Embodied Labs partnered with Groove Jones to create a virtual reality training experience designed to foster empathy for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. At the heart of the experience is Kate, a central character whose story guides users through the emotional and sensory realities of autism in adulthood.
Rather than presenting autism as a clinical overview, the experience invites healthcare providers and caregivers to step directly into Kate’s perspective. Through immersive storytelling and carefully crafted visual effects, users do not simply observe Kate’s world. They embody it.
Centering Kate’s Story
Kate’s narrative unfolds through a series of meetings and real-world scenarios that reveal how autism shapes her sensory and emotional experiences. In group-style discussions, she reflects on moments that may seem ordinary to others but are overwhelming for her. These conversations ground the experience in authenticity and humanity.
One of the most powerful scenes takes place in a doctor’s office. What begins as a routine visit quickly escalates into sensory overload. To visualize what Kate describes, Groove Jones created a CGI sequence that represents her sensation of being pulled underwater.
From Kate’s point of view, the room distorts. Sound becomes muffled. Her vision narrows into tunnel focus. The physical metaphor of submersion communicates what words alone cannot: the panic, isolation, and loss of control that sensory overload can create
This visual treatment was carefully designed to remain respectful and grounded in lived experience, using cinematic visual effects to externalize what is internally felt.
Blending Live Action and Visual Effects
To bring Kate’s story to life, Groove Jones led a four-day live action production capturing performances that felt intimate and real. The script was developed with input from subject matter experts to ensure Kate’s experiences reflected authentic accounts of adults living with autism.
The production combined:
- 360-degree live action cinematography to place users directly in Kate’s physical space
- CGI visual effects to represent internal sensory experiences
- Spatial audio design to heighten realism and emotional impact
- Interactive transitions that maintain embodiment rather than passive viewing
The underwater sequence in particular required a seamless blend of practical footage and digital effects. Lighting, sound design, and environmental distortion were layered together to create a believable sensory shift without losing narrative clarity.
Embodiment as a Training Tool
Kate’s story demonstrates how autism affects perception, communication, and emotional regulation in everyday environments. By allowing users to experience those moments firsthand, the training moves beyond information delivery into emotional understanding.
When users feel the disorientation of tunnel vision, the pressure of muffled sound, or the intensity of overstimulation, they gain insight that traditional training cannot provide. Kate’s experience becomes a bridge between knowledge and empathy.
The ASD VR experience showcases how immersive technology can support meaningful storytelling. Through Kate’s journey, Embodied Labs and Groove Jones created more than a simulation. They created an opportunity for caregivers and healthcare professionals to better understand the lived reality of autism.
By focusing on one person’s perspective, the experience achieves something powerful: it transforms awareness into connection.
