Human Development Institute

Lived Experience Panel: Rooted & Rising In-Person Learning Opportunity
2026-06-03 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Laurel County Health Department, 525 Whitley Street, London, Kentucky, 40741
Bridging gaps in mental healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Kentucky’s Appalachian Region.You are invited to learn more about mental health and overcoming challenges faced by people with developmental disabilities.Incentives available for individuals residing in some counties. Learn more by visiting the Rooted & Rising webpage.

Lived Experience Panel: Rooted & Rising Virtual Learning Opportunity
2026-06-03 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom Online

Redefining Opportunity: A National Look at Disability Employment Innovation_Training Innovation Project_Learn at Lunch
2026-06-16 12:00 - 13:00
Presenter: Dina Klimkina

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify emerging national trends, policies, and innovative practices that are improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities.

2. Describe how state and local initiatives are addressing barriers to competitive integrated employment through partnerships, technology, and systems change strategies.

3. Discuss ways that promising disability employment practices and lessons learned from across the country to enhance employment opportunities and outcomes within their own organizations and communities.

Communities of Practice: Training Innovation Project
2026-06-23 12:00 - 12:30, 2026-08-25 12:00 - 12:30 | Zoom Online
Communities of Practice (COP) are groups of people who come together because

they care about improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Members share ideas, solve problems, build skills, and create practical tools that

support competitive integrated employment.

The COP is meant to grow naturally over time and will eventually be led by its

members, giving participants the chance to shape discussions and activities around

what matters most to them and their work.

Setting the Record Straight About Hiring and Retaining Disabled Workers: Debunking Myths. A TIP Master Class
2026-06-24 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Online
Objectives:

Discuss the progress made in making the American workforce more inclusive and accessible to the disability community.

Describe persistent concerns on the part of employers about hiring and accommodating workers with disabilities.

Provide empirical evidence that workers with disabilities often prove equal to the task in comparisons with non-disabled workers, suggesting that within the disability community lies a valuable labor resource.

Presenter: Phillip Rumrill, Ph.D., CRC, is the Red Cedar Distinguished Professor of Counseling and Counselor Education at Michigan State University. He is one of the leading disability and employment researchers in the United States. He is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences in Vocational Rehabilitation, and his books (e.g., Foundations of the Vocational Rehabilitation Process, Case management and Rehabilitation Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling and Emerging Disabilities, Research in Rehabilitation Counseling) are widely used in graduate training programs and professional development courses.

TIP Master Classes are advanced sessions that go beyond the basics, offering practical strategies, real-world applications, and expert insights to strengthen skills and drive meaningful outcomes.

ADA and Accessible Lodging: 4th Thursday ADA Talks 2026
2026-06-25 10:00 - 11:00
Monthly webinars on topics about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disability rights, and access that run for 1 hour on the 4th Thursday from January to October 2026 (10 webinars). Hosted By: University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI), Southeast ADA Center, Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University.

Strengthening the Workforce: The Business Case for Hiring and Retaining Qualified People with Disabilities_Training Innovation Project Learn at Lunch Series
2026-07-21 12:00 - 13:00
Presenters: Johnny Collett and Laurie Mays

Learning Objectives

Describe the workforce participation gap for people with disabilities and its implications for employers and workforce systems.

Summarize the evidence supporting the business case for hiring and retaining qualified employees with disabilities.

Identify employer practices, workplace strategies, partnerships, and resources that support the recruitment, hiring, retention, and advancement of qualified employees with disabilities.

ADA in Higher Education: 4th Thursday ADA Talks 2026
2026-07-23 10:00 - 11:00

Kentucky Disability Benefits 101 Webinar: Supported Employment Training Project (SETP)
2026-07-30 15:15 - 15:45, 2026-10-29 15:15 - 15:45
About This Webinar:

Join us for a 5th Thursday coffee/tea break and learn how to use the Kentucky Disability Benefits 101 website to show the positive financial impact of employment while still maintaining a person’s eligibility for Medicaid or Medicare.

Q&A will follow from 3:45 – 4:15 pm ET / 2:45 – 3:15 pm CT

Facilitators:

Carolyn Wheeler, M.S., CPWIC

Supported Employment Training ProjectHuman Development Institute/University of Kentucky

Jeff White, MBA, CPWIC

Quality Assurance Coordinator for Employment ServicesDivision of Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities

Driving Employment Outcomes Through Innovation and Partnership—Session 1: Talk with TIP
2026-08-05 12:00 - 12:30
The Training Innovation Project (TIP) presents a four-part Talk with TIP listening and strategy series designed to engage vocational rehabilitation professionals in identifying, prioritizing, and addressing the most pressing challenges impacting competitive integrated employment outcomes. Findings will inform TIP’s year-two professional development activities. Continuing Education Units (CRCs) and SHRM Professional Development Credits (PDCs) will be provided.

Presenter:Christina Espinosa, MRC, CRC; UK Human Development Institute; Division Director, Community Education

Session 1 – Understanding Current Challenges:Topic: What barriers and/or systemic issues are vocational rehabilitation professionals facing in supporting competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities?This session will focus on gathering perspectives from the field to better understand emerging employment and labor market trends, persistent barriers, including systemic issues and service delivery gaps, as well as workforce challenges, employer engagement concerns, and policy impacts.

