Autistic Children's Emotional Engagement in a Virtual Flight Environment

This study explores how virtual reality (VR) can help children with autism better manage the emotional challenges of air travel. Five children on the autism spectrum participated in an immersive VR flight simulation designed to mimic the real experience of flying. Emotional responses were observed before, during, and after the session, and insights were gathered through detailed interviews and structured observations involving both the children and their families. The results highlight VR's potential as a powerful tool for experiential learning, helping children feel more at ease and emotionally prepared for travel-related stress. While the simulation offered a realistic aviation experience, the findings point to a need for more varied and complex scenarios to fully prepare children for the unpredictability of real-life events. Overall, this research supports the growing role of VR as a supportive technology for autistic children, helping them build emotional readiness and confidence in facing real-world situations like flying.