Fowler named Rehabilitation Technologist of the Year
Josiah Fowler, a Rehabilitation Technologist for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, thinks of his job like a puzzle. Luckily, he’s good at puzzles. Though the ...
RETAIN Employer Seminar Series
When asked about the RETAIN Employer First Seminar series, Kimberly Wickert figured she’d let a frequent attendee, Judiann Romeo, AVP at CareWorks, speak to the ...
Disability in the Arts Gallery Showcase (Dates Extended!)
The exhibit will be extended and will be open onTuesday April 2nd - Wednesday April 3rd from 9 am - 4:30 pm. The Human Development Institute (HDI) ...
Staff Spotlight: Lakyn Hollandsworth
Lakyn Hollandsworth has always believed in helping people where she can. “I grew up in a family where if someone needed something, you helped them,” ...
How to use the UK Accessibility Map
Read a PDF about how to use the University of Kentucky's accessibility map ...
Staff Spotlight on Anthony Glenn
Anthony Glenn has had a wildly diverse career. Now, he’s a return-to-work coordinator on the RETAIN Kentucky project at HDI, but through the years, he’s ...
Dr. Rachel Womack joins HDI!
HDI’s new training director worked with the organization before, and it had a profound impact on her life. Now, she’ll be working with some of the ...
HDI Staff Spotlight on Adam Potter
For much of his college career, Adam Potter struggled to find the right path. Despite being an avid musician, he didn’t feel like his initial ...
She wears many hats! A staff spotlight on Chelsea Bocard
Chelsea Bocard wears enough hats, she could open her own hatter. Bocard’s technical job title is Disability Program Assistant, but it doesn’t get across exactly ...
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 ...
“All people offer perspective that is valuable to the rest of the world.” HDI Staff Erin Fitzgerald speaks on their experience with Neurodiversity and mental health
The following article discusses suicide, which some readers may find distressing. Erin Fitzgerald could always see the signs that she was different growing up - ...
Coding a Brighter Future. A staff spotlight on Jay Hatcher
There’s an alchemy to coding, a place where art meets science, a perfect fusion of technical know-how and creativity. Jay Hatcher has lived in that ...
Community Health Workers make connections across Kentucky
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are front-line workers that serve as the bridge between our communities and the healthcare system. CHWs work across our state to ...
HDI Photo Library Available Now!
Stock photography lacks disability representation. The photos are often staged and use models without disabilities resulting in misrepresentation and unnatural scenes. Staff from the University ...
HDI Collaborates with UC Davis MIND Institute
Even dense and difficult information can be written so that everyone can read it. That’s why the MIND Institute at UC Davis reached out to ...
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 ...
HDI’s Lisa Amstutz is Second in Kentucky to Earn Special Credential for Mental Health ASL Interpreting
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 ...
Lifetime access pass to national parks and recreational land offers accessible options to Americans with disabilities
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 ...
“Can You Read My Lips?” Ten Things to 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 ...
New HDI project to use Universal Design to create inclusive student environments
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 ...
The inclusive dojo: HDI training supports martial arts instructors in transforming training spaces
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 ...
A look into the Undergraduate Certificate in Universal Design
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 ...
HDI’s new project aims to enhance photography of people with disabilities
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 ...
ASL Team delivers services at Southeast Regional Institute on Deafness
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, ...
UK HDI Fund for Excellence Award to fund Bluegrass Mountain Biking Accessibility Initiative
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 ...
RETAIN Kentucky Goes to the 2022 Kentucky State Fair
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 ...
HDI Staff and Students Selected to present at National Conferences
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 ...
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, ...
HDI Staff to Present at Annual AUCD Conference
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) ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
RETAIN Kentucky Receives Grant to Expand Services
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 ...
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 ...
HDI to partner with the Adaptive Martial Arts Association
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 ...
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 ...
HDI to pilot Professional Certification in Universal Design
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 ...
Universal Design Student Spotlight: Ellie Fahey
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 ...
HDI receives Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Grant
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 ...
Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2020
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, ...
HDI Hosts Virtual Open House for the Undergraduate Certificate in Universal Design
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 ...
UK Human Development Institute News Update
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 ...
Eagle Scout Project Supports Alternative Communication
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 ...
HDI Reaches Notable Milestone with 100 Online Courses!
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 ...
2019 Spring Institute in Assistive Technology on March 28
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 ...
Spring Seminar: Universal Design for Learning—Designing Classrooms for All Learners
“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 ...
Lexington ADA Taskforce Leads the Way on State Residential Code Changes Toward Universal Design!
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 ...
UK HDI Receives Grant to Help Serve Individuals With Paralysis
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 ...
HDI Center for Assistive Technology Services Grand Opening!
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 ...
Trainee Spotlight: 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 ...