My son, Andy, and I love road trips. Our whole family loves road trips. We usually end up somewhere wonderful with family and friends–like Boston, Utah, or Washington DC. And we have lots of fun along the way while lip syncing and eating at hole-in-the-wall dives, but we also deal with bumps in the road,…
Read More… on Join Our Road Trip to EmploymentCompetitive, integrated employment is really the next frontier for people with disabilities, particularly those with autism, multiple disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. Competitive, integrated employment means that people with disabilities earn at least minimum wage and work in the community like everyone else. Competitive, integrated employment also means they have opportunities for benefits and growth like people…
Read More… on Passing the Bumps in the Road: Low Employment RatesWhen we moved to our house from another state 16 years ago, I had no idea where to turn to find services for my four-year-old-son with Down syndrome. But my sister told me there was a little girl with Down syndrome at her kids’ school, and she did some detective work to send me that…
Read More… on Finding Hidden Gems: Parent MentorsEven during these crazy times, I have been able to keep working as administrative assistant for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky (DSACK). I work from home in my own office setup and put in as many hours a day as I can helping out the staff. Working from home during the pandemic has…
Read More… on Passing the Bumps in the Road: Adapting to COVID-19Our 20-year-old son, Andy, officially started a break from his grocery store job on March 16 as COVID-19 started spreading where we live. This was an incredibly hard decision for us because we didn’t know how long this break would last. We were very worried at first because if an employee is normally off the…
Read More… on Hitting Major Obstacles in the Road: Employment and COVID-19Did you know that only 13% of youth with autism and youth with significant developmental disabilities in Kentucky are employed competitively one year after they leave high school? We’re not talking about the “unemployment rate” like you normally hear about on the news. We’re talking about the percentage of these youth who are actually working…
Read More… on Avoiding Detours: Drive Past the Cliff and Follow the Road to EmploymentWhat some people don’t realize is that working students often won’t lose any of their SSI cash benefit while in school or a training program. The Student Earned Income Exclusion means that students under age 22 can earn up to $1,985 per month (up to a total of $7670 annually) and still receive their full…
Read More… on Figuring the Budget: Student Earned Income Exclusion15-year-old Grayson Kemplin is the Social media assistant at the Human Development Institute. He is also an Autistic self advocate, serves on Kentucky Protection & Advocacy’s Developmental Disability Board, and participates in conferences. I became involved with the KentuckyWorks Initiative when I attended a post-secondary community conversation they sponsored. I learned that being ready for…
Read More… on Milestones: Getting a High School Job by Grayson KemplinMaking friends and building a tribe are important for anyone preparing for employment. We all depend on networking to find and keep jobs. I’ve heard people talking lately about how no one is dependent or independent. We are all interdependent. We need each other to be successful, and friends also make life more fun. Inclusion…
Read More… on Preparing for the Trip: Finding Road Trip CompanionsEveryone says “enjoy the journey” and I agree to some extent. My son Clayton is 23 years old and he was diagnosed with Williams syndrome when he was 9 months old. I have enjoyed this journey, but not without many bumps along the way. First being a parent is not easy. Being a parent of…
Read More… on Trip Overview: Changing Direction by Stella Beard and ClaytonOn June 1, 2019, my son with Down syndrome graduated from high school. He danced and jumped across the stage with flourish, unabashedly hugged his principal, and motioned for an ROTC escort down the stairs. Andy has never been one to hold back his feelings, and he exuded excitement, joy, and pride that day. Andy…
Read More… on Milestone: Graduation Day and First Day of No-School
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