discuss their housing options, and conducting home assessments to evaluate accessibility, usability, and suitability for independent living. By identifying ways we can modify the home environment, implementing environmental controls, and advocating for better housing solutions, this initiative will help address those barriers and allow for a future with more choice and independence!​

Exceptional Family Kentucky

Exceptional Family Kentucky is the only magazine dedicated to disability issues in Kentucky. It is published twice per year and distributed statewide. 20,000 copies are printed in English and 2,000 in Spanish. The resource guide boasts over 450 listings. ​If you would like more information on the magazine email nicole.maher@ky.gov

To read the magazine online:  https://ccdd-edit.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx​​

The Independence Seekers Project ​

The Independence SeekersProject (ISP) is led by and for people with developmental and intellectual

disabilities, especially those who are in Medicaid funded programs. Additionally, they work to center the perspective and participation of: BIPOC, low income, women, and LGBTQ folks in leadership and decision making. The majority of their Leadership Council has been institutionalized, under guardianship, and/or received Medicaid services. ​ISP would like to implement the Advocacy & Sexuality Initiative​. Skills taught include interpersonal relationships and boundaries along with etiquette around dating and sexuality.  Louisville School of Medicine, will be involved in creating curriculum. ISP will host an unconference after the implementation of the Advocacy & Sexuality Initiative. This will allow disabled folks to freely discuss sexuality with other disabled people and their support teams.

It’s Never Too Early, Employment Initiative

​This project will update and provide training on employment using Employment Checklist tools and related

 resources (available at https://hdi.uky.edu/employment-checklists​). These resources were initially developed through a Kentucky family/advocacy workgroup as part of a Partnerships in Employment statewide systems change project. As part of this project, the early childhood checklist, targeting children aged three - five and their families, will be reviewed by families, staff and consultants with lived disability experience. The updated resources will be the central element of trainings offered to families and child care providers around the state, including Visually Impaired Preschool Services in Jefferson County, Memorial Childcare in Pulaski County, and Easterseals Redwood in northern Kentucky. A powerful component of this effort is the committed partnership of Child Care Aware Kentucky which provides support and learning opportunities for roughly 1,650 licensed child care providers across the state. This provides​ an immediate and trusted training entity to help us amplify the work statewide. 

Rural Community Access Project​

Build Inclusion, Starfire, and Lifeworks Group are teaming up for the Rural Community Access project will strengthen connections and networks for people with IDD in their own communities and neighborhoods through person-centered projects. These creative projects are tailored to each person and will empower families and neighbors of people with disabilities to take action to create connections and networks beyond the label of disability.

This initiative will feature 10 person-centered projects, mentored by other families each who have led their own successful community-based projects in the past. A stipend is attached to each project, and a monthly on-line learning series will be led by Starfire on varied best practice topics, which will be open to all. Past projects have consistently shown evidence of 4 or more new, unpaid community connections being made for the person with IDD. 

For more information, contact Project/Partner Coordinator, Annette Jett at annette@buildinclusion.org.

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Housing Access Grant

Build Inclusion, Life Works and Starfire were also awarded a grant for a Housing Access project. This project will use the person-centered tool, The Liberty Plan, to identify individualized plans for independent living in the community. 6 candidates will be chosen from applicants in targeted rural areas including Scott, Clark and Madison counties, as well as the tri-county areas of Whitley, Laurel and Knox. Community Conversations in each of those areas will be held August 20 and 21, 2025.

Partners will work off best practice models to shift the Control of Threshold to the person with IDD, encouraging a life of Self-Determination and Self-Advocacy through inter-dependent living. The implementation of two stipend-based housing plans supported by a coordinator will build the foundation and provide sustainability plans for successful independent living models. In addition, partners will offer products to better educate the community on the options of housing and resources available, advocate for systems change on the policy level, and encourage the use of The Liberty Plan to create independent living arrangements based on individualized needs and desires. 

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