>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

>>> GOOD DAY AND WELCOME TO "ABLE TO RAISE."

I´M YOUR HOST OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND OUR PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO RAISE YOUR AWARENESS OF ISSUES RELATING TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

TODAY WE ARE SO PLEASED TO HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST, A DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE BY THE NAME OF JULIAN HENLEY.

JULIAN HENLEY IS THE PERITORIAL ADA COORDINATOR FOR THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLAND.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> DOING GREAT, SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.

>> FANTASTIC.

FIRST I WANT TO BE SURE WE MAKE THE AUDIENCE AWARE AS DID WHAT THE ADA STANDS FOR.

THAT´S THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.

IF YOU COULD TELL US, WHAT DOES THE JOB OF AN ADA COORDINATOR, WHAT DOES THAT INVOLVE?

>> THAT INVOLVES MAKING SURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS IN COMPLIANCE.

NOT JUST PHYSICALLY IN COMPLIANCE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICES, BUT ALSO THAT THEY COULD ACCESS THE WEBSITE TO MAKING SURE THAT DOCUMENTS ARE POSTED IN THE RIGHT FORMAT.

THE PERSON WHO HAS PROGRAMS OR E-READERS, THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO WHATEVER INFORMATION THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS PUTTING OUT.

SO IT´S IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE´RE ACCESSIBLE IN EVERY WHICH WAY TO SERVE THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.

>> SO IN ESSENCE, YOU´RE KIND OF LIKE THE EYES AND EARS OF THE PUBLIC, RIGHT?

BRINGING THINGS TO THE ATTENTION OF GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, PRIVATE ENTITIES.

SO LET´S SAY IF I HAVE A CONCERN, HOW I WOULD GO ABOUT BRINGING THAT TO YOUR OFFICE´S ATTENTION?

>> IF YOU CALL GOVERNMENT HOUSE AND IT´S SOMETHING WITH ADA, THEY DIRECT IT TO ME.

THEY WOULD GIVE YOU MY DIRECT NUMBER, WHICH IS 473-3523.

34 AREA CODE.

OR EMAIL, OTHER PERSONS WILL REACH OUT WITH WHATEVER TYPES OF COMPLAINTS.

WHETHER SOMETHING WITH HOUSING, WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES.

YOU KNOW, IT´S JUST A MOUNTAIN OF ISSUES THAT PEOPLE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW.

AT TIMES YOU WOULD THINK A LOT OF CASES THAT I´VE DEALT WITH, WITH HUMAN SERVICES, WASHBURN AND DIFFERENT THINGS, THAT PERSON -- THOSE CALLS COME TO MY OFFICE.

I´M ABLE TO THEN RECTIFY THOSE COMPLAINTS.

>> WELL, OKAY.

YOU HINTED THAT THERE´S A LOT OF GROUND THAT YOUR OFFICE HAS TO COVER.

>> YES.

>> AND AS I RECALL, YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH A ONE-MAN BAND.

>> YES.

I DO HAVE ASSISTANTS FROM THE OFFICE, ASSISTANCE FROM THE ADVICE, WHETHER IT´S ADVICE OR ADMIN PERSON WHO´S ALSO ON A SOURCE TO THE GOVERNOR.

SO WE SPLIT HER RESPONSIBILITIES AT TIMES.

BUT I DO HAVE SOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.

>> WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK THIS POSITION, I´M SURE YOU HAD TO PRIORITIZE WHAT ISSUES YOU WERE GOING TO, YOU KNOW -- YOUR PRIMARY ATTENTION.

CAN YOU TAKE US BACK TO WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED ON THE JOB?

HOW DID YOU DECIDE, OKAY, I´LL DO THIS, I´LL HOLD OFF ON THAT, I´LL ORDER IT IN THE ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, IF YOU CAN DO THAT?

PROBABLY NOT A FAIR QUESTION, BUT I´LL ASK IT ANYWAY.

>> IT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

THE FIRST THING I LOOKED AT WAS ACCESS.

IF PERSONS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES, THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, ON THE WEBSITES TO DO TRANSACTIONS, PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND WHO WANT TO PAY -- SET UP AUTO PAY SYSTEMS WITH WOPR OR OTHER THINGS.

I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE AGENCIES, WHETHER IT´S HUMAN SERVICES, YOU KNOW, GETTING PERSONS SENIOR I.D.s.

