It all started simply because Arline Wilson was bored.
“I was not working; I was taking a break trying to figure out what I wanted to do,” she said. “I thought I wanted to be a stay-at-home Mom, I got bored staying at home, so I started looking at jobs at UK and HDI had a position posted.”
That choice led her to a 26-year career with HDI where she met colleagues she loves, did work she found meaningful and changed lives for the better.
Wilson will soon be retiring from her position with the National Core Indicator project, ending a long, satisfying and fulfilling career with coworkers she said felt like family.
“The first word that comes to my mind when I think of HDI is Family. I have had the pleasure to work with a lot of amazing people. We all work together to support and help each other with no judgement,” she said. “HDI family has been there for me through all my ups and downs in life. I’m proud to say that I’m part of the Big HDI family.”
In her work, Wilson interviewed consumers and families about their experiences with Kentucky’s waiver programs, which seek to promote independent living for Kentuckians. She’s done work investigating both the Kentucky Supports for Community Living Waiver and the Michelle P. Waiver.
“The data we collect helps improves lives of Individuals that are receiving services,” she said.
Throughout her career, she’s worn a few different hats as well, a lot of which have led to achievements she takes a lot of pride in. She specifically cites being the Lead Trainer for the Kentucky National Core Indicator project, serving as a member of the UK Staff Senate, and being selected for the UK Advance program as achievements she takes pride in. But one of her proudest achievements from her job has to do with how the expertise she gained let her help a personal friend.
“The most rewarding would be that I helped with the transition of a friend that was at Oakwood a state facility move out into the community,” she said. “Theres no greater feeling than knowing you helped change someone’s life for the better.”
Now that she’s retiring, Wilson is trying to avoid making too many concrete plans, but she does know what she wants to be her biggest priority.
“We all make big plans when we retire, but then life throws you a curve ball when you least expect it. I’m going to do what’s most important to me and that is spending time with my family and making lots of memories and living each day to the fullest,” she said. “Keith and I do plan on doing some travel and along the way we are taking the time to stop and smell the roses.”
