Supporting the Speech Disabilities and Differences Community Using VR

There are over 234 million people worldwide with a speech disability or difference — Gareth is one of them.

For a person with a speech disability or difference, just getting what they need in everyday interactions can be stressful, which intensifies when the stakes are raised during job interviews, presentations, public speaking, and other activities. As a result, some people with a speech disability or difference may avoid conversations and relationships and risk being denied jobs because of a difference in how they speak. A big factor for this avoidance is due to a listener's response to their speech which can create negative thoughts and decreases their comfort zone.

Gareth and withVR aim to bridge this gap by using virtual reality, providing a space for people with speech disabilities or differences to practice fully customizable speaking situations, change them in real-time, and challenge themselves to increase their comfort zone and better prepare for those real-life speaking situations.

In this talk, Gareth will highlight:

• What it's like to have a stutter in such a judgmental world
• The research using VR for speech disabilities or differences
• The benefits VR can bring to people like him
• Showcase what withVR does
• Present a live demo of withVR's solution for speech therapists and researchers

PRESENTER BIO
Gareth Walkom has had a stutter since the age of six, which has given him many ups and downs throughout his life where he has found it difficult to use his voice, come out of his comfort zone, and say exactly what he wants to say.

Since 2015, he has researched how virtual reality can be used to benefit people just like him. His research focused on developing an innovative virtual reality application to observe stuttering behaviors which experimented with exposure therapy, eye behaviors, and other biometric sensors. Gareth's work has been featured in worldwide press such as the BBC News and more. He regularly talks about his research at international and national conferences, has published and reviewed research on the topic, and advises researchers who advance virtual reality for stuttering today.

Gareth is the Founder of withVR, which better prepares people with speech disabilities or differences for real-life speaking situations by utilizing the power of virtual reality. Currently collaborating with leading experts from 80+ clinics, labs, and hospitals from 20+ different countries worldwide, withVR strives to ensure that anyone can use their voice whenever they like, no matter their difference.

ACCESSIBILITY
The presentation will be captioned [cc]. The event will have real-time captions displayed in webinar and YouTube live stream.

You do not need a VR headset to attend. You can access the environment through a web browser or watch the YouTube live stream.

LIVESTREAM
We will have video streaming of the event to YouTube via a partnership with the Internet Society Accessibility SIG (a11ySIG).

You can watch the stream on YouTube and ask questions. As we begin meeting regularly each month we will capture feedback on ways we can be more accessible and inclusive in virtual reality and start incorporating them into a set of Best Practices.

Livestream link: https://youtu.be/MAL_bw5l-pQ

SPONSORS
Thanks to Equal Entry for sponsoring.

ACCREDITATION
All A11yVR meetups are pre-approved for IAAP Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAEC).

TIME
Please NOTE: When you RSVP, use the "Add to calendar" link to receive a calendar invite transcribed to your time zone.