Branching Realities: Education and Humanities Students Co-Create VR App Exploring the Neurodiverse Student Experience

A virtual reality (VR) app is being developed at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, with the aim of transforming understanding of the neurodiverse student experience. 

Branching Realities, co-created with students from the Schools of Education and Humanities, places users directly into a “day in the life” of a neurodiverse student, providing a unique opportunity to see the world through a different perspective.

Still in development, the app uses immersive storytelling to highlight the everyday challenges and strengths faced by neurodiverse learners. From navigating around the campus to engaging managing sensory experiences in busy spaces, the app encourages users to consider how university life can feel very different for students who identify as neurodiverse.

By working in partnership with students, academics and Student Services, the project ensures that lived experiences remain central to its design. Students are contributing their insights and feedback at every stage, helping to shape authentic scenarios that can inform teaching practice, enhance empathy among peers and encourage more inclusive learning environments.

Laura Hutchings, Digital Champion for Education and Humanities at UWTSD, said:

“This project is about giving a voice to our students and ensuring those voices are heard. This digital project is an opportunity to build understanding in a way that words alone often can’t achieve. By stepping into this virtual experience, staff and students alike can gain a deeper appreciation of what it means to be a neurodiverse student at university.”

The project is designed in collaboration with UWTSD’s Digital Engagement & Experience (DEE) team, who are bringing their expertise in immersive technology to make the vision a reality.

Glyn Jenkins, DE&E Manager at UWTSD, added:

“Technology can facilitate new perspectives and accessibility. Branching Realities aims to use immersive experiences to support empathy and inclusivity within the university. By collaborating with students from Education and Humanities, this initiative is positioned as a student-influenced digital project.

Once complete, the app will be used in teaching, staff training and wider community engagement activities. It will serve as a valuable tool for professional development, providing staff with practical insights into supporting neurodiverse learners, while also sparking wider conversations about inclusivity and wellbeing.

Through this pioneering collaboration, UWTSD is positioning itself at the forefront of using digital technology to strengthen empathy, awareness and inclusivity within higher education.

Further Information

Arwel Lloyd

Principal PR and Communications Officer    
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email:  arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: 07384 467076