Two forward-thinking professors from the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) have been awarded the prestigious 2025 Community Impact Award at the Cayman Enterprise City Business Design Competition for their groundbreaking initiative, EmpowerAbility Solutions. The company’s mission is simple but powerful: empower students with special needs through cutting-edge training powered by AI, VR, and Assistive Technology, building real career pathways and independent futures.
EmpowerAbility Solutions is a comprehensive service-based programme that partners with schools and community institutions to deliver customized training for students with special needs. The initiative uses a multi-faceted technological approach including immersive virtual reality job simulations that allow students to practice workplace scenarios in safe, controlled environments before entering actual workplaces. The programme’s AI-powered adaptive learning platforms automatically adjust difficulty levels based on individual progress, ensuring each student advances at their optimal pace.
“This award is a win not just for us, but for every student who’s ever been told they don’t belong,” said Dr. Eustache Placide and Dr. Annette Murphy. “We’re using innovation to unlock potential, one learner at a time.”
Although both founders are faculty members at UCCI, EmpowerAbility Solutions operates independently, created outside of their university roles. The programme provides specialized assistive technology tools customized to address various disabilities. EmpowerAbility Solutions provides curriculum integration, setup, and guidance, along with the technology, to ensure schools can deliver real-world career readiness.
With ambitious targets, EmpowerAbility Solutions aims to cut the disability employment gap in half within five years across the Cayman Islands, with plans to expand the model throughout the Caribbean region once proven successful locally.
EmpowerAbility Solutions are now seeking additional collaborations with government agencies, educational institutions, technology companies, and private sector organizations. Interested parties can contribute through funding, technology partnerships, employment opportunities, or mentorship programmes.
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