Autistic adults build virtual reality tool to help peers navigate medical visits

The nonPareil Institute in Plano, Texas, hired autistic adults as part-time employees to develop Appointment Mentor VR, a virtual reality tool designed to help people on the autism spectrum practice navigating medical appointments.

Mark Theurer, the director of operations at the nonprofit, oversaw the project from its initial concept to its public release. The program provided students with the opportunity to apply classroom-learned technical skills to a professional production environment with real deadlines and users.

The project aimed to create a safe, repeatable digital space where users can practice various steps of a medical visit, such as checking in with a receptionist or answering a nurse's questions. By working on a real-world product, the students gained experience in troubleshooting, quality assurance, and collaboration. They moved beyond simulated assignments to face the consequences of professional work, where their contributions directly affected the team's ability to move forward.

The nonPareil Institute released the final software on Steam, a digital distribution platform, on August 18, 2025. The project was supported by a 2024 Community Grant from the Organization for Autism Research. While the software serves as a resource for the community, the organization emphasizes that the primary success of the initiative was providing autistic adults with paid, authentic work experience.