Universal Design News

HDI’s Lisa Amstutz is Second in Kentucky to Earn Special Credential for Mental Health ASL Interpreting

Lisa Amstutz staff photo
Lisa Amstutz earned her Qualified Mental Health Interpreter Certification earlier this month, making her the second American Sign Language interpreter in Kentucky to do so ...
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Lifetime access pass to national parks and recreational land offers accessible options to Americans with disabilities  

rock formations with bright horizon, with a circular body of bright blue water in the middle, and a tall rock formation in the center or the water
Spring sunshine continues to taunt summer loving Kentuckians with its promise of the radiant afternoon rays that fade into calm evening glow. It’s a great ...
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“Can You Read My Lips?” Ten Things to Know Before You Ask

Illustration of lips followed by text: "Can you read my lips?" Here's what you should know before you ask.
Lip reading is a communication technique in which a person who does not have full access to sound closely watches the mouth of a speaker ...
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New HDI project to use Universal Design to create inclusive student environments

Five high school kids are gathered round a table collaborating on a robotics project. Wires and white rolled poster paper are visible on the table.
Over the past several years, the mental health of students has declined. According to the CDC, the pandemic saw mental health concerns reach a crisis ...
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The inclusive dojo: HDI training supports martial arts instructors in transforming training spaces

<strong>The inclusive dojo: HDI training supports martial arts instructors in transforming training spaces</strong>
The first thing you do when you enter the dojo is take off your shoes. You’ll see a rainbow of colored belts around the waists ...
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A look into the Undergraduate Certificate in Universal Design

series of gears and other design elements
Universal Design affects everyone—students of all disciplines, people with disabilities, and any other community members. Universal design creates spaces and products that are as usable ...
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HDI’s new project aims to enhance photography of people with disabilities

table covered in photography supplies, like cameras, lenses, neck straps, and more
Stock photography is a common tool used by almost all businesses and organizations; however, stock photos featuring people with disabilities are often staged using models ...
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ASL Team delivers services at Southeast Regional Institute on Deafness

ASL Team standing in front of SERID Conference poster
This past October, the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreting Team, housed at the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute, ...
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UK HDI Fund for Excellence Award to fund Bluegrass Mountain Biking Accessibility Initiative 

Person using an adaptive bike in the woods
Kentuckians will soon have access to an adaptive mountain biking trail, thanks in part to an internal grant funded by the UK Human Development Institute ...
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RETAIN Kentucky Goes to the 2022 Kentucky State Fair

RETAIN Exhibit Table
The Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN KY) Team recently participated in the Kentucky State Fair to raise awareness about a Department of ...
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HDI Staff and Students Selected to present at National Conferences

microphone with chairs in the foreground
Congratulations to HDI Staff selected to present at the 2022 National Council on Rehabilitation Education Conference in San Diego, California in March. Evaluating the Stress-Appraisal-Coping ...
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University of Kentucky Human Development Institute releases 2022-2023 Strategic Plan

University of Kentucky Human Development Institute releases 2022-2023 Strategic Plan
The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) is pleased to announce the release of its 2022-2023 Strategic Plan. As Kentucky’s University Center on Disability, ...
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HDI Staff to Present at Annual AUCD Conference

AUCD Conference ad.
University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) staff are preparing to present sessions and posters at the 2021 Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) ...
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Kentucky’s OVR Interpreters in Action at SERID Conference

Kentucky’s OVR Interpreters in Action at SERID Conference
Interpreters from the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, in conjunction with others across the country, provided American Sign Language interpreting services at the 2021 Southeast ...
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Universal Design in Action at HDI!

