six HDI staff and students standing in front of the AUCD conference banner

HDI Staff and Students Attend AUCD Annual Conference

University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) staff and students attend the 2023 Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) conference. The theme of this year’s conference was Emerging Leaders: Shaping the Future.

The UK HDI is Kentucky’s Center on Disability and is a University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). As a UCEDD and a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program, we are a member of the AUCD organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs in every U.S. state and territory to achieve meaningful change.  Visit www.aucd.org for more information about the AUCD Network and Conference.  If you are interested in learning more about HDI programs or the presentations being made, contact Beth.Potter@uky.edu.

Staff and students representing HDI included Laura Butler, Kristen Dahl, Jon Drummond, Christina Espinosa, Brittany Granville, Kristopher Gruber, Bev Harp, Bailey Hull, Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones, and Dr. Phillip Rumrill.

Presentations included the following:

Mental Health & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities: Landscape Analysis Results from Four States

Improving the Future of Disability & Belonging

Advocacy as Leadership: A Panel Discussion of People with Disabilities who Show Up as Leaders in a Variety of Roles

How to Become an Agent for Change in Air Travel Accessibility

The Therapeutic Value of Martial Arts for Youth with Autism: Into the Tae Kwon Do or Tang Soo Do Dojang

Emergent Vocational Rehabilitation Strategies for People with Diabetes Mellitus

Exploring the Intersection of Criminal Justice System Involvement and Disability: Considerations for Rehabilitation Services

Utilizing Propensity Score Matching Analysis to Examine the Effects of Postsecondary Education on Employment Outcomes of People with Mental Illness

accessibility

Increase Accessibility with Plain Language

Opportunities to make life more inclusive are everywhere – even something as simple as the language we use can have huge implications for accessibility.

One of the most powerful tools in creating accessible writing is plain language. And thanks to a recent request from the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD), HDI was able to do some very visible work in promoting plain language.

“We have, in the past, contacted with AUCD to do various plain language initiatives,” Patti Singleton, Division Director for Professional Learning, said. “They had a definition of what equity and inclusion was, and why it was important. However, the statement used language that was hard to understand.”

AUCD felt it needed to be more inclusive in how it defined inclusivity – and they chose HDI to help them fix it.

“AUCD came to us and said ‘This is what we currently have, would you like to revise it and write it into plain language,’” she said. “We said of course.”

Singleton gathered a team that included ISAW Principal Investigator Bev Harp, Medical Outreach Director Stephanie Meredith, DEI Director Dr. Nicholas Wright and HDI Staff Member Chelsea Bocard. She also worked with Liz Weintraub, who is the Senior Advocacy Specialist at AUCD and a longtime advocate for plain language.

Plain Language is a universal design strategy that seeks to make sure anyone can understand the language used in documents. There is even a law in place mandating that federal organizations use plain language when communicating with the public.

“We really want to make sure that all information we provide is written clearly, concisely and is well-organized,” Singleton said. “It really comes down to using common words…that everyone would be able to understand.”

It also means keeping away from jargon or acronyms that may be unfamiliar to outside sources, and ensuring that information is well organized and easy to understand. It can be vital to people with certain disabilities to make sure information is clearly conveyed.

“Research shows that people with intellectual disabilities often face discrimination and bias when trying to reach their goals in life. However, it can be hard to recognize what’s happening in the moment. I had that experience one time when my son with Down Syndrome was refused service at an urgent care facility,”  Meredith said. “That way they can advocate to be treated fairly and to get any support they might need.”

This, Wright said, is a subtle but important part of diversity and inclusion.

“Many people view diversity in the apparent view, but I believe in focusing on diversity more holistically,” he said. “Diversity is having individuals of various experiences, perspectives, identities, and abilities. Diversity involves having identities represented, but inclusion involves engaging these diverse identities and ensuring these individuals are fully included. Having our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in plain language is equity in action, and focuses on access by removing barriers.”

Plain language isn’t just important for accommodating people with disabilities, it can help everyone. Singleton noted that she always prefers plain language documents simply because as a mom who works full-time, she’s busy. Plain language is easier and less time-consuming to read.

And as a longtime partner for AUCD, Singleton thinks it’s great to both help out and to see an organization that is above HDI is embracing a cause that HDI has championed. “They value the work we do,” she said. “They see us as a leader. I love that they continue to rely on us for that information.”  

