Kentucky is proud to provide the skills and professional service of a disabilities coordinator as part of KCCVS' commitment to inclusion and opportunity for all who seek to serve. Kentucky's disabilities coordinator works to recruit AmeriCorps members with disabilities and provide assistance and referrals to services and supports members may need to perform their service assignment duties.
The KCCVS disabilities coordinator also provides advocacy and outreach to address access and accommodation policies and issues as a means to further expand service opportunities. Kentucky is working hard to find ways for people with disabilities, who otherwise may not have the opportunity, to share in the spirit of volunteerism and service.
Kentucky Disabilities Coordinator
Lanny Taulbee
(800) 239-7404
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
ADA and IT Technical Assistance Centers - also known as DBTACs (Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers), they are a comprehensive resource for information on the ADA and accessible information technology.
ADA Document Portal - a searchable Web site about the ADA and Information Technology Technical Assistance Centers from the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).
ADA Home Page - includes links to several Federal Agencies with ADA responsibilities, a guide to other disability rights laws, questions about child care centers and service animals.
U.S. Access Board - develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment and electronic and information technology. (Click on Guidelines and Standards, then ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), under the sub-heading Architecture for specific regulations regarding construction standards.)
U.S. Department of Transportation - the Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights is responsible for civil rights compliance and monitoring to ensure non-discriminatory provision of transit services.
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AmeriCorps Links
Citizen Service Act of 2002 - unveiled in April 2002 by President George W. Bush to reform and enhance AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and other programs administered by CNCS. This measure would have eliminated several financial barriers that pertain to members with disabilities. However, it was not voted on by Congress.
National and Community Service Act of 1990 - passed in 1993 and established the Corporation for National and Community Service. (Page 34, part (d)(5) provides the language requiring a portion of funding to be set aside for disability inclusion.)
National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) - a Corporation for National and Community Service training and technical assistance provider to help with compliance in all training and technical assistance needs regarding the inclusion of individuals with disabilities as active participants in national service programs.
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Kentucky Sites
Commission for Children with Special Health Care Needs - enhances the quality of life for Kentucky’s children with special health care needs through direct service, leadership, education and collaboration.
Interdisciplinary Human Development Institute - a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service, the institute focuses on improving lifelong opportunities and services for individuals with disabilities, their families and the community. The site offers several manuals in PDF format as well as many local, state and national information links.
Kentucky Business Leadership Network - a business-led organization serving a clearinghouse for busy Kentucky employers interested in hiring qualified employees with disabilities or retaining employees with acquired disabilities.
Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - an advocate for deaf and hard of hearing persons on legislative issues as well as a consultant to the governor, General Assembly and various state and local governmental agencies.
Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities - seeks to create change through visionary leadership and advocacy so that people have choices and control over their own lives. (KCDD does not provide direct care services).
Kentucky Housing Corporation - the New Construction Single-Parent, Disability and Elderly Program offers fixed 30-year loans for newly constructed houses at interest rates from 1- 6 percent. Limited funds are available, usually in July, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Kentucky Office for the Blind - a state government rehabilitation agency that offers assistance to persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation - helps Kentuckians with disabilities achieve suitable employment and independence.
Office of the Kentucky ADA Coordinator - contains links to many Kentucky agencies and ADA information.
State of Kentucky Disability Resources - includes a list of state agencies, non-profit organizations and private businesses organized by category.
U.S. Census Bureau American FactFinder - provides wide array of data. Search disability statistics by state by clicking on People, then Disability and narrow the search criteria.
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Disability Benefits
Diversity World - includes several links to other disability-related information such as employment, careers, job development and even a list of speakers.
Federal Communications Commission - the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Disability Right Office addresses disability-related telecommunications matters.
Medicare - Medicare recipients can register for MyMedicare, a secure online service for accessing your Medicare information. You can view the status of claims, enrollment information and check the deductible status of Part B.
Social Security - 2007 version of the Red Book is currently in production. During the interim, an updated is provided with appropriate earnings levels and other figures that apply for 2007.
Social Security Administration Online - This site has links to information about Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
U.S. Department of Labor, Job Accommodations Network (JAN). - information on accommodating specific disabilities.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - offers a great reference guide book on the employment process called Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The guide discusses reasonable accommodations applicable to the hiring process and to the benefits and privileges of employment.
WorkWORLD - Employment Support Institute, School of Business, Virginia Commonwealth University. Although software applications featured are not free, applications provide access to information with definitions for many of the terms used by Social Security.
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Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
Center for Disability and Special Needs Preparedness - works to ensure that all individuals are included in the development and implementation of plans for protection from natural and man-made emergencies.
Citizen Corps - learn to be prepared, get training in first aid and emergency skills and volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief and community safety.
Prepare.org - contains information designed to assist people with disabilities and medical concerns prepare for disasters.
Ready America - Kentucky - If a disaster or emergency strikes, do you know what to do? This site offers advice on protecting your family in any disaster - natural or man-made.
What's Your RQ (Readiness Quotient)? - a quick and simple online survey for individuals and families to gauge their preparedness for an emergency.
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Other Disability-Related Sites
ABILITY Magazine - an award-winning publication distributed by Time Warner with a combined online and print readership of more than one million. For close to two decades of service, ABILITY Magazine’s mission has been to provide new insights into our individual levels of ability. ABILITY Magazine uses celebrity interviews and human interest stories to build awareness that disability is part of the fabric of life. Included are articles on technology, education, employment, travel and medical advancements, all with a healthy dose of fun and humor.
ABILITYJobs.com - an employment resource for individuals with disabilities, corporations seeking a diversified work force, and rehabilitation service providers. Free services for job seekers include resume posting and searchable job listings. Fee-based services for employers include job postings and resume searching. Job seekers and students seeking internships can freely post their resumes on the site with the knowledge that companies are actively seeking them for employment.
Center for Accessible Living - a disability resource center governed by people with disabilities. It operates on a cross-disability basis, serving clients regardless of type of disability.
CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) - encourages and provides training to foster readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations in which citizens must cope on their own before professional help arrives following any emergency.
Disability World Magazine - e-magazine of international disability news and views.
DisabilityInfo.gov - the federal government's one-stop Web site for information of interest to people with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers and many others.
Independent Living USA - disability-related news links and many articles about people with disabilities in the news.
Kentucky Assistive Technology Service (KATS) Network Coordinating Center - housing and technology Web site including sites for older Kentuckians, financial assistance and other organizations.
Ragged Edge magazine - another popular disability related e-magazine.
U.S. Census Bureau - Disability - includes several links to sites with statistics related to people with disabilities.
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