Bridging Realities: Co-creating Virtual Reality Scenarios to Support Autistic Adults in Job Interview Preparation

This paper presents a design-based, co-creative process undertaken as part of the BRIDGING project, which aimed to develop a Virtual Reality (VR) prototype to support autistic adults in preparing for job interviews. Grounded in design thinking and participatory design principles, the study engaged autistic co-creators, researchers, NGOs, employment specialists, and employers across iterative phases of empathising, defining, ideating, and prototyping. The process was informed by a realist review, steering group consultations, and ongoing user feedback, ensuring that the tool addressed real-world challenges related to communication, sensory needs, and interview anxiety. Key findings highlight the value of embedding autistic lived experience in the design process, the importance of customisability and structure in interview preparation, and the potential of VR as an inclusive, scalable practice environment. The paper outlines the co-creation approach, resulting design features, and implications for the future development of autistic employment interventions.