Panagiotis Rekoutis, Kaitlin Olivieri, Alexa Rosen, Jordyne Goodman, Alison Goldstein Lomazow, Karlee Miller, Kevin Flynn, Alan Kinsella and Charles Raynolds

This team’s innovative teaching idea, “Virtual Reality Programming for Students with Autism Spectrum Diagnosis (ASD),” focuses on how challenges in communication, cognition and safety awareness diminish the ability of individuals with Autism to interact with their surrounding environment. Time constraints and other challenges have limited the ability of local first responders and law enforcement to arrange education sessions for community residents. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing social distancing and safety guidelines have also limited community-based learning. Virtual Reality technology is an alternative educational programming option that allows for structured coaching experiences within the classroom and provides additional teaching opportunities when community-based learning is not an option. The Voya grant will help the team purchase the new technology that brings community interactions, exchanges with first responders and law enforcement personnel, and community navigation into the classroom in a user-friendly format.