2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Engineering Community Inclusion of Individuals with Autism (ECIIA), an NSF Eddie Bernice Johnson Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science Initiative (INCLUDES)-funded project, advances the mission and research of Engineering for US All (e4usa™), which aims to revolutionize high school engineering education and building students’ skills to become tomorrow’s engineers. ECIIA leverages virtual reality (VR) technology to develop enrichment opportunities based on two hands-on activities from the e4usa™ curriculum to engage autistic high school students in engineering. With the support of VR content being developed, the ECIIA project aims to increase access to engineering education for autistic individuals and develop their engineering identity, engineering self-efficacy, engineering interest, and an understanding of the engineering design process. Another component of ECIIA is the commitment of Community Collaborators, which emphasizes that everyone has a responsibility and unique ability to enact inclusive change for autistic individuals in engineering. Community Collaborators will take on the dual role of informing all stages of the project based on their expertise and increasingly gain knowledge from autistic individuals serving as Autism Advisors on how to effectively support and include autistic individuals in engineering through evidence-based practices. In doing so, Community Collaborators develop a collective commitment to the project, and identify and act upon individualized commitment goals and objectives that will increase inclusion and advocacy in engineering education and/or industry. In sum, ECIIA will lead to the development of VR that is disability-responsive and lay the groundwork for change by building a network of Community Collaborators to broaden participation and foster authentic inclusion in the field. The work in progress will present continuing efforts to engage Community Collaborators and Autism Advisors, and develop VR content that will be piloted in late-spring of 2025.