VOISS: Frequently Asked Questions
For Parents & Caregivers
What is VOISS?
VOISS is a research-backed extended reality (XR) platform that helps middle school students build essential social skills through safe, scenario-based practice. Students play through realistic scenarios that model common social situations and help students learn skills like starting a conversation, handling disagreements, or reading social cues, giving them an opportunity to practice these skills in a low-pressure setting before using them in real life.
In this document, we answer frequently asked questions from parents and caregivers to help you feel comfortable and confident in empowering your child with VOISS.
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What age group is VOISS designed for?
VOISS is designed for youth ages 11 to 18. The scenarios, language, and skill-building content are designed with the input of educators, specifically with this age group in mind.
Does my child need a diagnosis or an IEP to use VOISS?
No. VOISS was developed for students with social skill deficits and can be used to support IEP goals, but it can be played by any youth who could benefit from individualized social skill learning. Many families use it simply to give their children an opportunity to build confidence with practice in preparation for real-life social situations.
What social skills does VOISS actually teach?
VOISS offers 140 scenarios that model and teach more than 180 individual social skills. These skills include: starting and maintaining conversations, understanding tone and body language, managing conflict, working in groups, and self-advocacy. Each scenario provides students with an opportunity to practice in the context of an immersive scenario that models real life.
What devices does VOISS work on?
Students can use VOISS on tablets (iPad and Android devices), computers (Apple and Google Chromebooks), and VR headsets (Meta Quest/Oculus). The apps can be downloaded on the Google Play, Apple, and Meta Horizon app stores, but a headset is not necessary. Parents can access the VOISS Admin Module on any standard web browser.
Is the content in VOISS safe and age-appropriate?
Yes. Every scenario was developed and reviewed by researchers and practitioners with a background in child development and special education. VOISS is a closed, structured environment with no chat or social media access and does not allow contact with other users.
Does my child need to use VOISS with a parent or teacher present?
Not necessarily. VOISS is designed so students can play it independently and at their own pace at home or at school, while still allowing parents and educators to see data that is generated from their play. However, many families and teachers choose to play side-by-side with their students so they can discuss the scenarios as the students play them.
Can I see how my child is progressing?
Can I see how my child is progressing?
Yes. VOISS subscriptions include parent and educator access to the VOISS Admin Module, a companion site that provides point-in-time assessments, tools to select scenarios based on the student’s individual needs, and the ability to monitor student progress on an ongoing basis.
Is VOISS actually backed by research, or is this just an app?
Is VOISS actually backed by research, or is this just an app?
VOISS was developed over more than a decade of research at the #1-ranked Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. It was developed in and out of classrooms in collaboration with special educators and students. It has already been used by more than 3,000 students and 300 teachers. Published research about VOISS is available on our Research page.
Is VOISS meant to replace therapy, counseling, or in-person social skills instruction?
No. VOISS is designed to complement the work of professionals who provide (or will provide) support for your child’s social skill development. These professionals can, in fact, use VOISS as a practice tool to help reinforce, model, and generalize social skills your child is already working on in other settings.
How much does VOISS cost, and how do I get started?
VOISS is available as a subscription (paid monthly), which includes access to the VOISS Admin Module, where parents can assess students, find individualized recommendations, and monitor progress. The most up-to-date pricing is available directly on our website.
How do I get VOISS for my child?
Download the VOISS apps on the Google Play, Apple, or Meta Horizon stores to play a few selected scenarios for free or purchase a subscription for access to our full library of scenarios through our website. Ask your child's school or district to find out if they are already using VOISS to gain access to your student’s play data or to let them know you want your child to play during school. Contact us if you have questions before you get started or at any point along the way.
How do I get VOISS for my child?
You can download VOISS directly for free trial access on your device of choice, or purchase full access through our website. If your child's school or district already uses VOISS, ask their special education team whether you can be added to their existing program. If you have questions before getting started, you can request a short demo or contact our team directly.
