Head-Mounted Display-Based Virtual Reality as a Tool to Teach Money Skills to Adolescents Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

In this paper, we present a study conducted to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) for teaching money skills to adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Through a user-centered design, in collaboration with teachers at a special school for adolescents with mental disorders, a VR money skills training application was developed. A pre- and post-VR training evaluation was conducted on five students diagnosed with ASD using real coins and bills. The data triangulated with observations during the VR training sessions illustrates some potentials and benefits in using VR as a mean to teach money skills to adolescents diagnosed with ASD.