Virtual Reality Aiding Autistic Children
By: John Vinson
I know it’s cliche’, but there are too many things we take for granted in life. The ability to socialize with others, living comfortably within the means of our society. These two things alone can be a difficulty for children diagnosed with autism. Crossing a street, carrying on a conversation are all hurdles that autistic children face on a daily basis.
There have been numerous studies, and research surrounding the disorder that effects 1-1.5 million Americans. An interesting development in autistic research comes by the way of virtual reality. With the advancements in video game and computer technology, virtual reality has become advanced enough as to portray a person and interact with others on a personal level. It’s the personal interaction, that researchers are using to help teach social skills and basic living skills to children with autism.
What makes virtual programs so effective with autistic kids, is the patience and predictable nature of virtual reality. Do2Learn is a strong advocate of the research linking the effectiveness of virtual reality to teach autistic children.
Here is an excerpt from the Do2Learn’s about us page that defines what they’re trying to accomplish, “Our goal as parents, educators and health professionals is to help each person communicate, survive and adapt to the bigger world around him, while respecting that all perceptions are valuable. Our hope is that this site will provide tools and solutions based on scientific research and clinical experience to help those with special learning and treatment needs. Our tools are designed to help them understand our world by:
* breaking tasks into smaller, more easily handled parts
* putting complex tasks together slowly, with guides to keep order
* repeating activities often, letting the user set his own pace
* allowing interactive customized worlds and tasks
* providing a range of ways to learn including tactile, visual, and audio material
It’s always refreshing to see how technology can really help the advancement of mankind. Autism is a very tricky disorder to evaluate and control, because there is no “cure” for the disorder. With advancements in virtual reality and our overall understanding, we can help children with autism live more successful and fulfilling lives.