Latest newsletter from KentuckyWorks. No Images? Click here Overview of Employment Initiatives for Kentuckians with Disabilities
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.
Brighter Tomorrows Family Engagement ModuleThis 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 EmploymentThis 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.
Upcoming Events
KentuckyWorks BrochureSend 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.
KentuckyWorks Work Teams Update: Added Transportation Work TeamWe 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 meetingOn 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:
Family Engagement Curriculum for ProfessionalsWe 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. |