Students With Disabilities Are Learning Virtual Reality (VR)

Iowa Rehabilitation Services Implements VR for Teens and Adults with Special Needs

Richard Chang | August 11, 2016

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) is incorporating virtual reality technology into its curriculum to spark the interest of special needs students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and support their acquiring new, 21st century work skills.
Using zSpace, an interactive VR technology, students are learning STEM subjects using 3D, virtual-holographic images that they can move and manipulate. Supporters of the technology say they believe zSpace could transform the way students with disabilities are taught.
The level of participation and enthusiasm that students demonstrate when using zSpace is the reason Kenda Jochimsen, bureau chief of Iowa Rehabilitation Services, cited for expanding the use of virtual reality at IVRS.

"Danny Kurtzman, who has muscular distrophy, says being able to virtually surf in Specular Theory's demo gave him 'goosebumps.'" Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/10/22/450573400/affordable-virtual-reality-opens-new-worlds-for-people-with-disabilities

"A student in a wheelchair tests out a virtual reality experience at Aalto University in Finland." Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/10/22/450573400/affordable-virtual-reality-opens-new-worlds-for-people-with-disabilities

<more at https://thejournal.com/articles/2016/08/11/iowa-rehabilitation-services-incorporates-vr-for-teens-and-adults-with-special-needs.aspx; related articles and links: http://www.ivrs.iowa.gov/ (Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services website) and http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/10/22/450573400/affordable-virtual-reality-opens-new-worlds-for-people-with-disabilities (Affordable Virtual Reality Opens New Worlds For People With Disabilities. October 22, 2015)>