The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute hosted the Warren County Community Conversations forum. Organizations who work with individuals with disabilities were asked to identify the biggest need they saw in Warren County. The answer was, “There is a lack of disability awareness education amongst the youth in our community”. In response to this need, Kristi Shive, Warren County Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, began developing and presenting the, “Different Abilities Program”.

Kristi designed the Different Abilities Program to bring disability awareness to preschool and elementary aged children by highlighting differently abled characters through children’s book. Kristi carefully read and reviewed many books for the program. The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute partnered with Kristi to research books and select proper activities for youth. Children learned about differences and participated in activities that encouraged inclusion.

The Different Abilities Program was delivered to sixty preschool students and thirty elementary aged students. 100 percent of participants stated that they planned to be more inclusive to fellow students.  Kristi is currently working with extension specialists on turning the program into a statewide curriculum for the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension program.