This article represents the opinions of the author and interviewee, not that of the University of Kentucky. 

smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a tan top, jean jacket, and hoop earrings with trees in the background

Promoting COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence

Over the next year, the UK Human Development Institute will work with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and several partners as part of a CDC Cooperative Agreement, Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence among People with Disabilities. This project aims to support the work of AUCD in facilitating COVID-19 vaccine conversations among network members, identifying barriers to vaccine accessibility, increasing vaccine confidence, sharing credible COVID-19 vaccination information, responding to misinformation, translating information into accessible formats, and sharing success stories and lessons learned. HDI will ensure the accessibility of a variety of resources that will be shared across the network. Patti Singleton, Division Director, will be the Principal Investigator of this effort, and will draw upon the expertise of many staff who are involved in universal design, accessibility, digital storytelling and information services work.

microphone with chairs in the foreground

HDI Staff to present at AUCD Annual Conference

Staff representing the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) will present at the 2020 Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) conference December 7-9. The theme of this year’s conference is Achieving Equity, Leading the Way in the Next Decade. The HDI is a member of the AUCD organization that supports and promotes a national network of university-based interdisciplinary programs in every U.S. state and territory to achieve meaningful change.

Dr. Tawara Goode, conference Chairperson, reports that the virtual event will attract an international audience of people with disabilities, leaders from multiple disciplines, researchers, scientists, advocates, policy experts, and other key stakeholders. This year’s theme will serve as a call to action for the AUCD network to create a national equity agenda in partnership with people with disabilities, their families, and the communities in which they live.

Visit www.aucd.org for more information about the AUCD network and conference.  If you are interested in learning more about HDI programs or the presentations being made, contact Beth.Potter@uky.edu.

Conference sessions presented by HDI staff include:

Highlighting the Lived Experience and Professional Perspective of Mental Health & Disability Through Storytelling
Presenter: Danielle Augustin, MS, Health Coach & Project Coordinator, Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute, UCEDD
Co-Presenter: Jefferson Sheen, PhD, Logan, UT, United States, UT – Center for Persons with Disabilities, UCEDD/LEND

Contributing Author: Alex Schiwal, PhD, Logan, UT, United States, UT – Center for Persons with Disabilities, UCEDD/LEND

Workplace Accommodations and Universal Design for Young Adult Central Nervous System Cancer Survivors
Presenter: Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Ph.D., Executive Director, Lexington, KY, KY – Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute, UCEDD
Co-Presenter(s): Stuart Rumrill, M.S., Madison, WI,  KY – Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute, UCEDD; Phillip Rumrill, Ph.D., Lexington, KY, KY – Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute, UCEDD

How Food Insecurity Shapes Mental Health for People with Disabilities and Incorporating Inclusive Community Nutrition Programs

Presenter(s): Lindsey Mullis, M.S., Inclusive Health & Wellness Director, KY- Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute, UCEDD; Meredith Williams, MPH, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Danielle Augustin,M.S., Lexington,KY, Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute, UCEDD
Austin Nugent,B.A.,Louisville,KY,United States,KY – Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute, UCEDD
Contributing Author: D. Phuong Do, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI;

The Center for Dignity in Healthcare: Reducing Health Inequities and Addressing Medical Discrimination Experienced by People with Developmental Disabilities

Presenter(s)

Chithra Adams, PhD, Director of Evaluation, Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute, UCEDD
Co-Presenter(s)

Kara Ayers, PhD, Cincinnati, OH, University of Cincinnati UCE, UCEDD/LEND;
Leah Smith, MPA, Cincinnati, OH, University of Cincinnati UCE, UCEDD/LEND;
Ilka Riddle, PhD, Cincinnati, OH, University of Cincinnati UCE, UCEDD/LEND;
Maureen van Stone, Esq., MS, Balitmore, MD, Kennedy Krieger Institute, UCEDD/LEND;
Tracy Waller, Esq., MS, Baltimore, MD, University of Cincinnati UCE, UCEDD/LEND;
Tiffany Opii, MPA, Lexington, KY, Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute, UCEDD;


Kristen wearing a black and white gingham shirt smiling in front of a tree trunk. She has long, blonde hair and is wearing berry lipstick

Dahl to Co-Chair AUCD Special Interest Group

Kristen Dahl, LPCC, CHES, has been selected to co-Chair the Mental Health Aspects of I/DD Special Interest Group of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). This group provides information on critical issues related to mental health for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Their vision is to promote inclusion and belonging for all people with IDD and MH needs. Learn more about this group and their resources on AUCD’s website.  

Kristen is the Senior Program Manager for the Mental Health Developmental Disabilities (MHDD) National Training Center.  The MHDD National Training Center is a collaboration between the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the University of Kentucky, University of Alaska Anchorage, and Utah State University. Established in 2018 through funding provided by the Administration for Community Living, they work to improve mental health services and supports for people with developmental disabilities. By serving as a national clearinghouse, we help provide access to the most current evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices that address the mental health needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Contact Kristen.Dahl@uky.edu for more information.