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A Word from Executive Director Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones
Welcome to the latest edition of the HDI Newsletter. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to review some of our latest news. KentuckyWorks has launched new online resources that are aimed at improving transition outcomes for students with disabilities. We are also excited to share our 2017 Annual Report. Our new HDI video highlights a cross-section of our work, from early childhood impacts to health, education and student research. We will be introducing new chapters of the video each month, so stay tuned and check back often for updates.
Though the semester is moving quickly, don’t miss the chance to attend our November 17th seminar Medicaid 101, for an overview of Kentucky’s waiver programs. Visit our website at hdi.uky.edu for more details on registering! Remember that our website is also a great place to catch up on important resources and details about our projects. As always, please share this newsletter with others and let us know who we should add to our email list!
KentuckyWorks Website and Learning Modules Empower Youth with Disabilities to Reach Their Potential!
HDI has recently launched a new website and learning modules for teachers, people with disabilities, employers, families, and employment professionals at kentuckyworks.org. The purpose of this website is to help navigate the transition process and find the most valuable transition resources in Kentucky and nationwide to make sure youth with disabilities can get jobs and higher education after they finish school.
HDI 2017 Annual Report
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
I am pleased to share with you the Human Development Institute’s Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Report. HDI stands as Kentucky’s Center on Disability at the University of Kentucky. This was a year of change, of growth, and of softening the ground for new opportunities. Included in this overview you will find data that outline some of our accomplishments around research, education, training and information sharing, along with spotlights of our staff, students, and those we serve. I hope you enjoy this glimpse into some of our most recent work. Thank you for your support and for your partnership in helping to building brighter tomorrows, today.
Most Sincerely,
Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Executive Director
HDI Video Series
Over the next year, HDI will be releasing six chapters in our "HDI is ..." video series to find out about the good work we do here at the Human Development Institute across the lifespan for people with disabilities.
For Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October, we shared our first chapter featuring Laura Yost, who received our resources about Down syndrome from the Down syndrome Association of Central Kentucky after Scarlett was born. HDI is ... supporting new and expectant parents! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq-EwscE3PI&feature=youtu.be
And in case you missed it, here’s the introduction trailer for the “HDI is…” video series! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEI_N0aBa2I
Please consider making a donation today to support the good work at HDI as we support families and professionals every day!
HDI Seeking Rehabilitation Technologist Senior
Human Development Institutes (HDI) Center for Assistive Technology Services (CATS) is seeking a Rehabilitation Technologist Senior to fulfill the needs of the Driver Rehabilitation Contract for the Central Kentucky Region, and to provide rehabilitation technology assessments, training, demonstration, fabrication, and refurbishment of technology for HDI CATS. This position which is currently posted on UK’s Job page will be closed for applicants on 11/9/17.
Research Brief Fall 2017
A Statewide Community Conversation about Post-School Employment for Kentucky Youth with the Most Significant Disabilities
by Chithra Adams, Harold Kleinert, Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Amanda Corbin & Malachy Bishop
Young adults with disabilities face multiple challenges in obtaining successful post-school employment outcomes. This situation has remained relatively unchanged despite nearly 25 years of federal attention to the issue, including mandated transition services and a series of additional significant legislative responses. Recent research by Carter, Austin, and Trainor (2012) highlighted the severity of the situation, showing that “just 26% of recent graduates with severe disabilities were working for pay in their community up to 2 years after leaving high school” and 43% of those who were employed “held jobs in which most other workers had disabilities” (Carter et al., 2016, p. 398).
Research Assistant Spotlight: Rongxiu Wu
Rongxiu Wu is from Anhui Province, China. Two years ago, she chose to study at UK as a doctoral student. She formerly studied at Shanghai University in China and her major was Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. She currently studies Quantitative and Psychometric Methods in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky.
HDI Seminar Series: Medicaid Waivers 101
Join us in person or online for our Fall Seminar series on Friday, November 17, 2017 from 1 – 3pm ET to learn more about the “Medicaid Waivers 101.” Learn more from experts Lori Gresham (Clinical Program Manager Senior for the Department of Medicaid Services). 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.
Click here to register for the seminar. For help registering, contact walt.bower@uky.edu.
Fall Seminar: Path to Employment for Veterans With and Without Disabilities
“Today’s military has almost all the occupations found in the business community. With businesses struggling to find qualified employees, veterans with and without disabilities can help fill the gap by bringing not only the skills but experience as well. The key is to match the right veteran with the right employer for the mutual benefit of both.” David Kuhn, Veterans Program Coordinator
HDI Free Documentary Film Screening of “Bottom Dollars”
A free screening of the Bottom Dollars film, an original documentary by Rooted in Rights about the work exploitation of nearly 250,000 people with disabilities, was held on October 25 from 6-8pm in the Lyric Theater Community Room in Lexington. This free public event was presented by the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute, the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Kentucky Protection & Advocacy (P&A).
Fall Seminar: Disability Law and Policy: Emerging Trends and Future Practice
“To imagine the world without disability law and policy is to envision continued segregation, where separation on the basis of human difference alone is accepted. The modern disability rights movement seeks to ensure that society is inclusive of all.” Peter Blanck, University Professor at Syracuse University
