Latest newsletter from the Human Development Institute.
No Images? Click here
A Word from the Executive Director
While it’s hard to believe that 2018 is nearly done, the last few months at HDI have been full of collaboration and new and exciting work. HDI will partner with RETAINing Kentucky’s Workforce through Universal Design (RKW-UD) to help workers stay at work and return to work in the event of injury or illness, using frameworks that are proving to be successful for states around the country. We also embed universal design, assistive technology, peer supports, and a strong collaborative emphasis that represent Kentucky strengths. The project will serve workers who experience a musculoskeletal injury or illness, on or off the job, in the KentuckianaWorks region. We will also focus on workers with substance use disorders that are co-existing or that develop post-injury/illness. We are also launching a National Training Center grant in partnership with Utah and Alaska to provide resources and training around people who experience mental illness and intellectual developmental disability. Additionally, our Wellness Edge grant is providing grants to eight organizations around Kentucky to provide inclusive recreation to people impacted by paralysis and their networks of support.
Several of us are also packing our bags to head to our national conference, AUCD, where this year’s theme is We All Belong Here – Achieving Inclusive Communities. We will be presenting around our work on a variety of efforts that do just that: build inclusive communities. While the weather reminds us that winter is around the corner, I’m so proud of HDI staff and students who live the work of inclusion. Our newsletter highlights this work. I hope you take a few minutes to catch up with us and enjoy the compilation put together by our Information Services Director, Stephanie Meredith.
Kathy Sheppard-Jones
KentuckyWorks Louisville Employment Community Conversation
Come join us on Monday, December 3 from 6:30-8:30pm at Down Syndrome of Louisville’s Sublett Hall to engage in conversations about setting employment priorities for people with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky! Organizing partners of the event include Down Syndrome of Louisville, Center for Accessible Living, and the University of Louisville Kentucky Autism Training Center.
Lexington ADA Taskforce Leads the Way on State Residential Code Changes Toward Universal Design!
Two residential building code changes written by a subcommittee of Lexington’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Task Force have now been adopted as part of the 2018 Kentucky Residential Code (KRC). With support from leaders in Lexington and the leadership of the ADA Task Force, these two KRC codes went into effect August 22, 2018 for the benefit of all Kentuckians!
The Department for Medicaid Services Rescinds Proposed Changes to the Collection of Patient Liability for Long-Term Care Waiver Recipients
Between May and June 2018, the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services sent letters to approximately 20,000 Kentucky long-term care waiver recipients detailing the amount of ‘patient liability’ they were expected to pay each month to maintain their Medicaid eligibility. After a Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee meeting and testimony from advocates in July, Medicaid officials announced they were not going to change patient liability and would provide further guidance after review.
Fall Seminar: School Bullying, Students with Disabilities, and School Safety
Join us in person or online for our Fall Seminar series on Friday, November 30, 2018 from 1 – 3pm ET to learn more about “School Bullying, Students with Disabilities, and School Safety" from experts Jon Akers, Mark Newton, Sycarah Fisher, and Zach Goble. The seminar will be held at the UK Coldstream Research Campus Human Development Institute Training Room 1525 Bull Lea Road, Lexington KY. A link to the live video stream of the seminar will be sent to registrants.
Project CHEER offers Adaptive Exercise Videos to Improve Health for Everyone!
One of HDI’s grant funded efforts, Project CHEER, has made it one of their missions to eliminate as many barriers to physical activity as possible for all individuals. Throughout the past year, Project CHEER has been working to create a series of adaptive exercise videos which provide instruction on physical activity that everyone, regardless of knowledge or ability level, can participate in.
Please consider making a donation today to support the good work at HDI as we support families and professionals every day!
HDI Speakers Featured at Post-Secondary Education Workshop in Louisville
On Thursday, October 11, HDI’s Teresa Belluscio and her two STEPS students, Emma Keyser and Brooke Wray, co-presented at a “Build Your Future” workshop at the McDowell Center in Louisville. The McDowell Center holds the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) and Kentucky Office for the Blind (OFB) Offices. The workshop was sponsored by the Center for Independent Living.
