The Delivering Innovative Vocational Education through Virtual Reality Technology (DIVE-VRT) program is now recruiting participants for the inaugural cohort of a groundbreaking new workforce training program aimed at preparing individuals with disabilities for careers in skilled trades.
The DIVE-VRT program, backed by a $9.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 Disability Innovation Fund, offers no-cost training using virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
Led by Tammy Jorgensen Smith, PhD, CRC, and Christine Hugh, MS, the five-year initiative will be integrated into LAUNCH at USF, a successful employment and transition program serving young adults with disabilities. LAUNCH will deliver the program in conjunction with local virtual reality experts, VRG Learning Institute.
Through immersive virtual reality learning, DIVE-VRT delivers cutting-edge training specifically designed for youth and adults with lifelong or acquired disabilities. The program prepares individuals for real-world, skilled careers through applied learning experiences, including apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, and post-program job placement support.
"Our team is eager to see how they [the students] engage with the technology, grow their skills, and build confidence in their abilities," said Hugh, co-principal investigator and program director of LAUNCH. "With this inaugural cohort, we will examine student experiences with VR technology and get feedback on opportunities to refine the program."
The first training cohort, running from August 2025 to April 2026, will focus on training in the field of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC). Participants will gain hands-on experience through virtual reality simulations, internships, apprenticeships, and job coaching 鈥� at no cost.
鈥淲e chose HVAC for our inaugural cohort because it represents a high-demand, high-growth field where skilled workers are urgently needed, especially in the state of 51在线," said Hugh. "Our employer partners have emphasized the urgent need for skilled, certified professionals to meet growing industry demands.鈥�
for the August cohort are open now, with a deadline of June 13, 2025. Additional information is available on the .
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. 搂搂 1221e-3 and 3474)