07/12/2024
๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐
July 9, 2024
Press Contact:
Richard Motta Jr.
340-474-2399
vi.gov
[email protected]
๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐
๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS โ The Governorโs Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Office has joined efforts with the USVI Disability Network Partners and many other public and private agencies and organizations to host its territory-wide โAll Things ADA Expoโ for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
The first event will be held on Tuesday, July 9th, at the Elridge W. Blake Sports & Fitness Center on UVIโs Orville E. Kean campus for the St. Thomas and St. John members of the community. The St. Croix event will be held the following Tuesday, July 16th, at the gymnasium of the St. Croix Educational Complex High School campus. Each expo will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with sign-in and limited registration beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The expo, which has grown each year since its debut in 2020, will highlight local health and disaster preparedness efforts by partnering agencies. Those agencies provide critical information for the coming disaster-inclined months, including โgo bagsโ and what should be in them; registration for free services, including VI Alerts, WAPA alerts, VITRAN paratransit services; a variety of health screenings, vaccinations, and related education; and procedures to secure and store medication and equipment before, during, and after disasters.
The expo will also be augmented with various presentations, panels, and question-and-answer segments regarding topics such as assistive devices, fraud awareness, housing assistance, banking and financial assistance, legal services, and employment. Disaster and other preparedness resources will be distributed, and refreshments and lunch will be provided.
โWith our fourth go-round of catering exclusively to our territoryโs underserved population aligning with the 34th anniversary of the ADA this month, I really wanted to expand the parameters of this event to capture the most sought-after aspects relevant to our differently-abled community,โ said Territorial ADA Coordinator Julien Henley, Sr. โWhile disaster preparedness and healthcare remain at the forefront, this will be our biggest expo yet. We will be celebrating the wave of accomplishments in awareness, resources, social support, and infrastructure as we prepare vulnerable households for this yearโs unprecedented hurricane season.โ
Along with the ADA Office, participating Disability Network Partners include the Disability Rights Center of the VI, VI Association for Independent Living, VI University Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD), Department of Human Servicesโ Disabilities & Rehabilitation Services, and the VI Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advocates. Other expo organizers include the Department of Healthโs Public Health Preparedness, American Red Cross of the Virgin Islands, and FEMA.
Sponsored by Viya and WTJX, the expo will also feature presentations by VITEMA, AARP Virgin Islands, FirstBank, VI Housing Authority, VI Housing Finance Authority, Department of Labor; Department of Health divisions, including Behavorial Health, Communicable Diseases, Community Health Services, Chronic Disease and Prevention, Epidemiology, Family Planning, Infants and Toddlers Program, Office of Emergency Medical Services Regulatory, and Women, Infants, and Children Program; Department of Human Services divisions including Family Assistance, Family Caregiver Support Program, and the Medicaid Unit; Department of Labor & American Job Center; and FirstBank. Department of Public Works, Virgin Islands Transit (VITRAN), Heavenly Home Sweet Home, Inc., Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, Inc., Salvage Life/AdaptVI, Schneider Regional Medical Center, St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation, Ticket to Work โ AMSI, Tropical Health, LLC, VI Fire Emergency & Medical Services, VI Housing Authority, VI Housing Finance Authority, VI Supported Employment Specialists Island Therapy Solutions, Virgin Islands Justice Initiative, VI Water and Power Authority, Family Resource Center, and others will also have resourceful stations at this event.
To register, visit www.vi.gov/ada. Registration assistance and more information about the event can be obtained by calling (340) 473-1848 or emailing [email protected].
Those who cannot attend physically are invited to watch the livestream, which will be shared for viewing by all residents at Government House - US Virgin Islands.
The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territoryโs people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov.
