Virtual reality at workplace for autistic employees: Preliminary results of physiological-based well-being experience

Emotional health problems in the workplace often hinder the integration and retention of autistic employees (AE), a challenge identified in many sectors. Recent literature highlights the consequences of these problems, such as burnout leading to reduced productivity and resignation. Previous research supports the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) for training a variety of specific skills (e.g. riding a bus or plane travel), as well as more complex social skills, such as emotion recognition and functional communication. In addition, existing studies on using physiological self-monitoring in AE training offer a promising approach to promoting improved emotional health. The present paper reports on implementing a VR system that simulates workplace training and integration and enables real-time monitoring of three physiological signals, in five post-secondary autistic students. Using an Oculus Quest 2 and non-clinical grade sensors, the researchers delivered the VR intervention over three days to each participant. At the end of these interventions, the researchers measured the perceived satisfaction of these integrated systems, based on several technological criteria, on a 5-point scale. The integrated system received an overall rating of 4, suggesting its likelihood of acceptance and use. A preliminary analysis of a participant’s physiological responses to this VR intervention is also presented. This preliminary report suggests the efficacy of a VR workplace simulation and physiological self-monitoring in promoting emotional well-being and basic task training for post-secondary AE. The researchers’ observations and the proposal of a theoretical framework to enhance real-time emotional communication based on physiological markers for AE are also discussed.