This Executive Order establishes that competitive integrated employment shall be considered the first and primary option for people with disabilities of working age who have communicated a desire to become employed.
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This bill expands the State Interagency Council for Services and Supports to Children to become the Interagency Council for Services and Supports to Children and Transition-Age Youth. The Council is tasked with designing and implementing a system of care for children and transition-age youth with or at risk of developing behavioral health needs that is community based, family- and youth-driven and culturally and linguistically competent. It adds the Executive Director of the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the President of the Council on Postsecondary Education to the Council, and requires agencies represented on the Council to adopt interagency agreements to advance the system of care.
Topic(s): Family Engagement, Systems Coordination
This self-determination leadership academy is designed to train individuals with disabilities, their family members, and professionals working with people with disabilities on topics ranging from self-determination to finding and using community supports to employment.
Operating Entity: The Arc of Kentucky
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
This program provides consultation and information for those receiving disability benefits, who need help understanding eligibility and the impact work may have on their benefits.
Operating Entity: Path Forward of Kentucky
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
The Business Enterprise Program helps people who are blind become food service or vending operators.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides students with a variety of opportunities and experiences in preparation for competitive integrated employment and/or postsecondary education or training. The program includes both Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and Individualized Transition Services (ITS). It is a collaboration between local educational agencies, the Kentucky Department of Education, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the Human Development Institute at the University of Kentucky.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides a range of independent living services to people with disabilities at Centers for Independent Living across the state. Services include help connecting to local services, assistance with job searches, local transit skills training, assistive technology help, peer mentoring support, assistance with school-to-career transitions, self-advocacy help, and more.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program helps farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers with disabilities attain gainful employment in production agriculture or a related occupation, access appropriate assistive technology needed for work and daily living activities, and more.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program enables eligible individuals with disabilities to save money in a tax-exempt account that may be used for qualified disability expenses while keeping their eligibility for federally-funded, means-tested public benefits. Eligible expenses include education, employment training and support, and assistive technology.
Operating Entity: Kentucky State Treasurer
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Connecting Activities
This program aims to enhance employment opportunities for youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by helping school teams understand the employment process, improve their ability to develop and/or enhance partnerships with employers and providers, and improve partnerships with families. It is a collaboration between the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Department of Education, and other agencies, organizations, and college systems in the state.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
This program supports Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Parent Resource Centers in 16 midwestern and western states. Services include one-to-one consultations, trainings and webinars, peer-to-peer mentoring, site visits, non-profit management tools, and more.
Operating Entity: WI FACETS
Entity Type: Non-Profit / Community Organization
These programs offer students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to take college classes, engage in career development and independent living activities, and participate in the social life of a college campus.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Project CASE is designed to increase the numbers of individuals with disabilities who are working in fields like Manufacturing, Healthcare, Information Technology, and Culinary Arts. The program provides direct services to help individuals access necessary training and post-secondary educational opportunities, and uses Career Pathway Coordinators to reach employers who can provide work experiences such as job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships and job placement in these fields.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Entity Type: State Agency / Office
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
Project SEARCH is a one-year transition-to-work program for students with significant disabilities that includes classroom instruction, career exploration, and internship rotations. It is a collaboration between local businesses, state agencies, local school systems, and other entities, and is offered at several locations.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Career Prep & Work-Based Learning
This program provides customized technical assistance and direct support to Institutions of Higher Education to establish or enhance postsecondary programs that advance the academic success and social inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities.
Operating Entity: University of Kentucky, Human Development Institute
Entity Type: College / University
This program help out-of-school and in-school youth with one or more barriers to employment (including having a disability) prepare for and secure employment and postsecondary education opportunities. Services include tutoring; work experiences; occupational skills training; leadership development opportunities; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
YES! helps youth with disabilities develop self-awareness, self-determination, and self-advocacy skills to support a successful transition to adult life. It consists of a community group and a school program and is a collaboration between the Center for Accessible Living and the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Operating Entity: --
Entity Type: Multi-Stakeholder Project
Topic(s): Youth Development & Leadership
This presentation provides an overview of sources of COVID-19 stress, signs of stress in students and staff and what schools can do to address that stress.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Department of Education
Topic(s): Mental Health
Kentucky created a Q & A document pertaining to services for children with disabilities during COVID-19. It includes strict guidelines to provide families with legal information and paperwork pertaining to students with disabilities and the legal process by which IEPs can be adjusted to accommodate for necessary COVID-19-related adjustments.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Department of Education
Topic(s): Distance Learning
Kentucky created an informational letter that was sent to parents and families of students with IEPs. This letter reassures parents that schools must continue to provide specialized services for students with disabilities as dictated by an IEP. It also lists resources for parents with additional questions about receiving IEP assistance during online instruction.
Operating Entity: Kentucky Department of Education
Topic(s): IEP
The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Kentucky started offering virtual support groups during the pandemic to individuals and families affected by mental illness.
Operating Entity: NAMI Kentucky
Topic(s): Mental Health