Initiative Description
VIUCEDD AT program has partnered with local business organizations and disability organizations on an initiative to provide employment opportunities for jobseekers with disabilities. This initiative provided joint training monthly. VIUCEDD provided VITRAID (Virgin Islands Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities) and VIATF (Virgin Islands Assistive Technology Foundation ) resources to attendees at the training. Educational training focused on accessibility and Universal Design for businesses and assistive technology as a work accommodation for jobseekers with disabilities and potential employees. Partners included the Territorial ADA Coordinator, USVI Economic Development Authority (EDA) the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center, the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands, the Department of Human Services Vocational Rehabilitation, Island Therapy Solutions, the Developmental Disability Council and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. VI AT program funding was not utilized for his imitative.
Lessons Learned/Replication
Results were measured by the number of attendees. Debriefings addressed marketing solutions to access a wider number of potential attendees. It has been determined that this next year we will utilize more radio outreach as this seems to be a preferred information source, over that of on-line adverting for residents in the USVI. Awareness of the state AT Program strengthened their relationship with disability partners in the community with this initiative. In hindsight, we wish we had included more live-demo examples of AT in their workplace in the presentation. We will provide a wider range of workplace AT examples at our table and include a wider range of employees who use AT as workplace accommodation.