October is designated as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to honor the valuable contributions of disabled individuals in the workforce and promote the significance of creating inclusive and accessible job opportunities.
The University of Kentucky's Human Development Institute (HDI) is dedicated to advancing strategies that foster greater inclusivity within Kentucky's workforce.
In partnership with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, RETAIN Kentucky, a grant implemented by HDI, hosted the Inclusive Workforce Summit to highlight people with disabilities as an untapped talent pool.
Retaining Employment and Talent After Injury/Illness Network (RETAIN) Kentucky is a federally funded initiative exploring stay-at-work/return-to-work strategies. It also works with employees, employers and health care providers to address issues.
"In Kentucky, an inclusive workforce isn't just a goal — it's the key to unlocking our state's full potential," said Kathy Sheppard-Jones, Ph.D., executive director of HDI. "Kentucky is an Employment First state, meaning that competitive integrated employment is a right for people with disabilities who want to work."
Kentucky has one of the highest employment gaps in the U.S. between people with and without disabilities — ranking 48th in the nation. The 2023 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium shows 76% of Kentuckians without disabilities are employed compared to 33.7% of people with disabilities, a 42.3% difference.
"This month, we also recognized 50 years since the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 — a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on disability," said Cora McNabb, OVR executive director. "At the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, we understand hiring people with disabilities isn't just an act of inclusivity — it's an investment in diversity and creativity to enrich our workplace and empower us all."
An inclusive workforce values and integrates the diverse skills and contributions of all, including individuals with disabilities, fostering their engagement, development and advancement at all employment levels.
More than 250 participants learned more about the impact of work on health, return-to-work and stay-at-work strategies, and universal design. Attendees were also able to network and connect with people in a variety of industries including health care. Discussions focused on action-based approaches to take advantage of resources in the Commonwealth to better serve patients.
"It is undeniably clear that work and health go hand in hand," said Sheppard-Jones. "People with disabilities are a largely untapped talent pool and there is a plethora of resources to help make connections to engage in ways that promote a strong and healthy Kentucky workforce."
Sheppard-Jones also emphasized the importance of continued learning for employers to navigate the multifaceted needs of employees across the Commonwealth. She also thanked the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce for its partnership in hosting the event.
The Kentucky Chamber is the voice for a diverse range of 3,800 member businesses, spanning from family-owned shops to Fortune 500 companies. Together, they collectively employ more than half of the state's workforce.
"The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is focused on advancing Kentucky by supporting a dynamic business climate in the Commonwealth. As part of that mission, we believe employment opportunities should be open to all. We look forward to working together to make our businesses not only more diverse but more competitive and innovative," said Jim Ford, chief resource officer at the Kentucky Chamber.
RETAIN Kentucky offers a variety of resources including an Employer Seminar Series available on YouTube.
About RETAIN Kentucky
In 2018, RETAIN Kentucky began as a pilot program, which served more than 200 employees and trained more than 1,100 health care providers and constituents. In 2021, the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation received a $21.6 million grant to fund a second phase of the program, which includes statewide expansion to serve more than 3,000 employees.
Individuals interested in enrolling in RETAIN Kentucky can get more information at www.kyretain.org