THEY´RE CALLING AND CAN´T GET THROUGH.

A LOT OF THOSE CALLS ARE DIRECTED TO ME, FROM COLLEAGUES OR FROM PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC THAT WILL SHARE MY INFORMATION AND THEN I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO RECTIFY THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> OH, OKAY.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR OFFICE HAS WORKED WITH YOU ON IN THE PAST IS THE AREA OF EMPLOYMENT, BECAUSE EMPLOYMENT IS A REAL PRIORITY, I KNOW, FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION AND PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS.

ONE HAS TO DO WITH A PROGRAM CALLED TICKET TO WORK.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, TICKET TO WORK IS AN AMAZING PROGRAM.

I´M GLAD THAT WE´RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

WITH THE TICKET TO WORK PROGRAM, IT ALLOWS A PERSON WHO RECEIVES SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INCOME -- SSDI -- TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK.

SOME PEOPLE BECAME DISABLED, AND GOING THROUGH THE ADJUSTMENTS, THEY FOUND THAT THEIR BODIES ARE ABLE TO TAKE ON EMPLOYMENT.

SO THIS TICKET TO WORK, YOU WOULD FILL OUT A TICKET.

ONCE YOU GOT INTO EMPLOYMENT, AND YOU DO FIND EMPLOYMENT, WHAT YOU DO IS BRING A TICKET TO THAT EMPLOYER.

AND THAT ALLOWS YOU TO BE -- FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS, ONCE YOU START YOUR EMPLOYMENT, THAT YOU WOULD RECEIVE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY INFO AND WHATEVER SALARY AMOUNT, THERE´S NO CAP OF HOW MUCH YOU COULD MAKE FOR THOSE FIRST NINE MONTHS.

AFTER THE NINE MONTHS, THERE´S A THREE-WEEK -- THREE-MONTH PERIOD IN WHICH YOU WOULD DECIDE OUT OF THREE OPTIONS.

ONE, I LOVE THIS JOB, IT´S PAYING ME ENOUGH, IF I STAY WITH THIS JOB I COULD PUT MY SOCIAL SECURITY ON HOLD.

TWO, I LOVE GOING BACK TO WORK BUT WORKING 40 HOURS WAS A LOT.

SO BASED ON YOUR DISABILITY, THEY WOULD GIVE YOU WHAT YOUR MAX YOU COULD EARN FROM YOUR EMPLOYER MONTHLY AND STILL RECEIVE YOUR FULL SOCIAL SECURITY.

OR THE THIRD OPTION WAS, GOING BACK TO WORK, MY BODY WASN´T READY FOR THAT, I THINK I´M GOING TO JUST GO BACK TO SOCIAL SECURITY ONLY.

SO THIS ACTUALLY GIVES YOU A STEPPING STONE TO REALLY PREPARE YOURSELF TO GO BACK AND BE AN EMPLOYEE.

AND A LOT OF PERSONS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND THIS IS A VOLUNTARY PROGRAM, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES, IT IS.

ALL THESE PROGRAMS, THEY´RE SET UP WITH GIVING YOU THAT OPTION.

AND SO YOU CAN GO THROUGH, WHETHER YOU COME THROUGH DRCDI OR MY OFFICE, VR SERVICES, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT PROCESSING.

AND THEN PERSONS FROM THE TICKET TO WORK PROGRAM DO VISIT -- THEY´RE DOING MOST OF WHAT THEY´RE DOING ONLINE.

SO, YOU KNOW, REMOTELY, THEY WOULD THEN MAKE CONTACT WITH YOU AND GIVE YOU THE NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO HELP YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS PROGRAM.

>> NOW YOU´RE TALKING ABOUT WHO WOULD ASSIST ONLINE?

YOU´RE TALKING ABOUT LOCATIONAL REHABILITATION?

OR SOME OTHER ENTITY?

>> TICKET TO WORK ITSELF.

>> THAT´S UNDER THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION?

>> CORRECT.

CORRECT.

SO THEY DIRECTLY WOULD HAVE -- THEY HAVE AN AGENCY THAT COMES TO THE TERRITORY OR CONNECTS WITH THE TERRITORY TWICE A MONTH, OR TWICE A WEEK.

AND THEY WILL THEN -- NOW BECAUSE OF COVID, EVERYTHING IS ON SCHEDULE BASED ON DEMAND, QUESTIONS, INVOLVEMENT.

