Photo of people at the Kentucky Transition Summit

Kentucky Transition Summit Brings Community Together to Shares Ideas About Employment for Youth with Disabilities

“The author Zig Ziglar was often quoted as saying, ‘the first step in solving a problem is to recognize that it exists.’  At the Kentucky Transition Summit we were joined by nearly one hundred-fifty concerned students, advocates, educators, administrators, and family members who took the first step by recognizing that we simply do not do enough to help our students with the most significant disabilities take their role in the workplace or in continuing education. They then took the next step by helping us identify four to five hundred ideas that could move us toward solving the problem.” Jeff White, KentuckyWorks Project Director

The Inaugural KentuckyWorks Transition Summit and Community Conversation took place on February 28 in Frankfort. Representatives from across the state packed into the large conference room at the Administrative Office of the Courts Building to begin a dialogue as to how to improve job outcomes for students with disabilities transitioning from school to the workforce. More than 150 participants, made up of educators, service providers, agency liaisons, parents and students, attended.  Continue reading

AUCD 2016 Conference Report from HDI

HDI staff recently attended the Association of University Centers on Disabilities 2016 Conference in December and also actively contributed to the conference through sessions, posters, and increased attendance by trainees.

Dr. Harold Kleinert contributed to a panel on inclusive education and participated in a poster about “Building Capacity and Vision Among Faith Communities, Seminaries, and Disability Organizations.” In addition, Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Dr. Allie Rhodes and Marylee Underwood shared a poster on “Using Statewide Needs Assessment  Continue reading

Register for our Kentucky Volunteer Advocacy Project Training Today; Newest Fund for Excellence Recipient

Walking into an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting can be overwhelming for some parents who are anxious to make sure they set up the best educational experience for their child with a disability and understand their child’s rights. They often need someone who can be the coach in their corner and the advocate who helps them get the services and supports their child needs. Our new Kentucky Volunteer Advocacy Project (VAP) offers a solution by training families, caregivers, educators and community members to advocate for students with disabilities and make sure their educational needs are being met.

This program is the newest recipient of HDI’s Fund for Excellence and will launch this fall. VAP graduates will receive a certificate of completion and may go on to become paid or volunteer advocates for others, or to use it for the benefit of their own families. Click here for more information and register here. Continue reading