3rd project Newsletter
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2 good news about the VIRTUS project!
As the VIRTUS project continues to make strides, the project consortium met at ARCIL headquarters, in Lousa, Portugal to discuss the project’s progress and plan its future activities!
But wait, what is the VIRTUS project again? VIRTUS is a 2-year project founded by the Erasmus+ programme which aims to address the challenges faced by autistic individuals in their transition into the labour market. By developing an innovative vocational training programme integrating Virtual Reality (VR) technology, the project seeks to provide autistic individuals with the necessary skills to secure and maintain meaningful employment.
The first excellent news is that Omega, the partner organisation responsible for developing the VR scenarios accompanying the training programme, has successfully finalised its task. Three different scenarios have been developed to support autistic people to acquire the most important skills to be able to work in a specific profession (Barista, office clerk, kitchen assistant).
But how does a VR scenario work? Users wear VR headsets, transporting themselves to the respective professional environment, such as a coffee shop, office, or kitchen. The app offers two modes: the training mode, which provides users with instructions to follow, and the free (or assessment) mode, where users perform tasks without explicit guidance (e.g., preparing an espresso). To foster the needs of autistic individuals, Omega incorporated clear instructions and even provided options to adjust the app's audio, considering the sensory sensitivities of autistic people.
In the next phase of the project, autistic people, along with their trainers, will test and assess the scenarios, allowing for adjustments and improvements as needed. Stay tuned for more updates!
The second piece of good news is that the meeting in Lousa provided the perfect opportunity for the VIRTUS consortium to visit ARCIL's vocational training center. On that occasion, project partners had the chance to see firsthand the impressive job carried out by the portuguese organisaton in supporting individuals with different types of disabilities in their integration into the mainstream workforce. Their vocational training program accommodates a diverse group of trainees with disabilities and focuses on developing vocational skills in various areas. This centre is an example of promoting inclusion for people with disabilities, where, throughout their journey towards employment, trainees can benefit from the expertise of highly motivated and experienced staff who help them explore their full potential.
Many more achievements to come in the coming months for the Virtus project.