Human Development Institute Awarded $2.2 Million

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2010) − The Human Development Institute (HDI) at the University of Kentucky has been awarded a $2.2 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education.

The grant will be used to help fund UK's Supported Higher Education Project (SHEP), a project designed to develop a comprehensive support system for students with intellectual and related developmental disabilities throughout the Commonwealth.

HDI staff members Beth Harrison, Kathy Sheppard-Jones, and Harold Kleinert took the lead on applying for the grant. Sheppard-Jones acknowledges the significance of the funding and is thankful for the help it will provide Project SHEP.

"UK’s Project SHEP is about creating and sustaining the supports necessary for Kentucky students to take the next step in higher education," explained Sheppard-Jones. "This includes the supports to be able to attend college classes, participate in internships, work-study, and campus life, and ultimately, to obtain a job that truly matches one’s interests and gifts."

The goal of Project SHEP is the inclusion of young adults with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of college life, while integrating academics, socialization and meaningful work experiences within student-centered plans.

The project, which was initiated in October, has four specific objectives. The first is to support 150 students with intellectual disabilities in inclusive higher education settings, while using person-centered planning focused on individualized supports. Another objective is to train 2,000 professionals in secondary education, higher education and disability services to effectively serve a broader audience of learners. Third, the project aims to implement individualized certificates and meaningful academic recognition that promote improved educational and employment outcomes. The project's final objective is to create viable funding streams to sustain this initiative beyond the initial project funding.

Key partners in the SHEP project include the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities; the Kentucky Division of Protection and Advocacy; the University of Kentucky; Northern Kentucky University; Eastern Kentucky University; and Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

The HDI works to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. Their mission is to promote the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities and their families throughout the life span.

The HDI is a unit of the UK Office of the Vice President for Research and a member of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). For more information, visit the HDI website at www.hdi.uky.edu/SF/Home.aspx.