We are very pleased to be supporting a new research project led by the University of Exeter. The aim of the work is to develop new extended reality (XR) support tools for autistic people that can help overcome some of the barriers and difficulties faced when driving a car. This includes people who have not yet passed their tests, plus those who drive but perhaps lack confidence.  
 

Why is this important? 

We know that autistic people can find public transport inaccessible, as highlighted in our Empowering Autistic Travel project. For some people, driving a car can make for a more comfortable and predictable journey. But, research suggests autistic people can often experience wide-ranging challenges on the road, and that they are less likely to get a driving license. This impacts independence, and creates additional barriers to things that are often already challenging, such as accessing employment or education, healthcare appointments, or leisure activities.
 

Who is doing the research? 

The XRAD project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, is led by Dr Tom Arthur from University of Exeter, with collaboration from various organisations including the Centre for Applied Autism Research and the National Autistic Society’s Evidence and Research team. Through the National Autistic Society, the team have already established a project steering group of eight  fantastic autistic individuals and are now beginning to form a larger ‘co-design team’ who will help tech developers build a new XR tool. We are a few months into the project, and the steering group have already come together on multiple occasions to discuss and make important decisions around the research. The steering group represents differing levels of driving experience and ability, some with a particular interest in the application of XR technology.   

Dr Tom Arthur, XRAD Research Lead said: “We are delighted to be working alongside the National Autistic Society to develop more inclusive driving support solutions. The project will rely on ideas and insight from lots of autistic people, who are helping us decide what tools we build and how our studies are designed. If we can combine these ‘co-design’ elements with some of the latest innovations in science and technology, then there could be lots of exciting opportunities to explore and some key barriers to overcome.” 

Anoushka Pattenden, Research Partnerships and Participation Manager at the National Autistic Society, said: “We know autistic people are more likely to experience social isolation, and face everyday inequalities. This study aligns with our Moonshot Vision in creating a society that works for autistic people, aiming to remove barriers to a tool that so many people rely on every day and take for granted, which is challenging to many autistic people. We are happy to be involved in the project and to support a great example of participatory research.”
 

How can I get involved? 

The project is at an early stage, but we will soon be recruiting for some online and in-person workshop activities that will take place over the summer. All of these activities will be quite relaxed and informal – we would just like to hear about people’s experiences, ideas, and opinions before we build new XR tools. If you are interested in hearing more, you can contact Dr Tom Arthur via email: T.T.Arthur@exeter.ac.uk
 

Further information:

• Find out more about the project on the University of Exeter website
• Find out about the University of Bath’s Centre for Applied Autism Research
• Find out more about our research work
• ​​​​​​​Read more about our Empowering Autistic Travel project.