VRTAC-QM Manager Minute: Project AccessTECH — State VR Programs: Don’t Miss This Nationwide Tech Training Initiative

Get ready to be inspired by Project AccessTECH, a bold, nationwide initiative that’s breaking down barriers and reshaping the future of tech employment for people with disabilities.

In this episode, Carol Pankow welcomes Dr. Ayse Torres, Associate Professor in the College of Education, and Dr. Javad Hashemi, Professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University, into the VRTAC-QM Studio.

Powered by Florida Atlantic University and funded by the Disability Innovation Fund, Project AccessTECH delivers hands-on, cutting-edge training in cybersecurity, cloud computing, and 3D printing. Participants gain real-world experience through paid internships with industry leaders like Dell — all through a fully accessible, nationwide program that opens doors to sustainable careers and helps reshape employer perceptions about disability.

Whether you're part of a VR agency, a tech employer, or an aspiring participant, Project AccessTECH is redefining what’s possible. Listen today and join the movement!

 

Check out these informational links:

AccessTECHnology Program web site.

AccessTECH Introduction Video

 

 

Listen Here

 

Full Transcript:

 

{Music}

 

Ayse: By combining tailor training, hands on internship and soft skills development, we could not only help participants thrive, but also redefine how employers view disability in the tech world.

 

Javad: We bring the element of technology, high tech education and education of people with disabilities in key areas that we believe the nation needs.

 

Carol: This is a national initiative and participants can join from anywhere. Correct.

 

Ayse: That is absolutely right.

 

Carol: Ahh, it's excellent.

 

^{Intro Voice: Manager Minute brought to you by the VRTAC for Quality Management, Conversations powered by VR, one manager at a time, one minute at a time. Here is your host Carol Pankow.}

 

Carol: Welcome to the manager minute. I'm excited to have two distinguished guests in the studio today. Doctor Ayse Torres, associate professor in the College of Education and Doctor Javad Hashemi, professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University. This cracks me up because Jeff and I talked before we were recording today, and what? We haven't had such two distinguished guests on the show like you all. So glad you're here. So, Ayse, how are things going for you?

 

Ayse: I'm doing great. Thank you. It's exciting to be here, and I'm really looking forward to talking more about our Project AccessTECH.

 

Carol: Yeah. Me too. Me too. Javad, how about you? How are things going for you?

 

Javad: I'm doing well as well. Thank you. And thank you for this opportunity to talk to you about our new initiative, the center. It's very exciting, and there is a lot to discuss.

 

Carol: Well, it is very exciting. And I had a chance, I was on your website and I was reviewing the video and I'm like, oh my gosh, I got super excited. I think everybody across the country needs to hear about what's going on with your project because it is super important. So for our listeners today, we're going to dive into the Disability Innovation Fund Group F grants and funded through the US Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration. And we're spotlighting a bold national initiative to design and test new strategies that help youth and adults with disabilities successfully transition into competitive, integrated employment. And Florida Atlantic University is one of 27 grantees leading this charge. Their Project AccessTECHnology is already generating attention for its focus on creating pathways into high demand technology fields like cybersecurity, cloud computing, and 3D printing. But I don't want to steal your thunder, so let's hear directly from the team behind this exciting work. So, Ayse, let's start with you. Can you introduce yourself to our listeners and tell us about your role at FAU and with the AccessTECHnology Project?

 

Ayse: Absolutely. My name is Ayse Torres, and I'm an associate professor in the departments of Cancer Education, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering at Florida Atlantic University. My background is deeply rooted in vocational rehabilitation, where I help individuals with disabilities transitioning into meaningful careers. I worked in different capacities at the Division of Blind Services and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in Florida for the past eight years at Florida Atlantic University. I focus on developing evidence based strategies to enhance employment outcomes for people with disabilities. With the AccessTECH Project I serve as the principal investigator. This project is an amazing opportunity to work with incredible partners like Doctor Javad Hashemi, associate Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and Dean from the same college here at Florida Atlantic.

 

Carol: I just think that is the coolest thing. I could not believe your background when you were telling me you were part of the rehab counseling program to I'm like, what is happening? This is like mind blowing. I think this is an amazing partnership. So Javad, same question over to you. What's your role at the university and how are you involved in the project?

