Merge - UK Human Development Institute

Intellectual/Developmental Disability Educational Empowerment Series- Fall 2026

Aetna SKY, together with community partners throughout the state, is excited to offer a free intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) focused Educational Empowerment Series in 2026!

This series will help youth, caregivers, DCBS staff, and providers who want to learn and get support for caring for or working with young people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Each session will break down important topics in a simple, easy to use way. You will get useful tools and real-life tips. You will have a chance to connect with others across Kentucky. If you want clear information and a supportive place to learn, we’d love for you to join us!

The Fall series will occur on select Wednesdays during August, October, & November 2026 at 12:00PM ET/ 11:00AM CT–click the links below to register for each date.

•August 12, 2026 –SSI Benefits & Employment by Carolyn Wheeler with UK HDI and Jeff White with BHDID df599b21-b74f-432a-bf9e-c102f13ca6e5@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/df599b21-b74f-432a-bf9e-c102f13ca6e5@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7
•August 26, 2026 –Charting the Life Course Overview by Dr. Stacie Hutchinson with Green River Educational Cooperative
7f2cb6a6-dee1-4a7c-9cb6-33514b3099a9@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/7f2cb6a6-dee1-4a7c-9cb6-33514b3099a9@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7
•October 14, 2026 –Supportive Decision-Making by Laura Butler with UK HDI 58a26c77-6f2c-4840-9f51-313e8e4a5251@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/58a26c77-6f2c-4840-9f51-313e8e4a5251@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7
•October 21, 2026 –Supporting Caregivers by Amber Hamm and Eileen Hoover with KY SPIN e4756339-4296-4f94-816a-71e1469f17b2@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e4756339-4296-4f94-816a-71e1469f17b2@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7
•October 28, 2026 –Employment First by Katie Wolf-Whaley with UK HDI e74ffbfa-9b20-4d49-a4ef-458d3f990cad@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e74ffbfa-9b20-4d49-a4ef-458d3f990cad@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7
•November 4, 2026 –Trauma and the Impact on the Brain and Behaviors by Dawn Burke Aetna System of Care 0469eeec-0bd7-4664-942b-20e2d484a551@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/0469eeec-0bd7-4664-942b-20e2d484a551@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7
•November 11, 2026 –Managing Challenging Behaviors by Andrea Polk and Shelly Mann with Aetna System of Care 25419878-2d5b-440e-9322-421594a67e72@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/25419878-2d5b-440e-9322-421594a67e72@fabb61b8-3afe-4e75-b934-a47f782b8cd7

Join us TODAY:
A Lived Experience-Informed Approach to Understanding Su***de in People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities on
July 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT.

People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities have a distinct relationship to how they experience thoughts of su***de, as well as how they interact with support. Join this Webinar to learn more about how our world influences thoughts of su***de in people with IDD, how to protect autonomy in crisis, and build supportive communities of su***de care for people with IDD.

Learn More At:
https://hdi.uky.edu/merge/webinars/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTVdT9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFud1lvcE81T0xicjJIQkppc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjzkjXagGzyhNJNvFzUxZet1oiAx0t5KNqJby1uMx1mVgITzVuNpa_qGJtg0_aem_Dd-mr6QG8rB3HN60zhorBQ

Join us for an upcoming Merge Webinar:
A Lived Experience-Informed Approach to Understanding Su***de in People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities on

July 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT.

People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities have a distinct relationship to how they experience thoughts of su***de, as well as how they interact with support. Join this Webinar to learn more about how our world influences thoughts of su***de in people with IDD, how to protect autonomy in crisis, and build supportive communities of su***de care for people with IDD.

Learn More At:
https://hdi.uky.edu/merge/webinars/

People with IDD sometimes experience co-occurring mental health support needs for mood, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders. There is also evidence that people with IDD have much higher rates of receiving medications for mental health, sometimes without a diagnosis to support the use of such medications.

Data from more than 30,000 people with IDD surveyed in 2024-25 shows that:
• 39% have a co-occurring mental health condition
• 46% take a least one medication for a mental health condition

This data underscores the opportunity for systems to explore providing person-centered mental health supports, and in particular, looking closely at use of medications. In response to this data, HSRI worked closely with the Nasddds LINKCenter to develop a brief looking at mental health conditions and the use of medications for people with IDD. Check it out (link in comments) today!

People with IDD sometimes experience co-occurring mental health support needs for mood, anxiety, or other psychiatric disorders. There is also evidence that people with IDD have much higher rates of receiving medications for mental health, sometimes without a diagnosis to support the use of such medications.

