The Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky are offering monthly Learn & Learn informational sessions on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. Each session is offered in-person at HDI’s Coldstream Campus, 1525 Bull Lea Road, Suite 100, Lexington, and online through ZOOM. Presenters are experts in their field. Sessions are interactive with time for questions. Participants are invited to bring their lunch to each session. “Knowledge is so powerful. It sets us free and moves us forward,” said Katie Bentley of the CCDD. “It provides us with the power to help ourselves and others. When you attend our Lunch and Learns, you are building power as you network with experts.” An ASL sign interpreter will be available at each session. Register by 5 p.m. the day before.
Stella Beard, Assistant Director of KYSPIN, Kentucky Special Parent Involvement Network. Will help families learn to “let go” and help their child with a disability find their wings and learn to fly. Families can begin to think outside the box and imagine what a desirable future for their child can look like.
Katie Wolf Whaley, MSW, CESP is the Director of the Kentucky Supported Employment Training Project at the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute. She also is the co-chair of Kentucky’s Employment First Council, President of Kentucky APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First) and sits on the board of national APSE. Kentucky is an Employment First state, meaning that “competitive and integrated employment in the community shall be considered the first and primary option for persons with disabilities of working age who have communicated a desire to become employed.” What does this mean for people with disabilities? What is happening in Kentucky to ensure that people have access to the supports needed to become employed?
Laura Butler, Disability Policy Administrator at UK’s Human Development Institute Learn how people in Kentucky are using Supported Decision- Making to regain and retain their rights. SDM means that people use trusted friends, family members, and professionals to help them understand the choices and the consequences involved in the decisions that they need to make.
Steve Shannon, Executive Director of Kentucky Assn. of Regional Programs. Learn how to be confident in attending the 874K Coalition events, including planning your legislative visits and what to expect at the rally in the Capitol Rotunda. The 874K Disabilities Coalition turns 20 this year.
Katie Bentley, CCDD Public Policy Coordinator & Nicole Maher, CCDD, Self-Advocacy Project Coordinator. KPIP is a leadership program for people with developmental disabilities and their family members. Learn about the program and how to apply.
Article By: John Lynch, Exceptional Family Magazine