Floreo, which has developed the first behavioral therapy metaverse through a Virtual Reality (“VR”) platform, has entered into a contract with 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.
“Floreo’s vision is a world that is open and accessible for every neurodiverse person and this new pilot program will help us directly address several of the biggest challenges that neurodiverse individuals face,” said Vijay Ravindran, Floreo’s Founder and CEO. “We are very pleased that Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities selected Floreo for this important initiative and we look forward to introducing our behavioral therapy metaverse to individuals in Tennessee to help teach them vital life skills using our VR platform,” added Mr. Ravindran.
“We’ve seen how the right technology can break down barriers for Tennesseans with disabilities who want to work, “said Brad Turner, Commissioner of DIDD. “This partnership will provide innovative and engaging opportunities that will support the department’s efforts to improve employment outcomes statewide and open new doors for the people we support to access their communities.”
About Floreo:
Floreo’s vision is a world that is open and accessible for every neurodiverse person. Our mission is to create the first behavioral therapy metaverse, a world that is safe for learners, equipping them with skills and tools they can apply in their everyday lives. We have developed a VR platform that teaches social, behavioral, communication and life skills for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, anxiety and other neurodiverse conditions. To stay up-to-date: visit us at www.floreotech.com
Floreo media contact: dtarman@perceptualadvisors.com
About the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities:
The Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) is the state agency responsible for oversight of services and support to Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Every day, the department strives to support approximately 12,000 people to live rewarding and fulfilling lives through Medicaid waiver Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), state operated ICF/IIDs, and the Family Support Program. DIDD also provides services to children ages birth up to age three with disabilities or developmental delays through the Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS), and children under the age of 18 with disabilities or complex medical needs through the Katie Beckett Program. The department supports all Tennesseans with intellectual and developmental disabilities live the lives they envision for themselves by ensuring people are free to exercise rights, engage with their broader communities and experience optimal health. DIDD is the first state service delivery system in the nation to receive Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership. It has also been recognized as a national leader in its efforts to increase competitive, community-based employment outcomes for people with disabilities and its commitment to enhancing independence through Enabling Technology.
