Alstom Foundation and Jô Clemente Institute Collaborate on Virtual Reality Initiative to Empower People with Intellectual Disabilities and ASD

The Alstom Foundation, in partnership with the Jô Clemente Institute (IJC), announces the inauguration of the space dedicated to the “Virtual Reality for Inclusion” project.

This initiative uses virtual reality to simulate real environments and offer practical training for people with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The project aims to help participants develop essential skills so they can navigate their communities and use public transport with confidence and autonomy.

Developed with the technical support of the Interdisciplinary Center for Interactive Technologies of the University of São Paulo (LSI-TEC-USP), the new training space is at the headquarters of the Jô Clemente Institute (IJC), located in Vila Clementino, in São Paulo.  The space will be used to complement the classes and activities already being provided by the Institute.

"The opening of this space is an important milestone in our mission to promote inclusion and mobility. We are proud to be part of this initiative which, in addition to fulfilling this purpose, is also aligned with Alstom's values," highlights Ana Caiasso, Alstom's Director of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility for Latin America.

Participants will have the opportunity to practice and gain more confidence in using public transport through various simulations. This includes everything from familiarizing themselves with the different train routes to practicing boarding and alighting the vehicle. To complement the mobility training, the project offers visual instructions which, combined with visual and auditory communication tools, make it easier for participants to interact and understand the content.

"We are very pleased with the opening of this space. It represents a significant step towards our goal of training the people we serve through the Professional Inclusion service. This will prepare 900 people to move around the city safely and comfortably," says Daniela Mendes, General Superintendent of the Jô Clemente Institute (IJC).

According to estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 70 million people with autism in the world and, in Brazil, it is believed that 2 million people have some degree of autism. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health indicates that approximately 13 million Brazilians live with rare diseases. More than 2.6 million Brazilians – around 1.4% of the country's population – declared to have some type of Intellectual Disability. These conditions have a significant social impact, highlighting the importance of initiatives that aim to include and support these people in society.

Source: Alstom Press Releases