The Extended Reality for Autistic Drivers (XRAD) research project aims to help autistic people overcome some of the barriers and challenges faced when driving a car. It will focus on building new support tools, using technologies like Virtual Reality (VR). This study is led by University of Exeter, with support from University of Bath, Nottingham Trent University, University of Nottingham, and the National Autistic Society. Autistic people will play an important role in helping design the tools, giving advice, and making key decisions with the team.
The National Autistic Society are now recruiting a ‘co-design team’ of autistic people who are willing to help the researchers come up with ideas for our new VR support tool. The activity is open to people aged 18+ who are eligible to drive or could learn to drive in the UK. We are asking people to complete at least 1 virtual or in-person workshop (and some feedback surveys), which will take place between June 2025 and April 2026. For those that want to do more than this, there will be opportunities to attend additional workshops and one-to-one interviews.
This sign-up form will take 5-10 minutes to complete and will give you the opportunity to be considered for the ‘co-design team’. We are looking to represent a range of driving experiences within the group - from experienced drivers to people who have not yet passed their driving test (or ever driven a car). All views are useful, whether you enjoy driving, see it only as a necessity, or dislike driving/learning to drive. We are also looking to recruit a diverse panel including typically underrepresented autistic people.
Completing this form is voluntary and your details will not be shared. If you have any questions or would prefer to complete this form with help over a Teams/phone call or in another way, please email anoushka.pattenden@nas.org.uk with the subject line ‘XRAD Co-design Team’.