News
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Kentucky Workforce Landscape Holds Promise for People with Disabilities
Employment is an expectation. Passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 furthered that expectation for people with disabilities across the country. In Kentucky, the last few years have brought added impetus through several notable employment initiatives. In 2017, the Kentucky Work Matters Task Force was convened to create responses to barriers for populations…
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HDI 50th Anniversary Spotlight on Stephanie Meredith
What I love most about HDI is the culture cultivated by Dr. Harold Kleinert and nourished by so many other great leaders here—to be kind and nurture partnerships while also taking a stand and sometimes taking risks to make sure we are addressing the most pressing needs for people with disabilities and their families. I…
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Available Now! Comic Book Featuring People with Disabilities Achieving Health Goals
As a way to help motivate and inspire people, I created the comic book DDMC Man, in which the hero has Ataxia, much like me to show that not all heroes have to have superpowers, but that a strong will and desire can defeat any stumbling block.” —Michael Carter, DDMC Man Creator Disability Don’t Mean Can’t #2:…
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HDI 50th Anniversary Spotlight on Mark Leach
Being university-based, HDI has a credibility with policymakers and elected officials that is needed. So often, much of the work done on behalf of those with disabilities is by non-profits, which unfairly are not given the same amount of respect. HDI’s gravitas helps ensure the significance of programs that include those with disabilities is understood…
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HDI 50th Anniversary Spotlight on Harold Kleinert
I was absolutely blessed to have had the opportunity to work at HDI. I cannot imagine a better organizational mission than that of HDI for what I had hoped for my own career – to work with leaders in the field at both the state and national levels; to partner with families, self-advocates, teachers, and…
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HDI 50th Anniversary Spotlight on Christy Leaver
HDI provided stability to me through several rough life transitions as a single parent and student. Exposure to mentors, exposure to diversity, and the development of long-term friendships have had a significant impact on my life. —Christy Leaver, LCSW, Former HDI Research Assistant and Certificate Student How did you come to know HDI? I was…
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HDI 50th Anniversary Spotlight on Christina Espinosa Bard
To me, HDI is my place, my dream job. I hope to stay with HDI for the duration of my career. I feel so blessed and lucky to be a part of HDI, and to get to do work that I love, that I continue to learn from, and that can make a difference individually…
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HDI Reaches Notable Milestone with 100 Online Courses!
HDI has reached a notable milestone of 100 online courses, including 4 in development! HDI launched online learning initiative for early childhood in 2004 with the 6-hour ECOOL training for early childhood and education providers. HDI’s early education online courses began to grow rapidly in 2012 to include online courses about ways to provide safe…
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HDI 50th Anniversary Spotlight on Beth Harrison
HDI was my work family for 28 years. It means a lot to me. I am proud to tell people that I work/worked with HDI. HDI means innovation; cutting edge; an umbrella of excellence for all aspects of disability; a “think outside the box” group of people working for the greater common good. —Beth Harrison,…
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Anderson County High School students awarded trips to HDI Summer Leadership Camp
Two Anderson County High School students have been awarded trips to the HDI Summer Leadership Camp at the University of Kentucky. The Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative (CKEC) recently received an HDI grant for (RITT’s) Regional Transition Teams to develop trainings or avenues for students with disabilities to transition beyond high school. CKEC Transition Specialists Tara…