UMO student Christian Spivey is shown using the virtual reality device as Professor Alves observes. The VR machine provides a simulation of what someone with autism experiences as a result of sensory overload. According to Dr. Alves the VR simulation is geared towards developing empathy for what exceptional needs students may experience. ‘Ultimately, this exercise allows our future educators to be able to interact better with special needs children.’
University of Mount Olive Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Kelly Alves has received a $500 mini-grant from the North Carolina Council for Exceptional Children. With the money obtained through this grant, Dr. Alves has purchased an Oculus Virtual Reality device. This device will be used to run autism simulations in Dr. Alves’s Introduction to Exceptional Children course.
Alves states, “The Virtual Reality based system will provide simulated experiences to help future educators build empathy for exceptional needs students.”
Alves was recently elected as the Vice President of the North Carolina Council for Exceptional Children. She will be sworn into this office at the NC CEC Conference in February.
The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University is sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.
