Virtual reality (VR) is changing the way we learn and work in our high-tech economy. It has many applications across different fields and levels of learning. But what about the intersection of disability and employment? How can VR help people with disabilities to develop their skills and confidence for the workplace? 

That’s where WorkSimsVR comes in. WorkSimsVR is an Innovation Project that brings VR training into CCRW. It offers interactive and immersive learning experiences for our clients. In this blog post, we’ll tell you more about WorkSimsVR, how it works, what are the benefits, and what’s next. 

What is WorkSimsVR? 

WorkSimsVR is a pilot project at CCRW that launched in December 2023. It aims to engage our clients in VR learning opportunities to increase their competence and confidence in areas such as job interview skills, workplace communication, and networking. Our pilot also aims to understand the needs, gaps, and opportunities that exist to create customized employment-upskilling scenarios in VR that are accessible and relate to disability and employment. 

WorkSimsVR is available at all our main hub locations – St. John’s, NL; Halifax, NS; Moncton, NB; Ottawa, ON; Toronto, ON; Winnipeg, MB; Moose Jaw, SK; and Vancouver, BC. We plan to expand our VR offerings to include skills such as mental wellbeing, technical skills training, career enhancement, and beyond. The VR world is constantly evolving, and we are always looking for new and exciting experiences to implement with our clients. 

How does WorkSimsVR work? 

WorkSimsVR works in tandem with our expert Employment Coaches, our rich Career Management Portal, our vast eLearning, and our cumulative expertise on disability and work. It enhances our service offerings and provides us another avenue to coach, train, and nourish skill-building in fun, interactive, and immersive ways. 

To access WorkSimsVR, you need to visit one of our hub locations and book a session with one of our staff. You will be provided with a VR headset and controllers, and guided through the VR experience of your choice. You will be able to interact with the VR environment and practice your skills in a safe, accessible, and realistic setting. You will also receive feedback and support from our staff throughout the process. 

What are the benefits of WorkSimsVR? 

WorkSimsVR has many benefits for our clients, such as: 

• It allows you to practice your skills in a realistic and relevant scenario, without the risk or pressure of a real situation. 
• It helps you build your self-efficacy and confidence around skills like job interviews, speaking to employers, self-advocacy, and presenting. 
• It gives you the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and improve your performance in a supportive and constructive environment. 
• It makes learning fun, engaging, and motivating, as you can choose from a range of VR experiences that suit your interests, career aspirations, and abilities. 
• It prepares you for the future of work, as VR is becoming more common and popular in various industries and sectors. 

What’s next? 

We are planning to develop custom scenarios that simulate the experience of asking an employer for an accommodation or disclosing a disability in various stages of the employment journey. Throughout this pilot we’ll also be collecting data from learners so we can report on the benefits and lessons learned from using VR. 

WorkSimsVR is an exciting and innovative project that we are proud to be part of. We believe that VR can transform the way we train people with disabilities and help them achieve their career goals. We invite you to join us in this journey and discover the power of VR for yourself. We look forward to hearing from you soon!  

We want to thank the Government of Canada for funding a portion of this project.