Niagara, Brock educators create VR tool to teach on ableism, accessibility

Educators from Niagara College and Brock University have co-developed an immersive virtual reality (VR) tool to help students learn about the lived experiences of people with disabilities. Starting this fall, VR simulations will be included in an interdisciplinary course at Niagara on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization and at Brock in the Accessibility Consultant Micro-Credential. “As [Niagara] employees with disabilities, it was important to us that the simulations be centered on authentic lived experiences of the disability community,” said Niagara Adaptive Technology Specialist Jim McEwen. “Using the power of immersive VR, for a moment, you are able to get a firsthand glimpse of how ableism, microaggressions, and systemic obstacles can affect people with disabilities.”