News
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Wishing Dr. Wright well at Gonzaga University
During his time at HDI, Director of Underserved Populations Dr. Nicholas Wright has enjoyed the opportunity to help bring underrepresented viewpoints to the forefront. Now, he will bringing the same philosophy that made his mission so successful here to a new level. “I will make the exciting transition into the role of Assistant Vice President…
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HDI Interpreters Serve at the Southeast Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
Anyone closely involved with the Deaf community in the region will likely be at the Southeast Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf conference. As Alisha Salyers, a member of HDI’s ASL Interpretation Team explained it, everyone who’s anyone in the Deaf community is there, from interpreters from all over the country, Vocational Rehab professionals to…
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From Dungeons & Dragons to Romance: Writing, Identity, and the Power of Representation in Disability and Mental Health
“I think the first stuff I ever really wrote were backgrounds for my D&D character when I was in high school,” Jaz Brown said. As a fellow pen and paper role-playing game (RPG) enthusiast who likewise enjoys a detailed backstory, I can understand that. I came to writing through a different pathway, but still ended…
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Mental Health ASL Interpretation in Kentucky
There is only one other person in the state of Kentucky who is certified to do what Lisa Amstutz does the way she does it. Amstutz is a Qualified Mental Health Interpreter (QMHI), which means that she is certified to provide ASL interpretation services in mental health related settings. “Being a mental health ASL Interpreter…
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Staff Profile: Skyler Hill
Skyler Hill has worked in every level of business, but he’s never worked anywhere like HDI. “It’s not a traditional ‘business’ in that the motivation for profit is strictly longevity,” Hill said. “HDI is creating real opportunities for real people without abusing a system or operating outside the jurisdiction of university policy. The altruistic nature…
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Mountain Biking for Everyone
Dr. John C. Hill particularly enjoys the project he has dedicated several years to because its results are tangible. Hill, who works as a Survey Project Coordinator at HDI, has been working to build an accessible mountain biking trail in Woodford County with several community partners. He’s done everything from coordinating funding to physically clearing…
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Making Connections in 2024
Connections and partnerships have been consistent themes across the years at HDI, and those are reflected again in some of 2024’s most notable achievements. This year, Deputy Director Johnny Collett’s picks for HDI’s notable achievements had a secondary unifying theme – employment. All of the achievements Collett highlighted had something to do with helping people…
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Miller expands capacity of HDI Administration Team
Dinah Miller has made management her business. Miller has been taking classes with the College Business Management Institute (CBMI) in hopes of learning more about business and financial administration – and so far, she says the experience has been enlightening. “I pursued this course to enhance our department’s accuracy and efficiency, and to gain a…
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Louisville Free Public Library completes Autism Informed Employer Training
Though it just launched this year, ISAW’s Autism Informed Employer program has already made a difference. The Louisville Free Public Library has given its entire staff the Autism Informed Employer (AIE) training from Innovative Supports for Autistic Workers (ISAW). The AIE program is a free online course that allows employers to learn about strategies to…