Jason Jones Staff Photo

HDI staff receive the Tom Gravitt Advocacy Award

Jason Jones, Disability Specialist, and Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Executive Director, have received the 2020 Tom Gravitt Advocacy Award from the Kentucky Congress on Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).

This award recognizes individuals who have had an exemplary impact on the SCI community and the disability community at large. These individuals enrich the lives of people with disabilities by being an advocate who fosters respect, access, and equal opportunities for all.

The award is named after Tom Gravitt, who obtained a SCI in his early twenties and fought tirelessly for almost 50 years as an advocate for all people with disabilities. This year’s recipients join previous Tom Gravitt Advocacy Award winners including Beth Bryant (2016), David Allgood (2017), Richard Moloney (2018), and Sasha Rabchevsky (2019).

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Do you have something to say about COVID-19 and disability?

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) is collecting stories from individuals with disabilities about COVID-19 in Kentucky and how it affects people living with disabilities. Your story can add to the discussions state leaders are having about the impact of COVID-19. There are different ways to tell your story. Visit https://bit.ly/2VODkXu to attach a file that tells your story in video, audio, pictures or in written form. You may have someone help you fill out the form. You can also contact HDI by calling 859-257-8104 and share your story by phone or video relay service.

Anyone with a disability-related issue or question can contact Kentucky Protection and Advocacy at 1-800-372-2988. You do not have to be receiving disability benefits or be a U.S. citizen to receive assistance.

By completing this survey, you are giving the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky (HDI-UK) and Kentucky Protection & Advocacy permission to share your story in advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Your personal information will not be shared, unless HDI-UK contacts you for written consent.

Kentucky State Capitol

Research Brief Summer 2018

Exploring and Understanding the Advocacy Needs of Kentuckians with Developmental Disabilities

by Chithra Adams, Amanda Corbin, Luke O’Hara, Kathleen Sheppard-Jones, & Malachy Bishop

In this research brief we present the results of a recent needs assessment evaluating the advocacy-based needs for Kentuckians with developmental disabilities and their families. Results highlight the different levels and types of supports needed to build self-advocacy capacity and to inform effective planning and services and the individual, local, and state levels.

Download here.