The Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands (DRCVI), along with several disability organizations, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA) and the VI Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC) with webinars that will focus on helping small businesses learn how to create engaging social media content and develop disability employment policies pertaining to individuals with disabilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
These webinars are also designed to help make resources more accessible to these individuals.
The DRCVI will host the following webinars in July 2020:
- “Celebrating the ADA: Accessible Social Media for All” from 10-11 a.m., Wednesday, July 15
Presenter Nicole Ross was born and raised on St. Croix. She managed communications departments and social media activities for marine conservation nonprofits in Washington, D.C., including The Ocean Foundation and EarthEcho International, and she has managed social media accounts for Philippe Cousteau.
Additionally, Ross studied film and worked on commercial and documentary film projects in D.C. She returned home after being away for more than 15 years and then worked at Lutheran Social Services of the VI in the public relations and development department. In 2015, she began working as a communications consultant, using her knowledge of film, communications and fundraising to help companies and nonprofits amplify their stories and messaging. She now serves as the communications specialist at the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands.
Training Summary: Are you creating engaging social media posts that are reaching the widest audience possible? Have you ever considered an audience you may be missing? People with disabilities make up over 20 percent of the U.S. population, and family and friends make up another 20 percent.
This training will help you ensure your business, personal platform, or organization are using accessible social media best practices to reach a more diverse audience. From offices to storefronts to websites and social media platforms, an inclusive space means a greater impact on your bottom line and the world around you.
Who should participate: Communications directors, social media managers and influencers, and public information officers in a public agency.
- “Celebrating the ADA: Creating Disability Employment Policies”
From 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, July 30
Presenter Shammi Carr has been in the disability field for over 20 years, first as an advocate for parents with children in special education. She later became the director of advocacy and case management at an independent living center and then a regional technical assistance manager at Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute. At Cornell, Shammi worked with various stakeholder groups such as employer associations, system advocates, state and local governments and educational entities, including K-12 schools and colleges.
She was trained by the Department of Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Center. Recently, she worked as a program coordinator with VIUCEDD at the University of the Virgin Islands and as a ticket to work coordinator at the local One-Stop in Ithaca, NY.
Her current position as an advocate with the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands includes conducting training for parent/parent support groups and working with various employment entities such as VI Department of Labor, Vocational Rehab and business organizations. Shammi’s areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, parent education and training, disability rights laws, workforce development, employment and disability, and grant writing. She holds a BA in Anthropology from Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y.
Training Summary: Attend training that will assist your small business to further develop and implement disability employment policies. Advance your policies related to returning to work, conduct, flexible leave, reasonable accommodation and much more. Takeaways from this training include policy samples and resources.
Who should participate: Small-business owners.
Created in October 1977, the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands (DRCVI) is the federally-mandated and funded protection and advocacy corporation for the U.S. Virgin Islands. DRCVI’s mission is to advance the legal rights of people with disabilities, support and empower families and provide training and information that promotes the overall health and educational development of children and youth.
To register for these webinars, visit https://www.usvieda.org/webinars.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, and religion.
It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications. The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life.
The Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands (DRCVI) is the federally mandated and funded protection and advocacy corporation for the U.S. Virgin Islands. DRCVI’s mission is to advance the legal rights of people with disabilities, support and empower families, and provide training and information that promotes the overall health and educational development of children and youth.
