Rori Becker co-founded Simple Life Connections in 2006, she helped produce Giggleyolates (a yoga and pilates video for children with diverse abilities) and the Bright Feats Directory. In 2017, as she considered her own daughters’ transition to adulthood and independent living, Rori saw an opportunity to expand her mission with Bright Feats to include inclusive employment. Thus the VIPworks training program was born. VIPworks currently hosts 3 worksites that teach individuals with unique abilities to perform digital marketing and design activities. In 2020 VIPworks trained a combined total of 79 participants. Phyllis Guthman created the Disability Resource Hub 9 years ago. She collaborated with Rori Becker, for the past 5 years to produce a Tampa Bay disability resource directory. 

Their combined experience in education, non-profit, for-profit, mission-based projects and the success of the VIPworks Employment Training Program led Rori and Phyllis to co-found VIPworks Design, a diverse-ability digital marketing agency! Participants with and without autism and related disabilities that demonstrate design ability and the appropriate professional skills can apply to work at VIPworks Design. They match their employees strengths with client needs. Our continued coaching and assistance allow employees to experience success and to reach their full potential.  Our goal for employees with autism and related disabilities is:  “Real Wages for Real Work!”.

We feel a heightened sense of civic responsibility knowing that this work can have an enduring positive impact on individuals with and without disabilities. We are operating in the purpose that has been placed on our hearts to do our part to usher in a society that is fully integrated at work and in the community. Our administrative staff is hardworking and completely committed to the success of our employees. We work extended hours serving as an interface with clients, making sure all client expectations are exceeded. This allows our employees to focus on work activities that they are well suited to complete. They do all of the actual design work and become experts in the particular activities they perform on a daily basis.

Our VIPworks Design Team is a full service digital marketing agency! We perform all design and digital marketing services just like a typical design agency. We are professionals and provide finished products with exceptional quality. With the administrative support offered to our employees, with and without disabilities, and our clients, we will be able to realize our dream of becoming an inclusive employer successfully tackling the challenges associated with hiring individuals with unique abilities. If you are a provider that shares our mission for inclusive employment please contact us!

Individuals that demonstrate design ability and the appropriate professional skills can apply to work at VIPworks Design. We match our employees strengths with client needs. Our continued coaching and assistance allow employees to experience success and to reach their full potential. Those that have an interest in VIPworks Design but who need additional support to prepare for employment can register for VIPworks/ at our collaborating locations: MacDonald Training Center and ASD Adult Achievement Center.