Latest newsletter from KentuckyWorks.
No Images? Click here
Overview of Employment Initiatives for Kentuckians with Disabilities
Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Executive Director of the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute explains, “In our society, we largely define who we are by the work that we do, regardless of whether we have a disability or not. We have an opportunity right now to build collaboration around employment to create a stronger workforce that is inclusive of all people.”
One of the steps that is necessary for progress in this area is to share information about employment efforts that are working in support of improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities. Visit our Employment Initiatives page for a list of Kentucky employment initiatives and partnerships with a disability focus. This is a living webpage that will be continually updated as collaborators and efforts expand. It is a step in sharing the work that is happening in the Commonwealth with new audiences. It is also just one ingredient in impacting employment outcomes.
Watch our SSI 101 video featuring Carolyn Wheeler talking about how you can work while receiving SSI.
Brighter Tomorrows Family Engagement Module
This free online course shows the parents of students with significant disabilities how to start preparing for meaningful employment throughout the school years. We outline what competitive employment means, how to create a vision statement for the future, how to explore and develop works skills and talents, how to address concerns, and what resources you can use to help your child achieve his or her dreams.
Transition Module 103: Endless Possibility – Preparing High School Students with Disabilities for Successful Transition to Employment
This free, online course reviews preparation for a student as they prepare to transition from high school into employment. In addition, the module addresses how support organizations fit into the broader picture of transition, and how Kentucky has used opportunities like the Workforce Innovations Opportunities Act (WIOA) to broaden our supports to youth with disabilities.
Check out our vision statement template for youth to share their goals for the future, including a video example of how parents and teachers can help them create it.
Upcoming Events
- Direct Support Provider - Lunch & Learn hosted by Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities and HDI: Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 12pm – 1:30pm ET at 1525
Bull Lea Rd, Lexington, KY 40511-1200
- Creating a Safe and Secure Future Information Session hosted by Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities and HDI: Saturday, July 20, 2019 from 8:45am – 1pm ET at Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative 2331 Fortune Dr, Lexington, Kentucky 40509. Sponsored by Central Kentucky Education Cooperative, Bluegrass.org, and Build Inclusion
- ADA 4th Thursday Talks: Thursday, July 25 from 11am-12pm on Program Access and Structural Accessibility and Thursday, August 22 from 11am-12pm on Physical Accessibility of Places of Public Accommodation at
HDI CATS 2358 Nicholasville Rd Suite 180, Lexington, Kentucky 40503
- KentuckyWorks State Team Meeting: July 25, 2019 from 1pm-3pm ET
KentuckyWorks Brochure
Send us an email at stephanie.meredith@uky.edu to request free copies of our brochure to share at events or with families, professionals, students, employers, or educators.
Please consider making a donation today to support the good work at HDI as we support people with disabilities, families, and professionals every day!
KentuckyWorks Work Teams Update: Added Transportation Work Team
We have created a work teams web page to keep you posted about the latest work teams information, including members of the team, team leaders, the next meeting date, and meeting notes.
We also recently created a new Transportation Work Team! The Transportation Work Team believes that accessible transportation options are the linchpin for individuals with disabilities to attain quality life outcomes. Transportation provides a vital lifeline for people with disabilities to access employment, education, healthcare, and community life.
The Transportation Work Team will research, develop, and promote accessible transportation options with the primary goal of increasing employment opportunities for Kentuckians with disabilities. Developing a plan for transportation – whether that be independent driving, fixed route bus transportation, community paratransit, rideshare, natural supports, and the like – should play a prominent role during the critical transition window for adolescents and young adults.
We seek to ensure that short and long range transportation planning becomes second nature to service planning. We also acknowledge that all individuals and families must connect with a variety of supports – including those that are publicly and privately funded, community supports that are available to anyone, and relationship based supports – through the lifespan as we live full and successful lives. Email Maria Kemplin to join the work team!
Highlights of the PIE grant meeting
On May 21-22, KentuckyWorks staff, Jeff White and Stephanie Meredith, attended the Yes!Center annual meeting of states who have received PIE grants to improve employment outcomes. We learned so much from the great ideas shared by the other states, and some of our favorites included the following:
- Host an employment summit for employers. (TN)
- Group of 20 business champions meet every other month and offer free training. (SC)
- Provide ADA compliance seminars for employers. (UT)
- Work groups meet monthly. (MA)
- Training people with ID to be direct support professionals. (DC)
- Printed materials really are vital for rural regions. (Alaska—go to job fairs, conference, and deliver to districts)
- One page printed handouts. (MA)
- MyPathNY—like our survey. Used by professionals and teachers when sitting down with families. (NY)
Family Engagement Curriculum for Professionals
We are also currently working to develop a family engagement curriculum to help professionals build stronger alliances with families so that they can work together to improve employment outcomes. Toward that end, we have created a curriculum presentation, a video for teachers on how to create a vision statement with students, a video on how to explain benefits and working, and we hosted a focus group of teachers to evaluate the curriculum and give us feedback. We plan to offer this curriculum as a presentation to teachers throughout the state in the coming school year.
