According to a research conducted by Western Sydney University (WSU) and published in Scientific Reports, the utilisation of virtual reality (VR) technology has the potential to be of great benefit to people with disabilities.

Researchers performed a research spanning a period of five months on 31 grown-ups with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and intellectual disability in conjunction with the Disability Trust and the tech firm Devika

The results of the study revealed that the new Evenness VR Sensory Space technology not only improved sensory processing but also reduced anxiety and depression in participants.

Dr Caroline Mills, Co-lead researcher from WSU’s School of Health Sciences and Translational Health Research Institute says the promising application of immersive VR in the disability sector has exciting potential to inform new practices for organisations who support people with a neurodevelopmental disability.

“Our findings have shown that VR technology may offer a promising avenue for the provision of sensory interventions and an effective calming tool, with the most prominent benefit reported by users being a reduction in anxiety,” says Mills

According to Professor Danielle Tracey, from WSU’s School of Education and Translational Health Research Institute the preliminary nature of the study requires more robust future study designs to better understand the benefits and ensure the program can be used in real-life environments to support the people that need it.

Ken Kencevski, Managing Director of Devika says the findings significantly support the evolution of the program.

“Dr Mills and the team have allowed us to improve and validate Evenness Sensory Space as we look to increase its positive impact to individuals, centres and communities around Australia,” said Kencevski

In 2021, Christchurch-based oVRcome, started a program that uses virtual reality to expose children and teens to their fears.