It’s 2024, and it’s still a bit disappointing that the world isn’t built to accommodate everyone. For example, 1.3 billion people globally experience significant disability. Yet, for many basic human needs and innovations, accessibility still feels like an afterthought.
But VR is one of the techs flipping this script. From rehab and therapy to social VR and inclusion training, it’s opening up all sorts of exciting opportunities to support accessibility.
In this ArborXR guide, we’ll explore five powerful ways VR is rewriting the rules on accessibility.
5 Powerful VR Use Cases Making Accessibility a Reality
1. Cognitive and Mobility Rehabilitation
First off, you can use VR to offer physical therapy and rehab for people recovering from injuries or managing chronic conditions that affect movement—like stroke survivors.
So, how does it work? Good question. You can create a virtual environment that simulates real-world rehab tasks—like walking down a busy street or climbing stairs. Users can tackle real-world challenges from the comfort of their homes, building strength, balance, and coordination without the hassle of constant clinic visits.
It also reduces the need for constant visits to physiotherapy clinics, which aren’t always convenient in the first place.
Genesis Health System is doing great work in this space—especially with stroke survivors—and they’ve had plenty of success stories over the years.
For cognitive issues like traumatic brain injuries or dementia, VR provides immersive digital environments for brain-training exercises. These activities boost memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Living Brain, one of our content partners, explores this exciting use case.
They create engaging VR games and activities that simulate everyday life, helping people with cognitive disabilities sharpen their skills through play rather than traditional therapy.
2. VR Social Spaces for the Isolated
Social isolation is a widespread issue — over 60% of adults in the US report feelings of loneliness. For people with disabilities or seniors, particularly those with limited mobility or in remote areas, this problem becomes much more difficult to manage.
VR creates immersive communities to address this challenge. These digital spaces allow users to:
- Chat with others
- Form friendships
- Participate in group activities
…all without leaving their homes.
VRTogether is one of the content developers making this a reality. Their virtual worlds include games, hot air balloon rides, and beach hangouts. Major organizations like Azalee Group and the University of Kentucky have already integrated these experiences.
While VR content is inherently accessible, it’s crucial to consider users with specific disabilities who may need additional support. For instance, visually impaired users might struggle to navigate the virtual environment.
To enhance accessibility in VR social spaces, consider implementing:
- Haptic feedback for visual impairments, allowing users to feel their surroundings
- Real-time captions and sign language avatars for those with hearing impairments
- Adaptive controllers and hands-free navigation for users with limited mobility
These features aren’t limited to social VR – they’re valuable across all VR experiences we’ll explore in this guide.
3. Accessible Education
Education is a fundamental right, yet it remains out of reach for many people with disabilities. VR is changing this landscape by creating immersive learning experiences accessible to all, regardless of physical or cognitive limitations.
With VR, students facing mobility challenges or chronic illnesses can now:
- Step into virtual classrooms
- Engage with lessons in real-time
- Interact with classmates
This technology bridges the gap between traditional education and those who can’t attend physical classes. We’ve seen amazing work from developers like BodySwaps, Corinth, and Futuclass in the VR education space.
Our XR directory serves as a valuable resource for finding education-approved, accessibility-conscious content developers. These creators can easily incorporate the accessibility features mentioned earlier into your educational content.
4. Workplace DEI (Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion) Training
Another important part of accessibility is helping people learn how to interact with people with disabilities, marginalized communities, and underrepresented groups. VR offers a unique solution — experiential learning.
VR immerses employees in first-person simulations, allowing them to:
- Navigate an office using a wheelchair
- Communicate in a meeting with a hearing impairment
- Experience workplace scenarios from different perspectives
These immersive experiences foster empathy and understanding, preparing employees for real-world interactions. VR also enables scenario-based training with virtual characters representing various groups. Employees can practice navigating complex social situations, honing their skills in a safe, controlled environment.
Kiin, one of our XR content developer partners, specializes in this area. They offer a range of DEI training modules covering:
- Discrimination
- Empathy
- Social behavior
Major organizations like BNP Paribas, Google, and Meta already utilize Kiin’s modules, demonstrating the growing recognition of VR’s potential in DEI training.
5. Assistive Navigation in Public Spaces
Assistive navigation is a very powerful accessibility use case of VR, yet it’s grossly underexplored.
For people with mobility or sensory impairments, getting around public transportation or busy areas can feel intimidating and stressful. But with VR, you can create simulations of places like airports, train stations, or city centers. This way, users can explore and get familiar with these environments before they actually visit them, building up their confidence.
You can even go a step further by including more complex scenarios, like practicing how to use elevators, find accessible entrances, or interact with staff. This gives people the chance to build the skills they need to navigate public spaces independently.
Bring Accessible VR Solutions to Life with ArborXR
There’s nothing better than a world where accessibility and inclusion are the norm, not the exception. The good news is that virtual Reality is bringing us a step closer to that reality. If you’re looking to bring any of these VR use cases to life, we’re here to help.
First, our XR solution specialists are ready to assist you from the ground up—whether it’s advising on the content you need or recommending the right devices for your project.
Speaking of devices, as you invest in VR, you’ll also want a solid VR MDM to manage them effectively—and that’s another place we come in. ArborXR offers a top-rated enterprise-level MDM that lets you:
- Deploy and manage your headsets remotely
- Install content and updates at scale
- Deliver both single and multi-app kiosk experiences
Curious to see ArborXR in action? Sign up for a 30-day free trial today.