Virtual Reality and Life Skills: A Systematic Review of the Literature for Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The acquisition of life skills is important for the independence and quality of life of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Educators both have increasingly used technology as a tool to teach life skills to students with IDD and examined various technology-based interventions to support the learning of life skills. Yet, the classification of technology tools as evidence-based practices for teaching life skills to students with IDD continues. This systematic review examined the state of the literature as well as research quality of studies examining VR as a tool for non-social/communication life skills teaching for students with IDD. Relevant articles published between 2010 to June 2025 were screened and evaluated using quality indicators and standards from the Council for Exceptional Children. Of the 10 articles meeting inclusion criteria, researchers determined three methodologically sound single-case studies and one methodologically sound group study. Together, these four studies suggest VR as a potential evidence-based practice for teaching life skills to students with IDD.