The Virgin Islands University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities (VIUCEDD) was established in 1994 under the leadership and vision of Dr. Yegin Habtes, a Professor of Education. The St. Thomas center is located at the University of the Virgin Islands campus at the Department of Education. The St. Croix center is located at 1 Golden Grove Shopping Plaza.
The centers are operated Monday through Friday and are headed by an Executive Director who is stationed on the St. Thomas campus, and two Assistant Directors one on each island. All staff are full-time employees of the University of the Virgin Islands.
VIUCEDD also houses the territory-wide Virgin Islands Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities (VITRAID). This was established in 1995 under the TRAID Act of 1988 and is funded by the US Department of Education, Rehabilitation Service Administration. VITRAID core mission is to promote inclusion via the use of assistive technologies (AT). The program serves people with disabilities of all ages to have access and acquisition of AT that will increase their independence whether it be at home, work, the community or for leisure.
The community also can access the TRAID project for a variety of services such as technical assistance, training, and on-site demonstrations. VITRAID also administers the Virgin Islands Assistive Technology Loan , Inc program (VIATF). This program gives people with disabilities, their caretaker or family members to purchase AT through a low-interest loan.