Virtual Reality Intervention for Incoming College Students with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities: Exploring Behaviors and Intentions of Administrative Support Staff

Abstract

With over 300 inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs that serve college students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), as well as a nine-and-a-half percent increase in prevalence of IDD among children in the U.S. between 2009-2017, the number of college students with IDD who have unique needs when entering into a college environment will continue to grow. Participatory research with college students with IDD identified a variety of health and wellness needs and produced several prototype ideas that involved technological and computer-based interventions, like virtual reality (VR), to assist in solving these health and wellness related problems. A recent systematic literature review revealed that VR can be used with individuals with IDD to increase skills, is motivational, and is suitable and accessible. Although VR has not yet been established as a recreational therapy (RT) evidence-based practice with individuals with IDD, recent research has suggested that IPSE program administrators support the need for hiring CTRSs within IPSE programs to provide RT services to college students with IDD. To explore feasibility of testing and implementing a VR RT intervention for incoming college students with IDD to increase skills that contribute to readiness for college, an exploratory quantitative research design using the Theory of Planned Behavior was used to survey administrative staff within IPSE programs and campus offices of disability support across the U.S. Results revealed positive behaviors and intentions of administrative staff in regard to adoption and implementation of a VR RT intervention. Results also revealed several implications for the therapeutic recreation profession, as well as need for future research that engages college students with IDD as co-researchers to assist in developing, implementing, and testing feasibility and efficacy of a VR RT intervention.