 

Javad: Thank you for asking the question. My name is Javad Hashemi. My training is in mechanical engineering. I'm a professor of mechanical engineering, but I've done a lot of research, for example in both mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering. I'm also the associate dean of research for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. My role is to coordinate research activities at the college, within the college, and between our college and other colleges. So this AccessTECHnology is an example of the type of initiative that the College of Engineering and the College of Education together have initiated, and this AccessTECHnology program. We bring the element of technology, high tech education and education of people with disabilities in key areas that we believe the nation needs.

 

Carol: This is so exciting. Ayse, how did the idea for this even come about? Like, how did you two get connected and come up with this awesome project?

 

Ayse: This is a great question. The idea really came out of our long talks with Doctor Hashemi and our partner, Doctor Tim Tansey, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We saw the unmet needs firsthand while working with people with disabilities, and we knew the tech sector is booming. But too often people with disabilities were left out because of several barriers. But these barriers sometimes related to training programs or employers feeling unsure about hiring, well, that's where this collaboration with Doctor Hashemi and the College of Engineering came into play. We ask ourselves, what if we created a program specially designed to bridge these gaps? Well, by combining tailored training, hands on internship and soft skills development, we could not only help participants thrive, but also redefine how employers view disability in the tech world.

 

Carol: I'm just like in I think this is super cool and I don't know anyone doing anything like this anywhere else. So can you guys walk us through the program? Like what are participants going to experience? From the training tracks to the whole certifications and internships? Lay it all out there.

 

Ayse: What's happening, of course, AccessTECH is divided into three main phases. First of all, we begin with Tech Prep, which is a program designed to build participants confidence in foundational employment soft skills. Then we move into specialized training tracks. Participants choose one of the three areas based on their interest and career goals. Cybersecurity, cloud computing or computer aided design and 3D printing. These tracks are hands on and immersive, running for 3 to 6 months and ending with a certification that's recognized across the industry. And lastly, participants engage with Paid Internship, which I highlight its paid internship with our industry partners like Dell Technologies. These real world experiences give them the chance to apply their skills, build professional networks, and gain footing in competitive workplaces. Our partners play a huge role here, not just by offering internships, by fostering rich environments that truly welcome different talents.

 

Carol: So I know you mentioned Dell, who are like your other key partners in this initiative. And are there opportunities for other people to get involved as the project expands?

 

Ayse: We have been building an incredible network of partners. This includes state vocational rehabilitation agencies across the country, community rehabilitation programs, and employers in the tech industry. Our advisory board also features stakeholders from disability organizations, local leaders and people with disabilities to ensure we are aligning with real community needs. Well, this is a great place to say, Carol, I'm just going to go ahead and say, for those who are interested in getting involved, we are always looking to expand our network. Whether you're an employer who wants to host interns or in agencies seeking resources for our clients, there is a place for you here in AccessTECH. Doctor Hashemi, what do you think?

 

Javad: I think it's exactly right. We have an advisory board that consists of more than 15 local companies. And all of these companies have committed to support this initiative. They're all very excited. And as we are advancing in the project, we are contacting and recruiting more companies. I think I had an idea to expand this to other states. We're going to pursue some of the venues that Ayse has thought of, and I think this number of companies will expand. The good thing about the program is that it can be done online. For example, the company could be in California, they could hire somebody in Pennsylvania, and the person in Pennsylvania can do this, that work in an online manner. Cybersecurity, you know, cloud computing solutions, these are all type of jobs that can be done online. We hope to expand this industry base that supports this project.

 

Carol: That really is the beauty of this project, because I think about some of our customers who are, you know, they're stuck really because of the rural nature of where they may live. They may not have access to some really awesome opportunities. But the pandemic showed us the world can be connected via the computer. You can get anywhere. And so as long as they can get some access to broadband and be able to get online, they could do the work. I think that is super cool. And what role does Tim Tansey play in this as your partner.

 

Ayse: He is such a great support for us. Like I cannot just say one word as his role. He has been from the beginning as been with us designing this study, every piece, every aspect of it. And also Doctor Emily Brink is working with us. This is such a great team that we are working with, and we can't do any of this without their support. They're super valuable.

 

Carol: Yeah, absolutely. I know that both of them, they've done a really good job because they've currently got the Quality Employment Initiative, the Technical Assistance Center, funded by RSA. So they have a lot of like real life experience to what's going on, Boots on the ground.

 

Ayse: Exactly.

