New Flight Simulator Event Helps Children with Autism Overcome Airport Stress

Helping adolescents transition into adulthood is a part of every parent’s job, regardless of whether or not the child has autism. Becoming a licensed driver is not just an important goal for adolescents; it is also an essential part of being a functioning adult in most parts of the country. Parents from all families often fear this transition. Driving is dangerous, and kids can be reckless. Parents of children with autism have even more concerns.

In 2016, Vanderbilt University Medical Center started collaborating with Vanderbilt University Kennedy Center to build a virtual reality driving simulator for children with ASD. This simulator not only teaches children how to drive and what the laws are, but also allows them to test out different driving situations. The technology records how the adolescents react to these situations and then alters the difficulty of the scenario accordingly. This allows them to practice before hitting the road, and it also helps parents breathe a little easier in the process.