The Human Development Institute has an extensive catalog of one-hour lecture and seminar style presentations available at the University of Kentucky. These lectures are being offered virtually through zoom for online classes as well. We welcome the opportunity to bring diverse perspectives to your classes. The lectures cover an array of topics that include: foundational lectures on disability, advocacy, health, employment, early childhood, universal design, and assistive technology. Presenters are people with disabilities, family members of people with disabilities, and other interdisciplinary experts. For more information or to schedule a lecture for your class, Contact nicholas.wright@uky.edu to reserve a speaker.
Human Development Institute: University Lecture Series 2024-2025 [PDF]
Most people who receive Social Security Disability Benefits are under the misconception they cannot save for the future. This is not TRUE!! STABLE Kentucky is Kentucky’s ABLE (Achieving A Better Life Experience) program which allows a person whose disability occurred before the age of 26, their family member and friends to save up to $15,000/year without jeopardizing the person’s Supplemental Security Income eligibility or Medicaid eligibility. Supplemental and Special Needs Trusts allow for more funds to be saved and used for supplemental needs. This lecture will provide an overview of these tools as well as provide resource information.
Carolyn Wheeler
Supported decision making is a way to describe how we all make decisions. It means that people turn to trusted friends, family members, and professionals to help them make decisions, both large and small. Supported decision making can be used as an alternative to legal guardianship but can also be used in any person’s life.
Laura Butler, Camille Collins-Dean
Disability self-advocates will provide an overview of self-advocacy, including the history of self- advocate movements created by people with intellectual disabilities. The presenters will discuss past and current uses of the term “self-advocate” and will describe a variety of activities that can fall under the umbrella term. The presenters will discuss their experience with forming and leading a self- advocacy group for autistic adults and youth and will offer suggestions for others interested in joining or forming a group.
Bev Harp, Autistics United KY (AUK) and Kentuckiana Autistic Spectrum Alliance (KASA) Members
This lecture will share opportunities to collaborate with community partners, and will include discussion related to identifying community stakeholders, successful relationship building within the community, staff necessary to carry out the mission of the organization, and lessons learned from developing community partnerships with agencies that are serving children and adults with disabilities and their families.
Walt Bower
Anyone can be an ally to people with disabilities; the fundamental tools required are thoughtful listening and a willingness to step back and let disabled people lead. This training is designed for professionals, family members, direct support workers, and anyone else who would like to learn how to better support people with disabilities. The presenters will discuss the meaning of allyship and its importance to people with disabilities and will offer a wide range of interactive scenarios for evaluating efforts and improving allyship skills.
Bev Harp, Tony Lobianco
Since 2012, HDI has been instrumental in bringing participant-driven meetings, called unconferences, to Kentucky residents with disabilities, their family members, and support workers. The unconference format is inherently democratic, providing a space where disabled voices are respected as experts on disability. Learn more about unconferences and how they work, including examples of recent HDI-sponsored unconferences.
Bev Harp, Laura Butler
Did you know that Kentucky has two self-advocacy groups by and for autistic people? Autistics United Kentucky (AUK) and Kentuckiana Autistic Spectrum Alliance (KASA) engage in advocacy, social justice efforts, and community events, promoting the rights of all autistic people. We also have a lot of fun! Learn about some of our past, present, and future projects.
Bev Harp, AUK and KASA members
Individuals with disabilities are 3 times more likely to experience heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. Kentucky is one of the highest ranked states with a disability rate of 35%. This lecture provides an overview of the health disparities experienced by people with disabilities, along with providing insight on strategies for inclusive health through education, empowerment, and cultural competency.
Lindsey Mullis, Morgan Turner
Challenges in rural health care include lack of physical access to facilities, lack of special equipment, and lack of healthcare provider knowledge in working with individuals with complex health needs. Because of these factors, many individuals travel long distances for their healthcare or wait until problems that may have been easily treated worsen and they seek treatment in local Emergency Departments. These and other healthcare disparities not only influence a person’s quality of life, but also lead to an increased healthcare cost. This lecture will provide an overview of these healthcare disparities, with a particular focus on rural healthcare, and will include discussion of potential solutions, including results of rural healthcare accessibility surveys in Kentucky.
Christina Espinosa, Jason Jones
Informative interview regarding cancer care for persons with disabilities, developed in collaboration with Human Development Institute and Markey Cancer Center staff. The nature of disparities in medical care for adults with disabilities is introduced. Information includes lived experience from adults with disabilities, such as helpful attitudes from medical staff, positive approaches to medical care, patient transfer, and access to medical facilities. The information presented applies to many interactions between medical staff and persons with disabilities. This session can be presented live, or viewed via recording at https://www.wellness4ky.org/project-cheer-partners- with-markey-cancer-center-to-create- disability-awareness-webinar/
Morgan Turner, Jason Jones, Lindsey Mullis
Universal Design encompasses principles and strategies that help all individuals have an equal opportunity to succeed, which is a strategy that allows full access to all persons for programs and services. Learn why it is important to include universal design in health promotion and programming, and gain insight in how to include strategies that will assist in reaching the widest possible range of participants. The presentation provides examples of incorporating universal design in health promotion including messaging, print materials, and program activities.
Lindsey Mullis, Morgan Turner, Austin Nugent
Recreation refreshes, revitalizes, and improves a person’s quality of life. Learn about Kentucky’s Recreation Resource Guide and other resources around our state such as state parks, adaptive recreation programming, sports clubs and teams as well as inclusive activities that can be done anywhere.
Lindsey Mullis, Morgan Turner
