Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/1518307
22 majority of participants loved using the technology! Along the way, we also noticed an unexpected side effect – Members who used it were visibly more relaxed after using the VR than they had been beforehand. Moving forward, we will be continuing the trial usage of this potentially game-changing technology and will be measuring the relative effects on Members' behavior as well as on their ability to successfully move into employment situations. In the meantime, we are also working on the next VR scenario which focuses on interpersonal effectiveness to help improve the quality of people's work relationships. Work, plus positive relationships with co-workers, results in true inclusion in the community, which is ultimately what "Making Lives Better" is all about! of years to help children become exposed to new situations and skills. Developing VR, however, can be very expensive and requires skills not readily available to nonprofit organizations like RTR. Opportunity emerged in the late spring of 2023. The state Department of Developmental Services (DDS) issued an RFR seeking innovative approaches to help people with disabilities be more successful in employment and community inclusion situations. To maximize the potential resources available, we collaborated with three other similar organizations – South Shore Support Services, WORK, Inc., and the Arc of Bristol County – to submit a combined RFR response focused on the use of VR to facilitate skill development in persons with developmental disabilities to facilitate their employment. This "innovation collaboration" formed a relationship with the University of Florida's Advanced Technologies Learning Lab and work quickly began on developing VR scenarios which could be applied with the people we serve. By December 2023, we had developed the first scenario called Mood Mentor. This scenario was developed to improve individuals' mindfulness skills. Clinically, "mindfulness" has been strongly linked to improved emotional and behavioral regulation and improved decision making. It involves observing details in the natural and interpersonal environments, accurately describing what is being observed, and then taking effective action. The technical team in Florida took the clinical information and suggestions from us and translated them into an immersive experience! Beta testing of the product began in January. Some adjustments were made to the program, then significant expansion of the initial trials began. While still early in the process, the results have been very encouraging. Members who had difficulty sustaining their attention for more than a minute or two were able to focus on the scenario for up to 10-minutes and, importantly, the overwhelming