THEY PARTICIPATE IN SOME TRAINING TO BRING THE AWARENESS TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

SO THEY WOULD DO THAT REMOTELY WITH DCDRCCVI AND MYSELF TO MAKE SURE WE´RE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC OF THESE GREAT BENEFITS THAT TICKET TO WORK PROGRAM HAS.

>> OKAY.

SO EMPLOYMENT IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE.

COVID ENVIRONMENT.

AND EVEN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAVE BEEN SOME CHALLENGES IN GETTING MORE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES EMPLOYED?

WHETHER SELF-EMPLOYED OR EMPLOYED ON A FULL-TIME BASIS?

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS, ONE, EDUCATION FOR PERSONS, SMALL BUSINESSES, COMPANIES TO ACCLIMATE OR TO LEARN ABOUT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, HAVING THE ABILITY TO DO GREAT WORK.

SO THAT IS AN ONGOING PROCESS OF EDUCATING THE GENERAL PUBLIC, GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

WE HAVE DONE ACCOMMODATION TRAINING WITH ALL THE HR MANAGERS AND ADA COORDINATORS FOR EVERY ENTITY IN THE GOVERNMENT.

TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND, AND YOU CAN SEE, THEY WERE REALLY ALSO CONCERNED THAT MAYBE THEY HAVE NOT LOOKED AT OPPORTUNITIES WITH SOME PERSONS WHO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.

SO IT´S IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALLY BRING THAT AWARENESS, THAT PERSONS, YOU KNOW -- THIS PERSON, YOU LOOK AT THEIR ABILITY, NOT THEIR DISABILITY.

WHEN YOU´RE THINKING OF EMPLOYING A PERSON WHO´S BLIND, YOU LOOK AT ALL THE BARRIERS.

YOU LOOK AT THIS PERSON, I´M GOING TO NEED TO DO THIS, I´M GOING TO NEED TO DO THAT.

YOU LOOK AND YOU FOCUS SO MUCH ON THAT SIDE.

BUT ON THE ABILITY SIDE, IF YOU FOCUS ON THAT ABILITY SIDE, A LOT OF TIMES YOU FIND THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT CANDIDATE TO WORK IN YOUR OFFICE.

>> MAKES SENSE.

OR ANYWHERE ELSE, FOR THAT MATTER.

>> OR ANYWHERE ELSE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PANDEMIC.

IT´S OPENED UP SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT ONLY THE GOVERNMENT, BUT PRIVATE SECTORS, TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I DON´T NEED TO RENT THIS LARGE BUILDING AND HAVE ALL THESE CUBICLES, I CAN DO A LOT OF THIS FROM HOME.

BECAUSE YOU FIND YOURSELF WORKING FROM HOME, AND THOSE WHO WORK FROM HOME REALIZE THAT SOMETIMES YOU DON´T KNOW HOW TO SAY, IT´S 5:00.

>> UNDERSTOOD.

>> YOU FIND YOURSELF WORKING INTO THE EVENING.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE MOTIVATED TO WORK AND GETTING THE JOB DONE, YOU KNOW, IT TURNS OUT TO BE A GREAT SUCCESS FOR YOUR EMPLOYER.

>> I AGREE, ESPECIALLY FOR PRODUCT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS SITTING AT A DESK OR IN FRONT OF A CUBICLE OR A MONITOR.

>> RIGHT.

IT´S ALWAYS SHOWN THAT EIGHT HOURS, SIX HOURS OF CONTINUOUS WORK, SOMETIMES EVEN FIVE HOURS, OR SOMETIMES WE JUST LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, OKAY, THEY´RE IN THE OFFICE, BUT REALLY A LOT OF EMPLOYEES, THEY DON´T -- THEIR PRODUCTIVITY IS NOT A FULL EIGHT-HOUR PRODUCTIVITY DAILY.

WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF THAT I KNOW WORK IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT OFFICES.

THE GREAT THING WITH THEM IS THEY ARE NOT CHITCHATTING ALL DAY.

THEY´RE FOCUSED ON THEIR JOB.

THEY´RE NOT HEARING WHAT CHATTER IS GOING ON AROUND THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW.

THERE´S A LOT OF GREAT BENEFITS THAT I SEE THAT WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO EDUCATE AND BRING PROGRAMS TO THE FOREFRONT THAT WOULD HELP PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BE ABLE TO BE EMPLOYED.

