THE CHALLENGE

Autistic youth face significant barriers when navigating real-world social interactions, particularly in complex environments like restaurants. Traditional social skills training lacks realistic context and often increases anxiety rather than building confidence. The need existed for a safe, judgment-free environment where autistic individuals could practice social encounters at their own pace.

THE INNOVATION

VERSE 1 (Virtual Environment for Realistic Simulated Experiences) created an immersive virtual restaurant environment specifically designed for autistic youth to practice social interactions. This project represented groundbreaking work in combining virtual reality technology with autism-focused inclusive design principles.

MY ROLE & CONTRIBUTIONS

As Instructional Designer, I coordinated under the supervision of my advisor the educational strategy and managed complex stakeholder relationships. My responsibilities included designing user-centered learning experiences for specialized population needs, coordinating collaboration between autism specialists and restaurant partners, and facilitating iterative design improvements based on authentic user feedback.

PROJECT CONTEXT

This research initiative was developed my Lab and owned by the University of Florida College of Education as part of their broader commitment to innovative autism support research and community-partnered academic work.

COMPLEX PARTNERSHIP ORCHESTRATION

Multi-Stakeholder Coordination Challenge

Project required alignment across diverse organizations with different priorities:

• University of Florida College of Education-ELTL (research objectives)

• Local autism support institution (community advocacy and expertise)

• Parent/caregiver groups (practical application concerns)

• Piesanos Restaurant (business operations and authenticity)

• Technology development team (technical implementation)

Strategic Communication Management

Developed systematic communication framework to manage competing interests:

• Individual stakeholder meetings to understand underlying concerns

• Shared project documentation for transparent decision-making

• Regular progress updates tailored to each stakeholder group's priorities

• Conflict resolution protocols for design disagreements

• Change management process for scope adjustments

Partnership Development Approach

Restaurant Partner Acquisition:

• Leveraged professional and personal networks to identify potential partners

• Developed business case demonstrating community value and minimal disruption

• Negotiated filming agreements and location access protocols

• Maintained ongoing relationship through multiple design iterations

Community Engagement Strategy:

• Positioned parents and autistic youth as co-designers rather than research subjects

• Facilitated authentic community input throughout development process

• Ensured autism specialist expertise guided design decisions while respecting lived experience

DESIGN TRANSFORMATION

Before: Overwhelming sensory environment preventing learning focus

After: 90+% user satisfaction with accessible, supportive experience

STAKEHOLDER SUCCESS

• Secured restaurant partnership through network leveraging

• Aligned competing priorities across 5 different stakeholder groups

• Managed complete design pivot based on user feedback

• Maintained community partnership through multiple iterations

EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN

• Initial approach failed user testing due to sensory overwhelm

• Led complete redesign prioritizing accessibility over realism

• Implemented simplified visuals, controlled audio, slower pacing

• Created multiple practice pathways for different learning styles

INCLUSIVE METHODOLOGY

• Positioned autistic community as co-designers, not subjects

• Integrated specialist expertise with lived experience

• Built scaffolded skill progression respecting individual pace

• Validated design through authentic user testing

• Complex stakeholder coordination and conflict resolution

• Accessibility-first instructional design

• Virtual reality educational applications

• Specialized population learning design

• Evidence-based iterative improvement

• Community-partnered research collaboration

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION

Institutional Context

VERSE 1 represents the Emerging Technologies Research Lab (ETRL)'s commitment to innovative, community-partnered research addressing real needs of autistic individuals and their families.

My Contribution to the Research Initiative

Within this institutional framework, I contributed instructional design expertise, stakeholder coordination under the supervision of my Advisor (Nigel Newbutt), and user-centered design methodology that enabled the project's successful completion and community impact.