident and included in everyday life. 

Angus Stevens, Co-founder and CEO of Start Beyond, said, “Therapists have found that their clients are really embracing the VR experience and report that it has become a powerful tool within the industry. Due to this response, we are excited to build a similar momentum for the Social Wise program in Australia, providing impactful support for teenagers on the autistic spectrum and also revolutionising the care therapists can provide through the metaverse.

“What’s more, following the success of SocialWise and realising its impact and potential, the principles of the program can also be applied to a whole range of neurodiverse needs including anxiety disorders or mental health related concerns.”

Jenifer Shahin, Co-founder of SocialWise VR says, “SocialWise VR was created to provide a safe space for learners and therapists to navigate complex and stressful scenarios together, allowing them to build emotional intelligence, without the emotional risk."