Come join us on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 for youth with intellectual disabilities, families, and professionals to discuss what families and youth need to prepare for the world of work! We need to hear your voices, including parents of younger and older students with disabilities and youth with more significant needs. Help us figure out how to make employment a possibility for everyone! Continue reading
On May 15, 2018, Governor Matt Bevin signed Executive Order 2018-328 to add Kentucky to the growing list of states with Employment First policies for people with disabilities. This Order will ensure that competitive and integrated employment in the community shall be considered the first and primary option for persons with disabilities who want to become employed. This means that all state agencies will work toward making sure people with disabilities have opportunities to work in the community and offer valuable skills to their employers while receiving a competitive wage. Continue reading
The purpose of this event is to bring together people with all types of disabilities who are interested in developing and sharing leadership skills. In order to have our voices heard and respected, we must create stronger networks for sharing and supporting one another. Kentucky has a few self-advocacy groups, but they tend to be small and disconnected from one another. We are hoping that the unconference will help to create some stronger bonds and help us all to think about new ways to work together on issues of importance to our communities.
The unconference format is a great equalizer. There is a structure behind the apparent lack of structure that encourages participation by those who may have found themselves disempowered in more formal settings. There is a strong sense of ownership and connection that comes from the shared responsibility of creating and leading sessions. It is an approach very well suited to the discussion of self-advocate leadership. —Bev Harp
HDI was recently selected as a recipient of the 2018 University of Kentucky Inclusive Excellence Award in the Department/Unit category in appreciation for the institute’s dedication and passion to advances in diversity and inclusion, which aligns with the University’s Strategic Plan.
HDI’s commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion through campus and community leadership and engagement was recognized at the University of Kentucky Faculty Awards ceremony, Thursday, April 19. All HDI staff were invited to attend the ceremony, and HDI’s Executive Director, Kathy Sheppard-Jones, accepted this significant award on behalf of the institute. Continue reading
KentuckyWorks and Kentucky E3TC held a joint community conversation on March 20 in Jackson, Kentucky. The goal of the activity was to bring together a diverse group of concerned citizens in the Breathitt County area to examine what could be done to increase transportation options for people with disabilities. Our expectation is that success with this task will result in an increase in inclusion.