Transforming Employment for People with Disabilities Through Innovative Technology
VocFit is a tool that supports people with developmental disabilities (DD) in discovering meaningful, integrated employment opportunities. Developed in partnership with Dr. Andy Persch and Dr. Dennis Cleary, the platform centers around the Vocational Fit Assessment (VFA). This tool provides accurate, person-centered measures of work-related interests and adaptive behavior.
Despite its solid foundation and widespread use (over 20,000 assessments conducted), the original VocFit platform faced major challenges. Their outdated site architecture limited scalability, the job bank only supported about 30 positions, and reporting and data visualization features lacked modern capabilities. The company wanted to continue making a real-world impact that serves an increasing population, including international clients. To do this, VocFit needed new infrastructure to serve a growing audience of educators, families, and job seekers with DD.
As with many nonprofit organizations, finances for this project were a barrier for VocFit. Our team at Buckeye Innovation took an unconventional path to overcome this challenge. We worked with the VocFit team to apply for— and receive— grant funding from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) to support this project. Buckeye Innovation is the primary applicant on the grant, which means we were actually able to pay our client to create this life-changing tool!
To meet the growing needs of VocFit users and deliver on the grant’s vision, our team at Buckeye Innovation worked closely with founders Dr. Andy Persch and Dr. Dennis Cleary to reimagine the platform from the ground up.
We began with in-depth stakeholder interviews, including VocFit users and Project SEARCH teams, to identify pain points and prioritize improvements. It became clear that a rebuild—not a patchwork update—would best serve long-term goals.
We expanded the Job Bank to about 230 roles, added AI-powered “Best Fit” recommendations, and introduced tailored reports for job seekers, families, and educators. The new platform also includes updated accessibility features, streamlined navigation, and improved visuals for reporting and decision-making.
This collaborative and data-driven process ensured the VocFit platform could scale, adapt, and empower thousands more individuals across Ohio and beyond.
We introduced tailored reports to better serve VocFit’s diverse users. Family-Friendly Reports help caregivers support employment goals. Employment Plan Reports guide goal setting and coaching. Volunteer Match Reports offer opportunities for those seeking to contribute to their community. Cohort reports help schools and agencies track group progress and outcomes.
As the primary grant applicant on this project, we also provided detailed quarterly reports to DODD that outlined our progress and challenges. This process was streamlined because we use Asana for project management to easily track our progress and determine budgeting.
Since launching the rebuilt VocFit platform in August 2024, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. With a more accessible, intuitive, and intelligent platform, thousands of people across the world are now better equipped to pursue competitive integrated employment.
Our partnership with VocFit has helped transform how individuals with developmental disabilities explore and pursue employment. With a redesigned platform, expanded job-matching tools, and new stakeholder-specific reports, thousands of users now have access to a more personalized, data-driven, and inclusive employment journey. Educators, families, and support professionals can now make more informed decisions. Job seekers are also better equipped to find roles that match their abilities and interests.
Over 20,000 individuals have already been assessed through VocFit. With ongoing improvements, the platform is reaching even more people—supporting transitions from day programs to integrated employment, improving job fit, and fostering independence. This project turns data into action and possibility into purpose.
7775 Walton Parkway, Suite 100
New Albany, Ohio
(614) 289.7900
info@buckeyeinnovation.com
Proof of the power of innovation.
