PROJECT DOSSIER

Cripping Up

An interactive VR experience about navigating everyday ableist barriers from a wheelchair user's perspective

Synopsis

Cripping Up invites audiences to embody XR producer Meg Fozzard, a wheelchair user, during a seemingly simple journey across London. After receiving an invitation, participants get dressed, catch a bus and navigate the city while encountering the ableist barriers and everyday friction that shape Meg's life. At key moments, the interaction design deliberately introduces obstacles that require the participant to adapt, echoing the constant adjustments Meg has to make. The experience also questions VR's promise as an “empathy machine” by reminding audiences that, unlike Meg, they can ultimately walk away.