By Jess Baker
With mere weeks between now and graduation, a group of Warwick State High School students are preparing for the ‘real world’ in an unconventional way.
The school’s special education program has recently received a Virtual Reality simulator from disability service provider Endeavour Foundation, and is using it to develop driving skills and confidence in students.
Four students in their final year at Warwick State High School showcased their new VR learning hub – including a computer, VR headset, and VR driving kit complete with a steering wheel and pedals – on Thursday 9 September.
Riley, 17, said the program had helped him immensely in gaining confidence and proficiency on the roads.
“It’s really helped me learn how to drive, use the indicators, select the gears, accelerate, brake and use the clutch,” he said.
“It’s made me a lot more confident behind the wheel.“
Now, with a learner’s permit and a part-time job he’d like to drive to, Riley is more determined than ever to hone his driving skills.
Head of Special Education at Warwick State High School Kathy Maudsley said the school was proud to be able to help him on that journey.
“In a rural town like Warwick, public transport isn’t readily available and driving is a necessary skill many of our students want to achieve,” she said.
“The program is an important addition to our classroom and has helped students practice driving and gain confidence on the road, and further develop their independence.”
Member for Southern Downs James Lister, who attended the program launch on Thursday, said the initiative would open plenty of doors for the Warwick students.
“When you talk about Virtual Reality and training for driving, that is a fantastic thing because a lot of young people find difficulty in meeting the expenses of driver training,” he said.
“And if you haven’t got a driver’s licence it really narrows down your employment opportunities.
“So anything that can be done to help youngsters become more proficient, and more confident, and want to pursue driving, that’s great.”
Speaking on behalf of Endeavour Foundation, David Blower said the unveiling of the school’s new VR hub was symbolic of the organisation’s commitment to bettering the lives of people with an intellectual disability into the future.
“Our message is very clear: that people with an intellectual disability deserve the same rights, same access, same education, (and) same life skills as everybody else in the community,” he said.
“Getting ready for life after school can sometimes be daunting, but this is where the Virtual Reality helps make that transition a little bit easier.
“You can learn things in a safe, controlled environment before you actually have to go out into the real world …”
Endeavour Foundation’s VR tools, whilst designed for people with learning disabilities, are usable by anyone, and have been integrated into various classes at Warwick State High School.
As well as driving skills, the program – funded in partnership with Arrow Energy and a grant from the Gladys Myrtle Brown Charitable Trust – can be used to develop warehousing, travel safety, and general life skills.