 

Javad: Tim and Emily's role is really, really important in terms of doing the prep for our applicants, how to deal with industry, how to have a role in the work environment, how to communicate, how to collaborate in a team environment. I think these are the aspects that are truly important. They are equally and maybe even more important than the technology itself. So Tim and Emily's role I agree with Ayse is just crucial.

 

Carol: I think the cool thing about you guys is usually folks get these grants and it takes a long time for that to launch, but you all are already off and running. I mean, I can't even believe it. So we know you've launched your first cohort and you have this fully functional website. You have. All this stuff is out there already. What should state VR agencies know now that you're at go time, you're at the implementation stage. So what should our state VR agencies know about this.

 

Ayse: So as you said, we are so excited to share that we have officially formed our first cohort of participants. This is incredible. The first group includes individuals with different disabilities and a wide range of career interests in tech. They're about to kick off our first phase of the tech program. If you remember, I mentioned that this phase is all about enhancing soft skills. This is going to be great. Additionally, our fully functional website has been a game changer. It serves as the central hub for everything from detailed information about the program to easy online application. Everything is in one place in our website for the state VR agencies. Now is the perfect time to connect your participants with us, because the program is in full swing and we are excited to welcome participants from all over the country. AccessTECH makes the application process super simple. Participants can just head to our website and apply on their own. It's all about empowerment. If you want to refer your clients, just share our website with them. We have set up an easy three step application portal to make things so easy and smooth as possible.

 

Carol: I just want to underscore that I heard you right. This is a national initiative and participants can join from anywhere, Correct?

 

Ayse: That is absolutely right.

 

Carol: Ahh, it's excellent. So what is your recruitment strategy and how are you ensuring accessibility for this kind of broad audience?

 

Ayse: So AccessTECH is designed to reach people all across the country, whether you're in a big city or a small town. If you have a disability, a high school diploma and an interest in tech, this is just for you. When it comes to recruitment, the R strategy is multi-layered, but currently our recruitment plan focuses on to connect with state VR agencies and community organizations across the country. Also, our website is the central piece of scaling the program. It's not just informative but also functional, allowing anyone interested to quickly apply, learn about training tracks, or even connect with our team for questions by using strategic outreach. We are ensuring AccessTECH creates opportunities for a nationwide pool of participants.

 

Carol: How many people could participate in a cohort at a time?

 

Ayse: We are keeping the cohorts at this moment small, like 12 to 15, because we are actually piloting everything that we established in the past six months for the first time. This number will increase as the time goes by. This project is, you know, it's 4 or 5 years. So our goal is to reach 240 by the end of five years.

 

Carol: Nice, nice. So looking ahead, what's the long term impact that you hope to achieve overall? At the end of the program, you're looking back, end of five years, you right in the report, what's it say?

 

Ayse: Well I would say our goal for participant is very simple yet powerful to equip them with the skills, confidence and networks they need to build sustainable careers in technology. On a broader level, we aim to strengthen the tech industry workforce. What do you think, Doctor Hashemi?

 

Javad: I agree, I think that our main goal at the end of the project is to have a significant number of our applicants actually working with industry and having gained enough experience, like Ayse said, to have a sustainable career in any of these three tracks that we have developed. That's our goal.

 

Ayse: I would also add that once we demonstrate success in tech, we can apply similar models to other fields like robotics or programming and continue breaking barriers.

 

Carol: I love it, you guys, I think this is brilliant. And what's so wonderful is it's transferable. Other people are going to pick up on this idea, and it can be replicated elsewhere across the country. Like you said, different industries can get focused on having that same sort of partnership, but you give it that, kind of, that, oh, to go, and to go do this really well. So how can people get in touch or learn more about the project? You talked about the website. Can you give us the website address?

 

Ayse: Yes. You can visit our website at. www.FaU.edu/AccessTech. This is going to take you to a place to explore the program in detail and find contact information and apply to the program.

 

Carol: Very cool. Any other things you want our listeners to know about today about you?

 

Ayse: Very excited to receive applications and altogether strengthen this workforce.

 

Carol: I agree, I think this is great. I'm hoping you get a flood of applicants, I really do. I wish you both much success.

 

Ayse: Thank you, Carol, so much for having us.

 

Javad: Thank you very much, Appreciate it.

 

Carol: Thanks for being here. You're welcome. Good to have you.

 

^{Music}

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