Beyond the Screen: Reframing Virtual Reality as an Accessibility Technology for Autistic Individuals Through the Social Model of Disability

Virtual Reality (VR) has been increasingly highlighted as a promising therapeutic tool for autistic individuals, with meta-analyses indicating significant benefits in social and emotional aspects. However, a substantial portion of this research has been conducted within a medical model of deficit correction, focused primarily on standardizing and normalizing autistic behavior. This article proposes a profound shift in this perspective, viewing VR as an environmental accessibility technology grounded in the Social Model of Disability. Supported by the principles of neurodiversity, we argue that the true utility of VR lies in reducing the barriers that generate disability, not in correcting neurological differences. A critical analysis of the safety literature examined here suggests that certain adverse effects appear to be overlooked or underreported in a substantial proportion of the studies reviewed. Symptoms such as cybersickness, sensory overload, anxiety, and post-session fatigue pose real and immediate risks when considering the sensory processing profiles of autistic individuals. Thus, to foster more ethical and sustainable practices, we propose four interconnected priorities: systematic safety research, participatory co-design led by the community itself, implementation science in real-world contexts, and outcome metrics that genuinely affirm neurodiversity. By redefining what constitutes success in an intervention, prioritizing environmental fit, autonomy, and quality of life over behavioral conformity, this shift aligns the development of immersive technologies with the lived experiences of the autistic community. In doing so, it transforms VR from a corrective mechanism into a tool for affirmation and ecological adaptation.