Data from more than 30,000 people with IDD surveyed in 2024-25 shows that:
• 39% have a co-occurring mental health condition
• 46% take a least one medication for a mental health condition

This data underscores the opportunity for systems to explore providing person-centered mental health supports, and in particular, looking closely at use of medications. In response to this data, HSRI worked closely with the Nasddds LINKCenter to develop a brief looking at mental health conditions and the use of medications for people with IDD. Check it out (link in comments) today!

HSRI

Join us for an upcoming Merge Webinar:
A Lived Experience-Informed Approach to Understanding Su***de in People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities on July 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT.

People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities have a distinct relationship to how they experience thoughts of su***de, as well as how they interact with support. Join this Webinar to learn more about how our world influences thoughts of su***de in people with IDD, how to protect autonomy in crisis, and build supportive communities of su***de care for people with IDD.

Learn More At:
https://hdi.uky.edu/merge/webinars/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTNlzxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFpdTY5aEh1OVc3TDJtdGgxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkqL9KysuN32BEyj4joOXJ2rwTA37qHlKzNV3ZmyhrBSLch39t8l5qSr0Ev0_aem_EfQcQ8_-V4sedUC9LfGaRw

Join us for an upcoming Merge Webinar:
A Lived Experience-Informed Approach to Understanding Su***de in People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities on

July 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT.

People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities have a distinct relationship to how they experience thoughts of su***de, as well as how they interact with support. Join this Webinar to learn more about how our world influences thoughts of su***de in people with IDD, how to protect autonomy in crisis, and build supportive communities of su***de care for people with IDD.

Learn More At:
https://hdi.uky.edu/merge/webinars/

Join us for an upcoming Merge Webinar:
A Lived Experience-Informed Approach to Understanding Su***de in People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities on

July 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT.

People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities have a distinct relationship to how they experience thoughts of su***de, as well as how they interact with support. Join this Webinar to learn more about how our world influences thoughts of su***de in people with IDD, how to protect autonomy in crisis, and build supportive communities of su***de care for people with IDD.

Learn More At:
https://hdi.uky.edu/merge/webinars/

Attention all action hero and comics fans! Beginning July 1st, Marvel Comics is celebrating with four new issues.

'Amazing Spider-Man,' Other Comics Spotlight Disability Storylines In a series of special issues that are about to drop, Marvel Comics is putting the focus on a half dozen heroes with various disabilities.

Join us TONIGHT for an exciting panel discussion about mental health and developmental disabilities. Participants will learn directly from people with lived experience as panelists share their stories and insights around their journeys with mental health and developmental disabilities. This is the final session of our Rooted & Rising spring learning opportunities!

June 4, 2026 (Thursday)
6:00 - 7:00 PM Eastern Time

Register here:
https://uky.zoom.us/meeting/register/4YUeG8M6TH-tSA2GzK1oPA #/registration

Join us this week for a panel discussion about mental health and developmental disabilities. Participants will learn directly from people with lived experience as panelists share their stories and insights around their journeys with mental health and developmental disabilities.

June 3, 2026 (Wednesday)
1:00 - 2:00 PM Eastern Time

June 4, 2026 (Thursday)
6:00 - 7:00 PM Eastern Time

Learn more and register:
https://hdi.uky.edu/rooted/

Today is the 15th Global Accessibility Awareness Day!
Accessibility is more than ramps, pathways and equipment. It is about independence, inclusion and making sure people of all abilities can participate fully in everyday life.
There is still work to do, but days like today are an important reminder that accessibility should never be an afterthought.
Because when accessibility improves, everyone benefits.

Learn more at : https://accessibility.day/?fbclid=IwY2xjawR7_qBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFTYktqWkpQTm94ZHI0Q2xXc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHi-_j5JSpkayeBYU4R3BSY8DCrXedl_Mc9I41Q_cPrTerLiX2Q68LcuubQgg_aem_G-DRMJ6nqrylZMti0DvEWA

Today is the 15th Global Accessibility Awareness Day!
Accessibility is more than ramps, pathways and equipment. It is about independence, inclusion and making sure people of all abilities can participate fully in everyday life.
There is still work to do, but days like today are an important reminder that accessibility should never be an afterthought.
Because when accessibility improves, everyone benefits.

Learn more at : https://accessibility.day/

Join Rooted & Rising this evening to talk about self-care for caregivers and families!

May 21, 2026 (Thursday)
6:00 - 7:00 PM (ET)

Learn more and register:
https://hdi.uky.edu/rooted/