Research

Commentary on “Collective effort to enhance the quality of research evidence in intellectual and developmental disabilities: a case study of an academic-practice network”.
Michael Cameron, Jenifer Shahin, Nicole Lockerman (2024)
Tizard Learning Disability Review.

Guest editorial: Generating evidence to improve quality of life and other outcomes for children and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
Athanasios Vostanis (2024)
Tizard Learning Disability Review.

SocialWise VR consumer insights trial: Understanding user engagement and social interaction [Unpublished consumer data study].
Kubina, R., Lockerman, N., & Shahin, J. (2025)
The University School, Pittsburgh, PA.

Perceived effectiveness of SocialWise VR: Enhancing social skills in young adults with autism spectrum disorder [Poster presentation].
An Initial Review of SocialWise VR (SWVR) Social Skills Program, PennWest Edinboro BASIS. Program 20224
Lloreda, S. & Adam Glass (2025, September).
College Autism Network Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

Upcoming Trials

SWVR Lab Day at The University School (October 2025): Students will practice real-world social scenarios in a safe environment. Each experience will include guided reflection sessions to enhance self-awareness. The day will end with strategies for transferring these skills into everyday interactions, fostering meaningful social growth.

Brodkin Lab. (2025). Incorporating self-advocacy and empowerment into small group therapy for adults on the autism spectrum: A pilot study [Unpublished clinical trial]. UPENN, SocialWise VR Trial.

Partnerships

Carnegie Mellon University
CMU and SWVR created an inclusive, VR onboarding experience for neurodivergent users. The project developed a user-friendly orientation course with customizable accessibility features to enhance comfort with VR hardware and SocialWise VR's platform. Empowering users to address their accessibility needs, the initiative seeks to reduce anxiety, improve familiarity, and promote autonomy in learning social skills.

PAS4A1 Workforce
SocialWise VR was invited to participate in the National Science Foundation’s Prime Award initiative for the research project “Beginnings: Preparing Autistic Students for the AI Workforce,” joining a select group of companies.

Milestones

Release of SWVR Diversified Curriculum for Speech Therapists and Occupational Therapists
SWVR developed a curriculum that aligns with occupational and speech therapy goals, enabling SWVR to enter new markets for neurodivergent adolescents and young adults.

SWVR Certification
The certification equips therapists with the skills to integrate SWVR into their practice, enhancing care quality for neurodiverse individuals and establishing SWVR as a leader in virtual reality interventions.