U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — The Governor’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Office is proud to announce the resounding success of the recent “All Things ADA” Expo held in the St. Thomas-St. John and St. Croix districts for caretakers, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. The events saw remarkable turnouts, with almost 250 community members in attendance on St. Thomas and over 230 persons on St. Croix.
The Office of the Territorial ADA Coordinator extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the community members who came out to empower themselves and engage in meaningful conversations in honor of Disability Pride Month. The overwhelming participation reflects the community’s commitment to inclusivity and support for individuals with disabilities.
“We are thrilled by the turnout and the enthusiasm displayed by our community,” said Territorial ADA Coordinator Julien Henley Sr., who birthed the project’s origins. “The Expo provided an invaluable opportunity for individuals to access resources and assistive devices for disaster preparedness, gain insights on the status of their or their loved one’s health, and connect with others dedicated to promoting disability rights and inclusion.”
Additionally, other presentations were made on fraud awareness, housing assistance, banking and financial assistance, legal services, employment and more. The events also featured an impromptu audience talent show where attendees showcased their different abilities and won prizes. “The talent search was an especially heartwarming way to highlight ADA Pride within the crowd and simultaneously allow us to focus on the blessings we already possess. But the most gratifying of it all was the overall positive feedback from attendees,” Mr. Henley remarked.
The success of these events would not have been possible without the generous support and collaboration of various stakeholders. The ADA Coordinator extends special thanks to the event sponsors Viya and WTJX, and the Disability Network Partners of the Virgin Islands and other partnering organizers, all dignitaries who attended, and the numerous agencies and organizations that partnered to execute the largest and most meaningful ADA Expo in the territory to date.
The livestream of the event remains available for viewing at facebook.com/GovernmentHouseUSVI. Residents are also encouraged to join the online celebration of the 34th Anniversary of the ADA on Friday, July 26th from noon to 1 p.m. where leading USVI advocates will discuss their work and the services they currently provide. Those interesting in viewing should visit https://bit.ly/ADA34VI to RSVP.
Disability Network Partners include the Governor’s ADA Office, Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands Association for Independent Living, Virgin Islands University Center of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD), Department of Human Services’ Disabilities & Rehabilitation Services, and the Virgin Islands Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advocates.
For more information about the All-Things-ADA Expo and future events, visit www.vi.gov/ADA.
The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov.

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