Author: Beth Potter

The HDI Digital Storytelling Initiative features Dr. Phillip Rumrill

Posted on | by Beth Potter

The UK Human Development Institute presents the second video in its Digital Storytelling Initiative, a Fund for Excellence project. In this video, Morgan Turner, Project Specialist, interviews Dr. Phillip Rumrill.

Dr. Rumrill is a professor of Counselor Education, and Director of Research and Training at the UK Human Development Institute. He shares his personal experience with disability, how it has impacted his life, and shares advice for other people living with disabilities. Dr. Rumrill says, “It’s not about what you can’t do. It’s what you do contribute and what you add in that appreciation of diversity and value of everyone’s humanity”.

The Digital Storytelling Initiative utilizes the StoryCorps (R) facilitation model to preserve and share stories by, about, and told by people with disabilities. In these videos, both the interviewer and interviewee are people who experience disability in their lives. If you are interested in learning more about the Digital Storytelling Initiative, contact patti.logsdon@uky.edu.

two male martial artists shaking hands; one man is wearing white and is standing and the other man is wearing black and uses a wheelchair for mobility. Three martial artists are shown in the background.

HDI to partner with the Adaptive Martial Arts Association

Posted on | by Beth Potter

The Kentucky Inclusive Health Collaborative at the UK Human Development Institute is excited to partner with the Adaptive Martial Arts Association (AMAA) to develop training modules for a web-based certificate course for instructors to increase capacity for adaptive martial arts in their academies. These modules will raise awareness about disabilities, promote the use of universal design, and share successful implementation strategies to support martial artists of all abilities. The creation of this course will help fulfill the AMAA’s mission of expanding opportunities and inclusion for people with disabilities through education, support, and promotion of health and physical fitness in martial arts.

Contact Darrell.Mattingly@uky.edu for more information.

smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a tan top, jean jacket, and hoop earrings with trees in the background

Promoting COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence

Posted on | by Beth Potter

Over the next year, the UK Human Development Institute will work with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and several partners as part of a CDC Cooperative Agreement, Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence among People with Disabilities. This project aims to support the work of AUCD in facilitating COVID-19 vaccine conversations among network members, identifying barriers to vaccine accessibility, increasing vaccine confidence, sharing credible COVID-19 vaccination information, responding to misinformation, translating information into accessible formats, and sharing success stories and lessons learned. HDI will ensure the accessibility of a variety of resources that will be shared across the network. Patti Singleton, Division Director, will be the Principal Investigator of this effort, and will draw upon the expertise of many staff who are involved in universal design, accessibility, digital storytelling and information services work.

laptop sitting on a desk with blurred background

HDI to pilot Professional Certification in Universal Design

Posted on | by Beth Potter

A University of Kentucky (UK) Human Development Institute (HDI) Fund for Excellence award has been given to Christina Espinosa Bard and Patti Singleton to offer a professional certification to equip people to use the principles of Universal Design (UD) in the workplace. This will expand HDI’s current undergraduate certificate program available to UK students from any field of study.

HDI is a national leader in embedding UD practices in learning by examining goals, materials, methods, and assessment for usability factors. These practices will be used to develop and pilot a six-hour certificate program that will include case studies and activities to support practical application of UD principles in the workplace.

To increase capacity and raise awareness about UD principles, UK employees will be provided an opportunity to complete the certificate at no cost to them. This project supports HDI’s mission of promoting the inclusion and contributions of people with disabilities through information sharing, leadership, and advocacy. 

Contact ctespinosa@uky.edu or Patti.Naber@uky.edu for more information.

Morgan Turner wearing a UK blue t-shirt in a gym. He is smiling at the camera and has short, black hair.

Morgan Turner leads presentation at the Dignity of Work International Forum

Posted on | by Beth Potter

HDI Program Education Assistant, Morgan Turner, recently presented at the Dignity of Work International Forum sponsored by the Institute on Community Integration. In his presentation, Morgan’s Musings: My Successful Journey to Inclusive Employment in Higher Education, Morgan shared his experience as a person with a disability in finding, maintaining, and thriving in employment. Morgan was joined by co-presenters and HDI colleagues, Johnny Collett and Austin Nugent for a panel discussion about advocacy and strategies to improve employment and awareness.

As an Employment First state, Kentucky is committed to supporting competitive integrated employment as the first and primary option for our citizens with disabilities, regardless of their level of disability. As the state’s University Center of Excellence on Disabilities, the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) has served as a major thought leader regarding the lived experiences of people with disabilities for over 50 years and is committed to improving the inclusion, independence, opportunity and contribution of people with disabilities and their families throughout the lifespan.

Johnny Collett, HDI Deputy Director, says “Morgan’s knowledge, skills, values, dispositions, and experiences demonstrate what it means to live out the mission of the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute. Additionally, his achievements and leadership in supporting other people with disabilities to be successful exemplify the promise of Kentucky’s Employment First policy and what we envision for all Kentucky citizens with disabilities”.

Learn more about Morgan’s Musings or contact Morgan.Turner@uky.edu.