Design of an In-Class Virtual Calm Down Space for Neurodiverse Students

Infia Studios has developed virtual reality (VR) “calm down spaces” for use in school classrooms. While aimed at helping students on the Autism Spectrum, the calming effects are available for all students. Developed as a SmartPhone app called “Serenity,” the concept is to provide a better calming experience (vs a physical calm down space) for a distressed student while helping minimize disruption to learning. The data presented here is from a “proof of concept” demonstration study conducted at a local elementary school with 15 participants aged 9–11 years old. Each student experienced the Serenity VR app using a VR headset for three minutes, then was asked a brief series of questions. Without fail, all students reported a positive experience and a calming effect from the digital environments.