Bridging the Gap: Virtual Reality as a Tool for De-escalation Training in Disability Support Settings

Managing complex behaviors in disability support settings requires competent de-escalation skills. However, current training methods often lack sufficient opportunities for realistic practice. This study details a three-phase development and evaluation of a virtual reality (VR) application for disability support staff to safely build de-escalation skills through simulated interactions. The first phase involved creating VR prototype scenarios depicting escalations with teen clients. Next, content validation by 12 disability-support experts refined the scenarios to confirm appropriateness and realism. Finally, a pilot study tested the tool’s usability and examined initial construct validity in 20 participants. The prototype achieved high usability ratings (average 81.0 (SD 10.7) on the System Usability Scale), and a positive correlation between VR performance and empathy levels were found (Pearson’s r = 0.487, p = 0.035). The promising results highlight the VR application’s potential as a transformative training tool. Future research should expand scenario diversity and compare VR with traditional methods to establish its efficacy in diverse settings and offer a path to enhance staff capabilities in challenging environments.