Polyreality

Case study — Raising awareness of multiple disabilities through 360° VR immersion

Keywords: education, inclusion, accessibility, virtual reality, 360°, awareness, multiple disabilities

In short ✨

• Format: Immersive 360° VR experience (360° capture, viewing via headset or web)

• Field partner: Jardin D'Étoiles Day Centre (JDÉ)

• Target audiences: families, caregivers, professionals, general public

• Ambition: to convey the daily reality of a person with multiple disabilities in order to spark empathy and a change in perspective

• Originality: interactive and sensory approach , scenes filmed with Will while respecting his comfort (green screen, recreated environment)

Context and objectives 🎯

A societal challenge. Multiple disabilities are still poorly understood. Ordinary actions (drinking, moving around, communicating) can become physical and social challenges . Family members and caregivers are looking for concrete tools to raise awareness and provide training without resorting to sensationalism.

Project objective: To create a realistic and emotionally immersive experience that puts the audience in the shoes of Will , a person with multiple disabilities, in order to:

• trigger a profound awareness ;

• deconstruct prejudices and improve understanding ;

• to support more inclusive practices in living and care environments.

Concept of the experience 💡

Immersion as a lever. Polyreality brings to life micro-situations of everyday life : drinking a glass of water, moving around, interacting. The viewer feels the effort, the different temporality, the micro-social barriers – but also the moments of joy and connection .

Narrative approach. An immersive experience rather than a staged performance: the participant lives Will's subjectivity . The interface offers points of focus (gaze, sound, textures, motor constraints) to guide without over-explaining.

Responsible design. All scenes involving Will were filmed against a green screen to ensure his comfort, then integrated in post-production to accurately recreate the environments.

Production and team 🎬

• Production: Hit Film

• Field partner: Jardin D'Étoiles Day Centre (JDÉ)

• Format: 360° video + VR

• Filming : Will's scenes against a green screen (recreated environment), art direction focused on sensory experience (close-up sounds, visual textures, breathing rhythm)

• Educational component: preparation of an activity kit (communication module) to accompany viewing with families, in the classroom, or in organizations

Diffusion and radiation 📢

• Public launch: as part of Quebec's Intellectual Disability Awareness Week

• Priority targets:

  • families/caregivers : raising awareness and reducing guilt;

  • School and community settings : debates, empathy workshops;

  • Professionals (health, social services, culture): training in helping postures .

• Broadcast formats : VR stations (headset) + 360° web version, making-of capsule for mediation and behind the scenes.

Reception — what people are saying about it 💬

Spontaneous keywords from the audience: Timely, innovative, and adaptable • Great, long live the project! • Excellent awareness-raising tool • Relevant project, full of potential

Impact and uses 📊

Immediate qualitative impact

• Strong emotions among the spectators; several describe an awakening of awareness and a change in perspective .

• Better sensitive understanding of needs: pace, assistance, enhanced communication.

Transferability

• A modular tool (VR for in-person events, 360° web) ready to be integrated into:

  • internal training (CISSS/CIUSSS, community organizations);

  • family-relatives workshops ;

  • school curricula on inclusion and accessibility.

Expected effects

• Reduction of ableist attitudes in a service context.

• Alignment of teams on supportive postures (talking with , not on ; respecting the other person's time).

Success factors 🔎

• Experience > explanation : immersion makes you feel before you argue.

• Co-creation with the community : JDÉ partnership from script to mediation.

• Ethical care : respectful filming protocol (green screen, sensory control, consents) and continuous validation.

• Mediation : a making-of and a discussion module facilitate post-viewing exchanges.

Areas for development 🚀

• Impact measurement : pre/post questionnaires to document changes in attitudes (EQ of empathy, perception of competence, intention to act).

• Accessibility : subtitles, enhanced audio description, additional languages.

• Deployment : tours in libraries, cultural centers, school and health networks.

• Thematic extensions : series of micro-situations (communication, mobility, hypersensitivity, leisure, care) to create a transposable catalogue .

Conclusion 🌟

Polyreality demonstrates the educational power of VR when designed with and for the people involved. By transforming curiosity into lived empathy , the project offers families, loved ones, and professionals a concrete tool for better understanding , support , and inclusion .