We are proud to announce we were awarded a contract from the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD). The contract, which spans over two years, will fund a VR pilot project for the development of a new content curriculum to teach transportation and job skills for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and fund a license to use Floreo with its vocational trainees.

Many neurodiverse individuals face challenges with securing and accessing employment due to a range of factors, including inadequate skills training. In fact, approximately 85% of adults with autism are unemployed or underemployed. The new curriculum, administered through the program between Floreo and the Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, will focus on travel safety and transportation for riding public transit, as well as job skills training in community settings such as grocery stores.

Upcoming Events

LIVE & VIRTUAL EVENTS

See Floreo live and meet members of our team this week! If you will be at Table 5 at the APBA Conference in New Orleans March 17-19, we would love to hear from you!

Join author, Floreo advisor and our Lead Self Advocate, Sam Farmer, at his latest virtual presentation An Autistic Perspective as a Son (3/23 from 6:30-8:00 ET) "geared towards providing ideas and insights as to how autistic and neurodiverse individuals may be able to carve out better lives for themselves. This workshop will discuss all of the things my parents did right while raising me and how their parental decisions ended up positioning me for future happiness and success." Hosted by the Northeast Arc in MA, we hope you are able to join! Register here.

Grant update
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOLS

Attention Schools and Districts in Texas: All Texas local education agencies are eligible to apply for grant funding to increase their capacity to implement innovative programs that effectively serve students with autism ages three through 21. It is a great time to implement Floreo in your district, school, or regional center with the help of this grant! Let us know how we can help support your efforts to secure funding through this grant.

Educators in other states: Our friends at RobotLab compiled a great list of grant opportunities to help you to creatively fund a Floreo subscription. You can use their helpful tool to search for grants by state. As always, if we can help you with wording for a grant opportunity you have identified, please let us know!

Medicaid update
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MEDICAID-BASED SOLUTIONS?

Attention New York families and organizations: Floreo is an approved CFS Vendor for the OPWDD Self Directed Services Waiver. Our service provides training to increase independence, health and safety and promote opportunities to build community living and independence skills. If you are interested in using your OPWDD benefits to fund your Floreo subscription, please email us at info@floreotech.com.

If you are located in Maryland, Wisconsin, or Washington DC, please reach out to us about other Medicaid-based Floreo solutions in your area.

Research study opportunity
FROM OUR PARTNERS AT CHOP
Our partners at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are recruiting participants for a compensated survey about autism and police. Please consider participating or sharing with others who might be interested!

What have we been reading this week?
NEWS ROUND-UP

• We should claim our disabled ancestors with pride
• Luke Bryan wants to "ugly cry" after autistic singer's inspiring American Idol audition
• "My hope for Ukrainians with autism"
• Universal Orlando opens quiet room for guests with autism
• #CelebrateDifferences during April’s Autism Acceptance Month