Employment First Kentucky

Employment First is the philosophy that everyone, including people with significant disabilities, can work in integrated employment. In Kentucky, competitive and integrated employment in the community is the first and primary option for persons with disabilities of working age who have communicated a desire to become employed. Kentucky became an Employment First state on May 15, 2018. HDI is the administrative home for Employment First in Kentucky. Executive director, Kathy Sheppard-Jones, is the lead administrator for Employment First. Katie Wolf Whaley co-chairs Kentucky’s Employment First Council.

Project Director:

Project Website: https://kcc.ky.gov/Vocational-Rehabilitation/boards-and-councils/Employment-First/Pages/default.aspx

 

Latest Updates

Rooted & Rising: Supporting Mental Health in Rural Kentucky

Rooted & Rising: Supporting Mental Health in Rural Kentucky

Mental wellness is an important part of living a healthy, meaningful life. Experiencing good mental health helps people handle stress, …

Speaking Through Felt: Katie Peña-Van Zile’s Autistic Voice on Stage

Speaking Through Felt: Katie Peña-Van Zile’s Autistic Voice on Stage

Katie Peña-Van Zile remembers the job that inspired her play, Felt, well. “I was diagnosed with autism in 2021, much …

How an Autistic Advocate Turned Personal Loss into Lifesaving Work

How an Autistic Advocate Turned Personal Loss into Lifesaving Work

Caleb Rader was 13 when his cousin died by suicide. He remembers the funeral vividly—and the decision it sparked in …