Virtual Reality, a Novel Tool for Autism Treatment
Help me give my students an Oculus Quest 2 headset, a virtual reality device that allows them to exercise, meditate, and dance!
FULLY FUNDED! Dr. Melville's classroom raised $393
This project is fully funded
My Students
My students are a diverse group of children with special needs. As a physical therapist, I have students from all classes who have physical and cognitive difficulties that make it very difficult for them to participate with the rest of their peers.
With varied diagnoses such as autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, my kids need extra help throughout the day to increase their strength, flexibility, and motor control to help them keep up with their friends.
Some issues my students deal with are muscle contractions limiting joint movement, decreased strength and endurance, and poor balance.
My Project
I want to purchase a virtual reality headset equipped with functional games for my children to use to increase their strength, balance, and endurance. Autism can have profound effects on children's ability to move throughout the school and participate with their friends. In this age of advanced technology too few systems have been created to specifically help these children so we have to get creative!
When I saw the Oculus Quest 2, a virtual reality headset, I thought of the possibilities this could have for my students.
They will be able to use this virtual reality headset to improve their strength/mobility/motor control so that they can learn to effectively move through the school with their peers.
I'll list some ideas below and if anyone has any other ideas let me know.
Supernatural - This is a cardio exercise game that includes 4 settings - box, flow, meditate, and recover.
Box VR - a total body fitness routine using boxing
Fire safety VR - an immersive fire safety lesson
Beat saber- a dancing game where students use light sabers to hit notes.
These games can help the students achieve IEP goals such as climbing stairs reciprocally, moving through crowded hallways, and standing up from their desks.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Dr. Melville and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