Tracking Employment Progress in KY for Students with Disabilities
by Tony Lobianco, Principal Investigator / Project Director KentuckyPost School Outcomes Center
KentuckyWorks tracks its progress through data from the Kentucky Post School Outcomes Center. This Center looks at employment and education outcomes in the first year after high school for students with disabilities. We focus on former students with autism, functional mental disabilities, and multiple disabilities. The figure below shows rates of competitive employment (defined as working at or above minimum wage for an average of 20 hours or more per week for 90 days) and enrollment in higher education (defined as completing at least one term in a two or four-year college or university).
KentuckyWorks featured at Regional Parent Summit on Autism
by Larry Taylor, Ed.D., Executive Director Kentucky Autism Training Center
The Kentucky Autism Training Center and the Kentucky Office of Autism collaborated to offer the Regional Parent Summit at Greenbo Lake State Resort Park in Greenup, Kentucky. Parents of individuals with autism, self-advocates, and professionals gathered on June 28 and 29th to learn, network, and develop relationships.
Cerebral Palsy’s No Match for this Kenpo Karate Warrior
by Darrell Mattingly
I was born and raised in rural Marion County, Kentucky. After high school, I attended the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY where I received two Bachelor’s Degrees in Computer Science and Mathematical Science with a minor in Statistics. I’m currently a web designer and developer for The Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky. I also serve on many non-profit boards which assist the disabled community, including the Adaptive Martial Arts Association.
HDI’s Judy Johns Recognized by the National Association for Mental Health (NAMI)
HDI’s Judy Johns was recognized as the “Family Support Group Facilitator of the Year” on September 22 at the 2018 NAMI Kentucky Annual Conference for her many years as a volunteer. She was trained in 2015 by NAMI to facilitate a family support group and to offer the 13 week family-to-family training course.
Fund for Excellence Awarded for Teacher Effectiveness Study
We’re excited to share that HDI is offering a Fund for Excellence grant this year entitled “Teacher Effectiveness Pilot,” led by Dr. Caroline Gooden, Growing Together Preschool’s (GTP) Director Cerise Bouchard, and Education Coordinator Denise Menshouse.
The Teacher Effectiveness Pilot (TEP) will be conducted at Growing Together Preschool (GTP) in Lexington, with the full support of Director Cerise Bouchard and her staff.
HDI Student Planning Still We Rise Banquet to Honor Resiliency of Fellow UK Students
Lauren Brown and Kennedy Guess, two of HDI's Universal Design Certificate students, will host a Still We Rise banquet that will recognize the strengths and resilience of students who have overcome extreme circumstances. Along with HDI, partners on the Still We Rise banquet include the UK Disability Resource Center, Student Support Services, and the Martin Luther King Center.
Nominations are now open for the Still We Rise 2019 award. To nominate a student, submit a brief personal statement from the student, student resume, and a letter of support from UK faculty/staff or from a fellow student. Deadline to nominate is December 15, 2018. All materials can be submitted electronically to Kennedy Guess: kkguess@mac.com
The 4th Thursday ADA Talks
HDI and HDI CATS have launched an ADA Training series held on the fourth Thursday of each month covering different topics surrounding the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Mark your calendars for upcoming ADA Talks:
- (No 4th Thursday ADA Talks in November & December)
- Accessible Technology & the Workforce: AT as a Reasonable Accommodation: January 24, 2019
Fall Seminar: Supported Decision-Making and Guardianship
“Guardianship has been the default option for people who “need protection” for centuries. It’s time to rethink that option. There are people who have a legitimate need for a guardian; however, many other people could be better served by simply getting some support to make decisions. Supported decision-making is being utilized across the globe both as an alternative to guardianship and as a way to increase self-determination for all people with disabilities and older adults.” – Laura Butler
Fall Seminar: A Brief History of Developmental Disabilities—What Have We Learned from the Past Fifty Years
“While tremendous progress has been made in enhancing life opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities over the past 50 years – both nationally and in our own state – that progress has only come through vigorous advocacy. The power of personal stories, as a keystone of that advocacy, cannot be underestimated. We will share some of those stories, the lessons they have taught us, as well as the challenges that we still face.” – Harold Kleinert
