Latest newsletter from KentuckyWorks to improve employment outcomes for students with developmental disabilities.
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You Can Do So Many Things! Connects Early Childhood to Employment in Kentucky
KentuckyWorks staff authored a children’s book on employment in Kentucky, aimed at children, ages 4 – 6. The book encourages children, families and professionals to begin career exploration at an early age. This aligns with Kentucky’s focus on connecting early childhood to employers in the Commonwealth. The accessible book is available for free download here. You can also listen to the book. Hard copies are available for purchase here. Contact us if you’d like to host a virtual story time and please distribute broadly!
Check out our new infographic explaining how Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) can be deductions for people with disabilities receiving SSI and SSDI.
UK HDI Provides Leadership Around New State Employment First Executive Order
By Kathy Sheppard-Jones
On June 29, 2020, Gov. Andy Beshear signed the Employment First Executive Order, stating that “It is the policy of the Commonwealth of Kentucky that competitive integrated employment in the community shall be considered the first and primary option for persons with disabilities of working age who desire to become employed.”
The executive order authorizes the Employment First Council and charges it to “increase meaningful opportunities for competitive integrated employment for citizens with a disability seeking employment, regardless of the level of disability.” The 28-member council is administered by the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute(HDI) and serves as an advisory body to state government in furtherance of this policy, including the identification of state policies that create disincentives to employment of people with disabilities.
For more information, visit the Employment First Kentucky website.
Kentucky Checklists for a Bright Future
The Kentucky Checklists for a Bright Future are one page guides of some important things parents and youth can do to prepare for meaningful employment. Checklists have been created with family input for parents of students age 3-5, 6-10, and 16-18. There is also a checklist for students age 16 – 18.
HDI Leads Effort to Increase Higher Ed Access for Students With Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities
By Beth Potter
The University of Kentucky has a new opportunity to provide statewide leadership focused on increasing higher education access and success for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
During the 2020 legislative session, the Kentucky General Assembly included in UK’s state budget allocation $500,000 for the Supported Higher Education Project (SHEP). These funds enable the establishment of the Statewide Technical Assistance Center at UK’s Human Development Institute (HDI). The Statewide Technical Assistance Center will provide support to institutions of higher education in Kentucky to establish or enhance postsecondary programs that advance the academic success and inclusion of students with I/DD. The funds will support the participation of up to 20 students in partner institutions over the next year.
Education and Workforce Collaborative Executive Order
The Governor issued a new Executive Order which established the KY Workforce and Education Collaborative. This Collaborative has been established to continue work on implementation of the WorkReady Strategic Plan, created by the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board. The first meeting of the Collaborative was held September 17th from 1:30 – 3:30. Leadership from our KentuckyWorks team are involved in this Collaborative, and recognize the importance of this work for students with disabilities in the Commonwealth.
Kentucky Comprehensive Transition & Postsecondary Programs Brief
The Kentucky Comprehensive Transition & Postsecondary Programs Brief was developed to help colleges and universities learn about Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Programs (CTPs) to support students with intellectual disabilities (ID) who want to continue academic, career and technical, and independent living instruction at an institution of higher education (IHE) and prepare for employment.
Upcoming Events & News Spotlight
- Watch a recording by Northshore Families Helping Families in Louisiana of Stephanie Meredith offering the KentuckyWorks Bright Futures presentation on how youth and parents can prepare for employment through the school year. Watch here.
- 8th Annual Kentucky Congress on Spinal Cord Injury: October 9, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm Online. Register here.
- KY SPIN Regional Conferences in 2020. Check for more details.
- The 4th Thursday ADA Talks: The Courts and the ADA: The Current Court Battles: October 22. 10-11am. Register here.
Upcoming Webinar Series
Delivering on the Promise of Employment First for Students with Significant Disabilities, a four-part webinar series designed to support Kentucky school districts in their efforts to create meaningful work experiences leading to competitive integrated employment for students with significant disabilities. The series will present our learning from work with schools, employers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, parents and families, and will include proven tools and processes to support students with significant disabilities in obtaining competitive integrated employment. It is expected that the webinar series will occur in early 2021. Planning for the series is ongoing and more details, as well as registration information, will be shared soon.
Please consider making a donation today to support the good work at HDI as we support people with disabilities, families, and professionals every day!
Resource Highlights
We have so many amazing free resources available at KentuckyWorks to help youth, families, professionals, and employers, and we also created flyers to let you know what resources might be the most helpful for you! Check out all the training modules, infographics, flyers, videos and other resources on the KentuckyWorks resource page!
Blog Ideas?
If you have story ideas that we can share on the KentuckyWorks blog, please send them to Stephanie Meredith at stephanie.meredith@uky.edu