>> YOU ALSO HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS AND WORKING WITH VI-FEMA.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOUR OFFICE HAS DONE WITH REGARDS TO COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER ISSUES?

>> WELL, THAT´S, YOU KNOW, ONE ASPECT FROM MARIA, DRCVI, LISTENING TO, BEING IN A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH THE DEAF COMMUNITY, WE REALIZED THERE WAS A REALLY MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE AND COMMUNICATE TO THIS POPULATION DURING THE STORM.

VI-FEMA AT THAT TIME THOUGHT THAT THEIR COMMUNICATION WAS THROUGH TTY SERVICES.

NOT REALIZING, YOU HAVE TO CALL FROM A TTY PHONE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE.

SO -- AND MOST OF OUR DEAF PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF IN THE TERRITORY, THEY USE REMOTE RELAY SERVICES THROUGH THEIR CELL PHONE OR TABLET.

AND SO WITH ALERTS, IF YOU DON´T HAVE A WAY TO SEND IT OUT, THEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION.

SO WE´RE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THERE´S NOT JUST A TTY OPTION THAT THEY´RE IN TEXT OR EMAIL.

SO THAT WAY THE INFORMATION IS THEN FLUID TO THEM, AS FAR AS PENDING STORMS, WEATHER CHANGES THAT WE HAVE WHATEVER IS GOING ON.

SO IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT VI-FEMA REALLY PLAY A MAJOR ROLE, BECAUSE THEY´RE THE COORDINATING AGENCY THAT COORDINATES ALL RECOVERY PROCESSES, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE CLEAR AS FAR AS THE BARRIER THAT EXISTS FOR PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> NOW THERE WAS SOME EFFORT THAT WAS DONE, I BELIEVE BY YOUR OFFICE, HAVING TO DO WITH RADIOS.

AND I WAS STILL TRYING TO VISUALIZE HOW THIS RADIO WORKED.

CAN YOU ARTICULATE -- YOU KNOW WHAT I´M TALKING ABOUT.

>> OH, DEFINITELY, YEAH, I KNOW.

WHAT IT DOES IS ACTUALLY CONNECTS TO THE WEATHER TOWER.

AND IT NOTIFIES PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING -- OR BLIND, ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY -- THAT YOU HAVE PENDING WEATHER.

THE WAY THIS RADIO WORKS, IF YOU´RE DEAF, THERE´S CAPTIONS THAT COMES ACROSS THE SCREEN.

SO YOU WOULD NOT JUST HEAR THE ALERT, BUT YOU COULD ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE SCREEN AND SEE THAT YOU´RE GETTING INFORMATION IN FROM A PENDING STORM OR ANY TYPE OF WEATHER.

THERE´S A PILL SHAKER THAT COMES ALONG WITH THIS DEVICE THAT YOU CAN ORDER THAT CONNECTS TO THE DEVICE.

FOR INSTANCE, A PERSON WHO IS DEAF, THEY WOULDN´T HEAR THAT THE PHONE IS RINGING OR THEY WOULDN´T KNOW THAT THERE´S SOMETHING THAT´S HAPPENING.

THIS DEVICE WOULD ACTUALLY SHAKE THE PILLOW AND LET THIS PERSON KNOW SUCH AND SUCH IS GOING ON.

OPPORTUNITIES NOW.

AND THAT WAS TRUE, AS YOU SAID, THEY HAVE A GRANT THAT WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE RADIOS TO OUR DEF POPULATION, ALL THREE ISLANDS.

THAT WAS A GREAT WIN FOR VI.

>> AND FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT BENEFITED FROM THE RADIOS.

I BELIEVE YOUR OFFICE WAS INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE DISTRIBUTION, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

AND WE DID WORK ALONG WITH CAMELLIA WILLIAMS AND OTHERS COMING UP WITH A PLAN -- FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LOOKING AT IDEAS AND I CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA TO DO THE RADIOS.

AND THEN GETTING THE DEAF COMMUNITY TOGETHER, IT REALLY TAKES IN THE MIX, BECAUSE SOMETIMES COMMUNICATION -- CAMELLIA WILLIAMS PLAYED A ROLE IN BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER COHESIVELY.

AND WAS ABLE TO -- WHERE WE HAD MEETINGS AND FIND OUT WHAT ALL NEEDED TO BE DONE, HOW TO USE THE RADIOS.

