Pilot Evaluation of an Embodied Virtual Reality–Based Training Program to Promote Autism Awareness and Inclusive Practices in Higher Education: A Pilot Study

Research on autism stigma – defined as the set of stereotypes, prejudices, and discriminatory behaviors toward autistic individuals – has received growing attention (Turnock et al., 2022). From an innovative perspective aimed at reducing stigma toward minorities (Tassinari et al., 2018), embodied virtual reality (EVR) could be more effective than less immersive interventions (Nikolaou et al., 2022) and has recently been evaluated as a successful tool for decreasing stigma toward autistic people (e.g., Koniou et al., 2023, Tsujita et al., 2023). However, its effects have been little examined in university settings, despite the fact that the development of academic training programs represents a major challenge for the inclusion of autistic students. Indeed, a lack of knowledge and resources among non-autistic students and university staff may contribute to the persistence of stigma (Gillespie-Lynch et al., 2021; McPeake et al., 2024). In this context, we conducted a pilot study to evaluate the impact of EVR on stigma and attitudes toward inclusive education among the university community. This pilot study represents a first step in a larger research initiative that will inform the design, hypotheses, and sample size calculations of a subsequent randomized controlled trial (RCT).