About Our Institute
Established in 1969, HDI is a unit of the Office of the Executive Vice President for
Research at the University of Kentucky and part of a nationwide network of
University Centers for Excellence. The Centers were established by federal
legislation to promote team-based approaches to provide services for individuals
with disabilities and their families.
HDI and its sister agencies, the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Kentucky Division of Protection and Advocacy form the state’s
Developmental Disability Network. This network is funded through the Developmental
Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, and is administered
through the U.S. Administration on Developmental Disabilities, U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services.
Since its inception, the Institute has worked to improve the lives of individuals
with disabilities. This unwavering attention to detail and overall commitment
is reflected in our mission and vision. It is through guiding principles,
our goals become clear and continue to keep us focused.
Our Mission
To promote the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities
and their families throughout the life span. We accomplish this through:
- interdisciplinary education;
- research and development;
- information sharing and advocacy; and
- outreach. . .
across the state and nation.
Our Principles
The following principles guide all of our interactions:
- We convey esteem and respect for all individuals;
- We promote individual growth, learning, choices and self-advocacy;
- We advocate for supports and full access in education, work, recreation
and relationships throughout a person’s community;
- We foster creativity, flexibility and collaboration;
- We cultivate both individual and organizational learning; and
- We champion open and responsive communication.
Our Vision
We are working toward a time when all persons with disabilities have the
necessary supports and services to live independent and contributing lives
in the communities of their choice. Our vision for the future starts with
persons with disabilities and their families.
- Neonatal care programs must effectively reduce long-term problems through
prevention and education.
- Infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families must be identified
early and receive high-quality, accessible intervention services.
- Children and youth must be provided inclusive education experiences that
help them prepare for the world they will face in adulthood.
- Transitions between and among service providers must be highly interactive
and seamless throughout the lives of those with disabilities.
- Families of those with disabilities must have assurance that, when necessary,
long-term supports for their family members will continue through life.
- Adults and senior citizens with disabilities must have opportunities
for employment; adequate, affordable housing; accessible transportation;
continuing education; religious fellowship and worship; associational and
civic memberships; and adequate health care.
- The rights of persons with disabilities and their families are honored,
respected, and protected in all areas of their lives.
At HDI we see ourselves actively engaged in bringing these conditions to
bear within Kentucky and within the states we serve by focusing on interdisciplinary
education, research and development, information sharing, advocacy, and outreach.
- We will work actively within the University community to ensure that students
who plan future work in disability-related services will have access to interdisciplinary,
research-based training experiences involving direct interactions with persons
with disabilities and their families.
- HDI will promote and conduct research, development, and model demonstration
efforts to continually improve state-of-the-art best practices and services.
- We will act as an accessible information resource, actively sharing our
knowledge of resources and best practices with those who administer services
and supports and those they serve.
- HDI staff will provide outreach services and consultation to agency staff
to identify and resolve the challenges involved in promoting and achieving
independence, productivity, and inclusion of persons with disabilities and
their families throughout life.
- We will continue to work in conjunction with families and consumers, advocating
for needed resources and services at all levels.
The Institute will perform these activities within Kentucky and throughout
the nation
to help improve the lives of persons with disabilities and their families.
- HDI will remain proactive and progressive as we garner the resources
that support
our vision and expand the relationships that help us serve as a leader in
critical
areas of need.
- We will seek funding from a variety of sources within Kentucky and
nationwide, capitalizing on our long history and strong reputation as a
University Center for Excellence.
- HDI will maintain an on-campus presence in a fully accessible facility
that is convenient and comfortable for agency personnel and consumers to
utilize as a resource for training and information sharing.
- We will continue to recruit and employ a highly qualified and diverse
staff dedicated to our vision and mission. That staff will be effectively
trained to use technology to remain connected to those we serve within our
state and nation.
In order to remain successful in these areas, HDI must continue to engage
people with disabilities and families to help us more fully understand the
breadth of their needs, and to develop and evaluate interventions that meet
those needs. This must be done in conjunction with continuing collaboration
with state and local agencies to enhance the impact of our efforts.
To achieve our vision, we must also look within. This involves linking our
personal visions with those of our University, our collaborators, and our
consumers. Internally, we must become an increasingly cohesive entity.
- HDI will be organized to allow us to work effectively and efficiently
toward our goals. We will orient new staff in ways that ensure feelings of
competence and belonging, and succeed in maintaining our positive working
environment.
- We will provide ongoing opportunities for learning, and we will share
experiences that create synergy and ongoing collaborative opportunities to
develop new knowledge and new solutions.
- We will seek the best available technology to ensure the optimal use
of our resources and opportunities to model our successful use of technology
to others.
Promoting independence, productivity, and inclusion throughout life for persons
with disabilities and their families requires leadership and the courage to
be creative innovators.
At HDI we develop strategies that will further the state-of-the-art, and
we strive to be leaders within the University community, the state, and the
nation as we work within our challenging and complex mission.
Notice: This site is maintained by the technology group at the
Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute - University of Kentucky. Some Web
sites to which these materials provide links for the convenience of users are
not managed by the University of Kentucky. UK does not review, control, or take
responsibility for the contents of those sites.
Please forward comments or questions to: ihdi-www@lsv.uky.edu
An Equal Opportunity University