WE DID TRAININGS FOR ALL THREE AND WAS ABLE TO BRING THEM TO THAT UNDERSTANDING.

BUT WE´RE FACING SOME CHALLENGES WITH THE TOWER.

SO THAT´S SOMETHING THAT´S BEING WORKED ON RIGHT NOW TO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE RADIOS ARE CONNECTED 100%, ESPECIALLY GETTING READY FOR ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON THAT´S AHEAD OF US.

>> THAT´S GOOD TO HEAR.

GOVERNOR BRYAN HAS SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ADDRESSING HIRING MORE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SO KUDOS TO THE ADMINISTRATION WITH REGARD TO THAT.

WHAT DO YOU FORESEE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GOALS OR BENCHMARKS THAT HAVE BEEN SET AS A RESULT?

CAN YOU BRING US UP TO SPEED?

>> OH, DEFINITELY.

THIS I THINK IS A GREAT STEP.

A LOT OF WHAT WE´RE SEEING TODAY IS FROM THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW -- PERSONS WHO IN THE PAST HAVE BROUGHT THINGS FORWARD.

LOOKING AT IT AT THIS LEVEL, SEE HOW WE CAN IMPROVE.

YOU KNOW, THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER REALLY IS MIRRORED FROM THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT CAME OUT IN 2012 THAT YOU AND OTHERS WERE A PART OF.

AND EVEN FOR THIS ONE, DRCVI PLAYED A ROLE IN HELPING TO STRUCTURE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

IMPROVING THE GOVERNMENT BY HIRING MORE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

YOU WONDER, HOW CAN YOU ESTABLISH AND ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL?

WE HAD TO GO AND TAKE AN APPROACH TO EXPERTS IN THE GOVERNMENT TO HAVE THREE OPTIONS.

ONE, YOU HAVE ONE, YOU COULD DISCLOSE THAT I´M A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY.

AND THEN THERE´S A DROP-DOWN, YOU COULD SAY -- YOU DON´T HAVE TO PUT YOUR NAME OR YOUR EMPLOYEE NUMBER ON THIS FORM.

THEN IT´S SENT INTO A PORTAL, SO THERE´S NO IP ADDRESS, ANYTHING THAT GOES TO TRACK WHAT OR WHO REPORTED THEIR DISABILITY.

THE SECOND OPTION IS, I HAVE A DISABILITY BUT I DON´T WANT TO DISCLOSE WHAT IT IS.

AND THAT´S ALSO GREAT.

THE THIRD OPTION IS, I DON´T HAVE A DISABILITY.

WE´RE ALSO LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS TO DISCLOSE, WHAT´S YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE?

LIKE YOURSELF, YOU SPEAK FLUENT SPANISH AND SPANISH COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE, BUT BECAUSE YOU WORK IN AN ENGLISH SETTING, YOU SPEAK ENGLISH AT WORK.

WE WANT TO KNOW THE POPULATION OF PERSONS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE THESE ABILITIES, AND ESL IS ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS.

WHERE SOME PEOPLE HAVE ESL AS THEIR FIRST.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL PART OF A PROCESS TO GET THOSE NUMBERS.

AND THEN BY GETTING THOSE NUMBERS, WE COULD THEN SET THE GOAL TO SAY, OKAY, NOW OVER THE NEXT TWO, THREE YEARS, THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF PERSONS THAT WE WANT TO HIRE WITH DISABILITIES.

SO EVERY YEAR WE WOULD BE DOING THIS EXERCISE TO ASK ALL THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE.

SOMETHING THAT TAKES ABOUT TWO MINUTES TO GET THE INFORMATION IN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD PLAY A BIG ROLE FOR US.

THE GOAL THAT´S NEEDED SO WE CAN START HIRING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE GOVERNMENT.

>> OKAY.

AND WE´RE NOT REFERRING TO TOKENISM, WE´RE TALKING ABOUT PERSONS, QUALIFIED PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO CAN PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB, CORRECT?

>> DEFINITELY.

AND THAT´S THE ONE THING THAT WE ASK.

YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE THE SKILL SET, BUT YOU NEED AN ACCOMMODATION.

LIKE FOR INSTANCE, YOU MIGHT NEED AN E-READER OR OTHER TYPES OF PROGRAMS OR EQUIPMENT THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO DO YOUR WORK.

