If you’re a fan of American football, then you know that the Atlanta Falcons had a surprisingly victorious season. You also probably know where you’ll be watching them face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI this Sunday in Houston, Texas.
But there will be another exciting team victory at NRG Stadium this Sunday – and it’s been a long time in the making.
We’re talking about the technology partnership between Blue Lance, a global provider of cyber governance solutions, and the H.E.A.R.T Program, a non-profit organization that creates new opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. Together, they’re unveiling i4Me, an innovative app that allows adults with learning disabilities to operate six Papa John’s Pizza stands at NRG Stadium on Sunday.
The i4Me app is an inventory management system for businesses that allows trainees to quickly and easily identify products, sort, count, and record quantities. Trainees can interact with the app in four ways: by uploading photographs of products, listening to product names, reading product names, and making entries. These modifications empower adults with developmental disabilities to overcome challenges with spelling, reading, and writing.
The app has been tested by trainees at NRG Stadium in preparation for Super Bowl LI. “The impact is very significant,” said Jane Cummins, the co-founder and executive director of H.E.A.R.T. “We see trainees completing tasks with confidence and independence. They’re counting pizza boxes and entering sales numbers without someone looking over their shoulder.” The CEO of Blue Lance, Umesh Verma, agreed. “We’re grateful to be part of an initiative in which adults with disabilities can adopt technology and thrive as part of society,” he said.
Other major benefits include its flexibility and adaptability for businesses. “The app is complicated on the back end but extremely simple to use,” said Reva Verma, the founder of Reneka App Builders, which designed the app in conjunction with Blue Lance. “This allows nice features like quick setup, quick modifications, and import and export capabilities. Best of all, it can be easily adapted and made available to the rest of the community with developmental disabilities.”
The collaborative effort between Blue Lance and H.E.A.R.T. has been recognized by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD). In 2012, TCDD awarded the partnership with a grant to fund the development and pilot of the i4Me app. “The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities is committed to helping people with developmental disabilities find jobs at competitive wages and in integrated settings,” said Beth Stalvey, TCDD executive director. “The council hopes that the success of the app developed by H.E.A.R.T. and Blue Lance can be replicated in other parts of Texas and the country.”
After five years of development and testing, the i4Me app is ready to pilot on Super Bowl LI. But even more ready are the trainees. Just ask Brian Gaspard of Papa John’s Pizza, who will be directing operations on Sunday.
“With this app, we’re changing lives. There’s nothing these adults with disabilities can’t do at our pizza stands,” said Gaspard. “This Sunday, they’ll be proud to put on their shirts and come to work.”
Be part of the victory this Super Bowl Sunday at NRG Stadium at concession stands 101, 112, 121, 132, 305, or 333.
Umesh Verma is the award-winning CEO and driving force behind Blue Lance, the global provider of cybersecurity governance solutions. For more than 25 years, Blue Lance’s automated software solutions have been protecting digitally managed corporate assets by assessing, remediating, and monitoring security of information systems. Call Blue Lance at 1-800-856-2586 for your 25-point Access Rights Assessment, or get social with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.
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