Universal Design in Action at HDI!
On September 1, HDI’s Haley Potter presented on universal design in the performing arts at the LexArts Network monthly meeting. These meetings serve as a ...
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Undergraduate Certificate in Universal Design Student Spotlight: Victoria Cabral

Undergraduate Certificate in Universal Design Student Spotlight: Victoria Cabral
By: Amanda Corbin Victoria Cabral is a busy junior with a double major in Spanish and Computer Science who also started coursework in the Undergraduate ...
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RETAIN Kentucky Receives Grant to Expand Services

two women and one man seated at a table with blue tablecloths on it. They are seated in front of the American and Kentucky flags. The woman on the left has blonde hair, is wearing a light blue top and sweater. The 2nd woman is wearing a navy blue dress; and the man is wearing a navy blue jacket and a yellow tie.
The UK Human Development Institute Executive Director, Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones joins Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman and UK President Eli Capilouto to announce the state has ...
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HDI Collaborates on NIH Research Education Program Grant

HDI Collaborates on NIH Research Education Program Grant
The UK Human Development Institute in collaboration with the UK College of Engineering and the UK College of Medicine Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine have ...
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HDI to partner with the Adaptive Martial Arts Association

two male martial artists shaking hands; one man is wearing white and is standing and the other man is wearing black and uses a wheelchair for mobility. Three martial artists are shown in the background.
The Kentucky Inclusive Health Collaborative at the UK Human Development Institute is excited to partner with the Adaptive Martial Arts Association (AMAA) to develop training ...
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Promoting COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence

smiling woman with short brown hair wearing a tan top, jean jacket, and hoop earrings with trees in the background
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 ...
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HDI to pilot Professional Certification in Universal Design

laptop sitting on a desk with blurred background
A University of Kentucky (UK) Human Development Institute (HDI) Fund for Excellence award has been given to Christina Espinosa Bard and Patti Singleton to offer ...
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Universal Design Student Spotlight: Ellie Fahey

Ellie smiling in front of a red brick building
UK junior Ellie Fahey was looking for a note to get out of class when she happened upon the Human Development Institute’s Universal Design Program ...
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HDI receives Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Grant

Virtual Retreat
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 ...
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Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2020

dark blue backround with white text
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, ...
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HDI Hosts Virtual Open House for the Undergraduate Certificate in Universal Design

light, medium and dark blue text on a document announcing the Virtual Open House
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 ...
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UK Human Development Institute News Update

UK Memorial Hall
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 ...
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Eagle Scout Project Supports Alternative Communication

Young man with brown hair and beard wearing a black coat and brown flannel shirt seated at a library table in front of books. Multi-colored 3D printed objects are on the table.
Nate Slack, a senior at West Jessamine High School and member of Boy Scout Troop 473 at the Nicholasville United Methodist Church, completed his Eagle ...
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HDI Reaches Notable Milestone with 100 Online Courses!

Computer with HDI Learning on it
HDI has reached a notable milestone of 100 online courses, including 4 in development! HDI launched online learning initiative for early childhood in 2004 with ...
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2019 Spring Institute in Assistive Technology on March 28

Two men with Down syndrome in a meeting.
On March 28, HDI CATs hosted a the FREE 2019 Spring Institute in Assistive Technology conference at the UK Student Center. The event featured sessions ...
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Spring Seminar: Universal Design for Learning—Designing Classrooms for All Learners

Man in a wheelchair looking up stair that are not accessible.
“Universal Design for Learning (UDL) suggests that it’s not the students who need to adapt to fit the system, but rather that the system should ...
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Lexington ADA Taskforce Leads the Way on State Residential Code Changes Toward Universal Design!

Jason Jones and Christina Espinosa Bard Presenting at the City Council Meeting
Two residential building code changes written by a subcommittee of Lexington’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Task Force have now been adopted as part of the ...
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UK HDI Receives Grant to Help Serve Individuals With Paralysis

Two men, including one with prosthetics and one man using a wheelchair, exercising with a woman
From UKNow: HDI has received a three-year grant totaling $600,000 from the Administration on Community Living. The project, Wellness Edge, is a Paralysis Resource Center State ...
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HDI Center for Assistive Technology Services Grand Opening!

HDI CATS location
The Center for Assistive Technology Services at HDI is planning an open house and grand opening from 3:00 -5:00pm on February 9. Join us for ...
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Trainee Spotlight: Mary Comis

Photo of Mary Comis.
by Bill Mazzoleni Mary Comis is from Raleigh, North Carolina. She was attending Duquesne University for undergrad work in Pittsburgh; however, she is now attending ...
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