SO WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE AND TRAINED AND DONE INTERNAL TRAINING, ARCHIE JENNINGS FROM YOUR OFFICE, REALLY WORKED WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN GETTING IT TO BED ON SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT.

MISS DEBORAH GREY FROM INDEPENDENT LIVING DID A FULL SHOW OF ALL TYPES OF DISABILITY EQUIPMENT THAT PERSONS CAN USE IN OFFICES IF THEY´RE CONSIDERING HIRING A PERSON THAT NEEDED AN ACCOMMODATION.

SO NEEDING ACCOMMODATION DOES NOT INFLUENCE YOUR ABILITY TO DO THE JOB.

SO IT´S IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONSIDER WORKING WITH PERSONS, DEVELOPING THE SKILL SETS.

AND THAT´S WHERE VR SERVICES COME IN, TO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO COLLEGE, TO GO TO TRADE SCHOOLS, OR COMPETE IN OTHER WAYS OF DEVELOPING SKILL SETS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT IN THE JOB MARKET.

>> VR, WHEN WE SAY VR, WE MEAN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

THEY´RE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS, THEY HAVE CASE WORKERS THAT ACTUALLY WORK WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

YOU HAVE TO GO THERE, APPLY.

THEY WOULD EVALUATE YOUR CASE.

IF YOU HAVE A CAREER PATH YOU BENEFIT YOU NOT JUST WITH DOING A TRADE SCHOOL OR EDUCATION, THEY WOULD ASSIST, YOU MIGHT NEED A JOB COACH, A PERSON MIGHT NEED A JOB COACH TO GO TO THE JOB FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GET THEM ACCLIMATED TO THAT JOB SETTING.

THEY HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THOSE TYPE OF PROGRAMS.

PERSONS WHO MIGHT WORK AND HAVE, YOU KNOW -- LOSING THEIR VISION OR HEARING.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE ASSIST PERSONS TO STAY EMPLOYED.

SO THERE´S THINGS THAT´S OUT THERE TO ASSIST PERSONS NOW.

AND THEY´VE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS.

BUT WE REALLY NEED TO START DEEPENING UP.

BECAUSE ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS PANDEMIC, WE FIND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO REALLY STEP IN AND START, YOU KNOW, WITH SOME OF THESE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

>> LET´S TEASE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT.

IT´S NICE TO HEAR THERE´S POTENTIAL.

OUT OF ADVERSITY COMES, IN SOME INSTANCES, OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU´VE IDENTIFIED THAT COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONS WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AS ACTIVE IN THE WORKFORCES PREVIOUSLY?

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> RIGHT.

SO THERE´S A PROGRAM THAT DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS GOING TO BE BRINGING OUT.

IT´S AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

SO THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW EMPLOYERS OR PERSONS WHO CAN TRAIN INDIVIDUALS ON SKILL SETS.

THEY WILL PAY FOR THIS PERSON TO BE IN AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS.

THEY WILL PAY FOR THAT PERSON TO BE ALONG -- TO SHADOW OR TRAIN AN INDIVIDUAL SO THEY CAN THEN BE ABLE TO START THE PROCESS OF EMPLOYMENT.

SO THIS IS OPEN NOT JUST TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THIS IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

BUT IT´S AN ADVANTAGE THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES COULD JUMP ON AND TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY NOW, BECAUSE IF YOU WEREN´T EMPLOYED BUT YOU´VE READ UP, YOU KNOW THE SKILLS THAT YOU COULD PREPARE YOURSELF BEFORE GOING TO THE -- GOING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

SO WHEN YOU GET TO THAT PROGRAM, YOU´RE NOT TOTALLY GREEN AND YOU HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THE JOB IN WHICH YOU WANT TO TAKE ON.

SO THERE´S PROGRAMS LIKE THAT THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

THERE´S SUMMER PROGRAMS COMING OUT.

ONCE AGAIN, REALLY TRYING TO CATER TOWARDS SKILL SETS.

SO IF YOU´RE INTERESTED IN WORKING, YOU NEED TO FIRST FIND OUT WHAT YOUR SKILLS ARE, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

SOMETIMES IT´S NOT LIKE, I´M GOING TO GO DO THIS.

BUT YOU NEED TO PRESENT SOME LEVEL OF SKILL SETS.

I´M BRINGING ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS -- DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES -- TO THE TABLE.

