Collaborators from USF presented at the 2025 Florida Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Summit in Orlando on Feb. 20, showcasing their groundbreaking project that will enhance learning experiences for youth and adults with disabilities through the use of virtual reality and artificial intelligence (AI).

The project, part of the five-year Delivering Innovative Vocational Education through Virtual Reality Technology (DIVE-VRT) grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration through the Disability Innovation Fund, will integrate virtual reality and AI into LAUNCH-USF, a successful transition and employment program. The collaboration aims to train and certify youth and adults with lifelong and acquired disabilities in skilled trades.

Members of the DIVE-VRT grant team at the 2025 Florida APSE Summit in Orlando on Feb. 20. Pictured from left to right are Tony Denham, Howard Kaplan, Larry Tartaglino, Joe Fratto, Tammy Jorgensen Smith (PI), Estefania Simon, and Scott Fontechia.

Along with Jorgensen Smith, the team included Scott Fontechia, program coordinator in the Department of Child and Family Studies; Howard Kaplan, PhD, associate director from USF’s Research Technology team; Estefania Simon, a doctoral student in behavioral and community sciences; and VRG Learning Institute team members Tony Denham, Joe Fratto, and Larry Tartaglino, who serve as virtual reality experts.

The response was overwhelmingly positive,” said Jorgensen Smith. Attendees described the content as “insightful and exciting,” “innovative,” and praised the team’s work with comments like, “I love and respect what you are doing. It’s great.”

The contents of this article were developed under a grant number H421F240044 from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1221e-3 and 3474)