Each session of this series uses the same registration link but participants must select the desired session date from the dropdown menu.

Driving Employment Outcomes Through Innovation and Partnership—Session 2: Talk with TIP
2026-08-12 12:00 - 12:30
The Training Innovation Project (TIP) presents a four-part Talk with TIP listening and strategy series designed to engage vocational rehabilitation professionals in identifying, prioritizing, and addressing the most pressing challenges impacting competitive integrated employment outcomes. Findings will inform TIP’s year-two professional development activities. Continuing Education Units (CRCs) and SHRM Professional Development Credits (PDCs) will be provided.

Presenter:Christina Espinosa, MRC, CRC; UK Human Development Institute; Division Director, Community Education

Session 2 –Validating and Prioritizing Needs:Topic: Which challenges require the greatest attention, and what may still be missing from the conversation?Participants will review and refine themes identified during Session 1, validate whether the findings reflect real-world practice, identify overlooked issues, and collaboratively prioritize areas of greatest urgency and impact.

Each session of this series uses the same registration link but participants must select the desired session date from the dropdown menu.

Services Available from Vocational Rehabilitation to Support Businesses and Employees: Training Innovation Project—Learn at Lunch
2026-08-18 12:00 - 13:00
Presenter: Ryan Henson

Learning ObjectiveLearn about the specific benefits and services provided to employers and employees through the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Employer Services Branch.

BiographyRyan Henson is a 22-year employee with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and has served in a variety of roles including Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Branch Manager, Regional Program Manager, and Employer Service Branch Administrator. Throughout his career, he has been committed to advancing employment opportunities and improving outcomes for individuals with disabilities while strengthening partnerships with employers across the Commonwealth. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Kentucky’s Master of Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) program and brings extensive experience in vocational rehabilitation programming and workforce development.

Driving Employment Outcomes Through Innovation and Partnership—Session 3: Talk with TIP
2026-08-19 12:00 - 12:30
The Training Innovation Project (TIP) presents a four-part Talk with TIP listening and strategy series designed to engage vocational rehabilitation professionals in identifying, prioritizing, and addressing the most pressing challenges impacting competitive integrated employment outcomes. Findings will inform TIP’s year-two professional development activities. Continuing Education Units (CRCs) and SHRM Professional Development Credits (PDCs) will be provided.

Presenter:Christina Espinosa, MRC, CRC; UK Human Development Institute; Division Director, Community Education

Session 3 –Advancing Solutions and Innovation:Topic: What strategies, tools, partnerships, and training approaches could help address these challenges?This collaborative brainstorming session will focus on practical and innovative solutions, including training and technical assistance needs, systems improvements, employer engagement strategies, emerging practices, and opportunities for peer learning and resource development.

Each session of this series uses the same registration link but participants must select the desired session date from the dropdown menu.

Driving Employment Outcomes Through Innovation and Partnership—Session 4: Talk with TIP
2026-08-26 12:00 - 12:30
The Training Innovation Project (TIP) presents a four-part Talk with TIP listening and strategy series designed to engage vocational rehabilitation professionals in identifying, prioritizing, and addressing the most pressing challenges impacting competitive integrated employment outcomes. Findings will inform TIP’s year-two professional development activities. Continuing Education Units (CRCs) and SHRM Professional Development Credits (PDCs) will be provided.

Presenter:Christina Espinosa, MRC, CRC; UK Human Development Institute; Division Director, Community Education

Session 4 – TIP’s Role and Commitment Moving Forward :Topic: How can TIP meaningfully support the field moving forward?The final session will focus on defining the role of Training Innovation Project in responding to identified needs through training, technical assistance, communities of practice, resource development, partnerships, and ongoing engagement with vocational rehabilitation professionals and stakeholders.

Each session of this series uses the same registration link but participants must select the desired session date from the dropdown menu.

Artificial Intelligence and Disability Access: 4th Thursday ADA Talks 2026
2026-08-27 10:00 - 11:00

Workforce & Employer Engagement Summit (Virtual): Training Innovation Project (TIP)
2026-09-22 13:00 - 16:00
The TIP inaugural Workforce & Employer Engagement Summit will be held virtually. This event will bring partners together to share lessons learned, strengthen employer partnerships, and explore practical tools that can be adapted across settings. More details coming soon!

Accessible Parking and Public Rights of Way: 4th Thursday ADA Talks 2026
2026-09-24 10:00 - 11:00

How a Paycheck Can Work With a Government Check: Supported Employment Training Project
2026-09-25 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-10-30 10:00 - 10:30 | Zoom Online
Zoom presentation by the Supported Employment Training Project (SETP) at the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute.

Learn how to use the Kentucky Disability Benefits 101 website to see how having a job in high school means having more money now and when you graduate!

Facilitators:

Carolyn Wheeler, M.S., CPWIC

Supported Employment Training Project Human Development Institute/University of Kentucky

Jeff White, MBA, CPWIC

Quality Assurance Coordinator for Employment Services Division of Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities

Register: How a Paycheck Works with a Government Check

The Courts and ADA Cases Shaping the Law: 4th Thursday ADA Talks 2026
2026-10-22 10:00 - 11:00