WE´RE GOING TO SIT AND LOOK AT THE PROCESS.

BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL IS A COMPUTERIZED PROCESS.

AND COULD TAKE A PERSON OUT WHO MIGHT BE QUALIFIED, YOU KNOW, TO BE EMPLOYED, BECAUSE THEY MADE MISTAKE ON THIS THE RESUME, OR THEY MADE MISTAKES ON THE APPLICATION.

THAT APPLICATION MIGHT BE KICKED OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

SO WE WANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THESE APPLICANTS AND SEE IF WE ARE CATCHING SOME THAT´S BEING KICKED OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND SEE HOW WE COULD LOOK AND DO, YOU KNOW, CLOSER EVALUATIONS TO THESE APPLICANTS.

AND HOPEFULLY WE COULD HIRE MORE PERSONS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT.

>> NOW YOU SAY WE.

I WOULD LIKE MORE CLARIFICATION AS TO WHO´S WE?

>> THE GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS FALLS UNDER WE.

>> OKAY.

>> NOT THAT IT´S TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE GOVERNMENT, BUT IF THERE´S OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE GOVERNMENT, WE OFFER -- THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND VRVI, WE HAVE DONE TRAINING FOR A LOT THAT´S SENSITIVITY TRAINING.

SO WE TRY TO GET OUT, YOU KNOW, GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN A PERSON HAS AN ACCOMMODATION ON THE JOB, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT IT´S FAVORITISM, SOMETHING THIS JOB IS DOING.

BUT REALLY AND TRULY, WHEN WE DO THE TRAINING, WE ASK, IF YOU ASK FOR ACCOMMODATION, WOULD YOU WANT US TO TELL THE REST OF YOUR CO-WORKERS WHAT THAT ACCOMMODATION THAT YOU REQUESTED, THIS IS WHAT WE DID FOR YOU?

AND THEY ALL WOULD SAY NO.

>> RIGHT.

>> WELL, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT´S GOING ON.

SOMETIMES YOU SEE A PERSON WHO´S GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING, MAYBE TAKE AN EXTRA BREAK OR OTHER, THAT IT´S BECAUSE IT COULD BE RECOMMENDED FROM A PHYSICIAN THAT´S ASKED AN EMPLOYER TO GIVE THIS ACCOMMODATION.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT IS A TOUCHY SUBJECT.

>> OH, IT IS.

OH, IT´S SUCH AN INTERACTIVE-TYPE TRAINING.

BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY GET VOCAL.

THEY REALLY SAY, OH, THIS IS -- THEY LIKE THIS PERSON, AND THIS PERSON WORKED INTO THE EVENING, OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE BECAUSE THIS PERSON IS ON MEDICATION, THAT THEY CAN´T GET UP IN THE MORNING AND BE THERE FOR AN 8:00 APPOINTMENT.

SO YOU SIT WITH THAT PERSON AND COME UP WITH WHAT´S BEST.

YOU DON´T JUST THROW THE CHILD OUT WITH THE BATH WATER BECAUSE SOMETHING IS WRONG.

YOU FIND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL BENEFIT THAT EMPLOYEE SO THEY COULD STAY TO WORK AND STILL BE OF BENEFIT TO THAT EMPLOYER.

>> SO HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS JOB NOW?

>> A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS.

FEBRUARY 18th MADE TWO YEARS ON THIS JOB.

>> EXCELLENT.

AND WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THIS NEW ENDEAVOR?

>> I LEARNED THAT THERE´S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW -- WE JUST ROLLED OUT ACCESSIBLE BEACHES.

WE ROLLED OUT, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATION CARDS FOR PERSONS THAT´S DEAF.

WE HAVE CHANGED THE WAY THAT V AND V APPROACHED PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO MIGHT BE DEAF OR OTHER, TO BE ABLE TO GET A DRIVER´S LICENSE.

SO WORKING WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND BRINGING THEM TOGETHER SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER EDUCATED AND MORE INCLUSIVE ISLAND OR TERRITORY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF PERSONS WITH AUTISM AND OTHER TYPES OF DISABILITIES, IT´S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> I APPRECIATE IT, YOU´VE BEEN FANTASTIC.

I´VE LEARNED A LOT, AND I HOPE TO LEARN A WHOLE LOT MORE FROM YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING "ABLE TO RAISE."

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>>> THE VIEWVIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STARVE, OR UNDERWRITERS.