Using virtual reality to implement disability studies’ advocacy principles

Uncovering the perspectives of people with disability

Bibliographic Data

ID12312157
AuthorsZixi Jiang (0000-0002-0057-0949, UNSW Sydney, corresponding author), A Meltzer (0000-0002-8738-0469, UNSW Sydney), Xinyue Zhang (0009-0009-4555-8650, UNSW Sydney)
Year2023
Volume39
Issue6
Pages1592-1612
Publication date2023-01-10
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDisability & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-7599 • E-ISSN: 1360-0508
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09687599.2022.2150601
OpenAlexW4319838676
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited45

One central aim of disability studies is to shift understandings of disability, such that disability comes to be understood as about the social disadvantage/oppression that people face when society does not cater to impairment of body/mind. Nevertheless, there remains a need for more practical tools for disability advocacy, through which to transmit disability studies’ ideas of disability to the general community. Drawing on a qualitative study of the perspectives of 23 people with physical and sensory impairments, this paper proposes virtual reality as an advocacy tool to communicate the principles and beliefs of disability studies. The findings highlight that, due to the nature of the technology, participants feel virtual reality has clear potential as a disability advocacy tool that can facilitate empathy, perspective-taking and positive social change, with a particular focus on how it is the environmental barriers and social attitudes around people that disables them.Points of interestMore practical advocacy or informal education tools are needed that align with the principles of disability studies.This research conducted in-depth interviews with 23 people with physical and sensory impairments.The research finds that virtual reality has clear potential as a disability advocacy tool.The participants reported that virtual reality can facilitate empathy, perspective-taking and positive social change.The research finds that virtual reality focuses on how environmental barriers and social attitudes around people with disability disable them, rather than focusing on impairment experiences

Ableism · Disability studies · Disabled people · Human–computer interaction · Intellectual disability · Psychiatry · Sociology · Virtual reality · Applied Psychology · Computer Science · Gender Studies · Psychology · Simulation-Based Education in Healthcare · Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation · Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts

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