Tag: Universal design

Virtual Retreat

HDI receives Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Grant

Posted on | by Beth Potter

A team of HDI staff including Dr. Chithra Adams, Jason Jones, Lindsey Mullis and Abby Marsh have received $50,000 through Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s 2020 COVID-19 Quality of Life grants program, funded through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living. Their proposal, Recharging Resiliency Together-Virtual Retreat will help people with paralysis recharge their resilience and provide the necessary connections and supports that are needed to navigate in a COVID-19 environment.

This series of virtual retreats will be accompanied by three follow up group calls to build upon the skills learned during the retreat and to build a tightknit group of peers (pods) who are supportive of one another. Each session in the retreat will be universally designed, accessible and have expert presentation followed by a group activity. The purpose of the group activity is to participate in real time sense-making about how strategies presented can be used presently or in the future.

Contact Chithra.Adams@uky.edu for more information.

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Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2020

Posted on | by Beth Potter

Thursday, May 21, 2020 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). According to the GAAD web site, the goal of this day is to talk, think, and learn about digital access/inclusion and people with different disabilities. Digital accessibility is the ability of a website, mobile application, or electronic document to be easily navigated and understood by a wide range of users, including people who have visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities.

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) promotes accessibility using the principles of Universal design (UD) and assistive technology. Universal design is about making places and resources useable by a world that is very diverse.

Universal design is a priority at HDI. We strive to increase the capacity of our partners and those we serve to ensure that physical and learning environments are accessible to all regardless of education, language, or disability. Visit our website for more details.

The HDI Universal Design Unit offers evaluation, consultation, training, and technical assistance services to review print and online products, communication environments, and devices. Our current clients include higher education, social service agencies, health care, city planning, and private employers.

Contact HDI at kjone@uky.edu to learn more.

light, medium and dark blue text on a document announcing the Virtual Open House

HDI Hosts Virtual Open House for the Undergraduate Certificate in Universal Design

Posted on | by Beth Potter

The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute invites current and prospective students, staff, and faculty to a Virtual Open House to learn about the Undergraduate Certificate in Universal Design.  Universal Design creates products and environments that are as usable as possible by as many people as possible. Principles of Universal Design are utilized to make products, systems, buildings, classrooms, and other environments that are accessible to everyone. 

Register at https://bit.ly/2yT3Oi4 to participate via Zoom on Thursday, May 21 at 3:00pm ET. A stipend up to $3000 is offered to students who are accepted into the certificate program on a competitive basis. Click here to learn more about the certificate program or you can contact Dr. Phillip Rumrill, Director of Research and Training, at Phillip.Rumrill@uky.edu. 

UK Memorial Hall

UK Human Development Institute News Update

Posted on | by Beth Potter

Staff from the UK Human Development Institute (HDI) began operating remotely more than a month ago. Using available tools and technology, HDI continues to promote the inclusion, independence, and contributions of people with disabilities and their families throughout the lifespan through education, research and evaluation, information sharing, leadership, and advocacy across Kentucky and the nation.  Some of these activities include:

  • Participating in state and national task forces addressing access and rationing of health care
  • Collaborating with state partners including the Lee Specialty Clinic and Dr. Matthew Holder to develop a series of videos for people with intellectual developmental disabilities to increase awareness of personal protective equipment and ways to stay healthy
  • Working with the Developmental Disabilities Network to ensure newly developed resources use plain language and are accessible
  • Developing a COVID-19 webpage that includes some critical content around the response and resources of interest to stakeholders uky.edu/covid-19-information
  • Creating a webinar led by the HDI Executive Director for the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Affiliate Network on health equity and people with disabilities
  • Conducting research around experiences of people with Spinal Cord Injury and COVID-19 through targeted focus groups.
  • Developing project specific and Institute-wide one-page promotional documents on the effective use of technology while working remotely
  • Contributing content for University students to remain socially connected during the shift to distance learning by the University of Kentucky

HDI is pleased to share that despite the challenges people face today, our work continues.  In fact, some research and training efforts are accelerating. The HDI technology team is providing ongoing support to ensure all staff have training in technology to support their ability to work effectively.  Visit the HDI website regularly for updated news and the calendar of events.  Follow HDI on social media to learn more.

Facebook:  @ukhdi

Instagram:  @uk_hdi

Twitter:  @hdi_uky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of iPhone with accessibility features open.

UK HDI announces new Universal Design class and certificate program

Posted on | by HDITrex

The University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute is offering a new undergraduate universal design class in fall 2017, HDI 350: Universal Design. Students from any discipline can take the HDI 350: Universal Design course. This interdisciplinary course provides students with an opportunity to learn about the foundations and principles of universal design. Additionally, after taking HDI 350, students who want to continue learning about universal design have the opportunity to enroll in the new universal design certificate program.

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