Practise travel skills before the real journey
Virtual Public Transport helps neurodivergent people practise the actions and decisions involved in using public transport.
Learners interact with situations in VR while a teacher, travel trainer or support professional guides the learning process. Our current implementation focus is the Netherlands.
Explore how guided practice could fit your organisation.
Active practice, not just watching
Learners can practise planning a journey, using travel information, making choices and asking for help. Situations can be repeated and discussed without the pressure of a real journey.
The interactive environment supports practice in taking action. Looking around a scene and practising a skill are different experiences.
Who is it for?
The module is designed for neurodivergent people who need support with travel skills. Teachers and support professionals consider each learner’s goals, comfort with a headset and the sensory demands of the experience.
Suitability and progress are assessed individually. VR does not replace professional judgement or real-world travel practice.
Part of a supported learning process
• Choose a practical learning goal together.
• Practise a relevant situation in VR, with guidance as needed.
• Discuss what happened and repeat where helpful.
• Connect the practice to a real journey with appropriate support.
Progress depends on the learner, their goals and the support available.
From the classroom to everyday life
The module brings familiar public transport situations together in a compact, fictional practice environment. It is not a digital copy of a learner’s personal route.
Teachers and trainers help learners apply the underlying skills to their own journeys. Schools and support organisations can explore direct use, while public authorities can bring multiple organisations together through a regional approach.
Experiences from practice in the Netherlands
"Reizen met het Openbaar Vervoer heeft mij de vrijheid gegeven die ik nu heb."
Oud leerling - Spinaker Alkmaar
"Juf, als ik dit leer, kan ik later zelf met de trein naar mijn werk en hoef ik niet meer met het busje."
Leerling - De Kameleon Roosendaal
"Virtual OV is een echte gamechanger voor onze leerlingen."
Marloes Heidekamp - Kranenburg Praktijkonderwijs
"Wat Virtual OV zo effectief maakt, is de 'fun factor'. Als onze jongeren iets leuk vinden, dan gaat hun responsbrein Aan."
Dmitri Hazes – Kop-Zorg Alkmaar
What can learners practise?
Planning a journey
Recognise journey steps, departure times, stops and connections.
Choosing the right bus or train
Read route numbers, directions and information displays and check the journey choice.
Responding to changes
Explore what to do when plans change, look for alternatives and ask for help.
Asking for help
Practise a question for transport staff and navigate social situations during a journey.
Organisations we work with
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Hardware and international use
Virtual Public Transport uses OpenXR and is designed for suitable interactive 6DoF VR headsets. Compatibility needs to be checked for your intended headset and setup.
For international use, language, ticketing and local transport practices may need adaptation. Contact us to discuss suitability and availability.
