Kylee Hope - The Pandemic's Impact on People with Disabilities

Kylee Hope - The Pandemic's Impact on People with Disabilities

Health

Government Services

Kylee Hope was Director of Indiana's Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviewed shortly after that period, when she had recently retired from her position, she provides an account of the agency’s response to the public health crisis.

"We switched to coverage, to making sure that people were healthy and safe... but I also feel that we lost a little bit of that quality or that ensuring that they had a quality life as well." In addition, "COVID-19 absolutely compounded the complexities and the need for direct support professionals," staffing that was already in short supply.

She discusses critical issues faced by Hoosiers with disabilities that she observed during "some of the most stressful time periods." The so-called digital divide proved to be a significant barrier for employment. "A lot of times individuals with disabilities were laid off or furloughed or... they opted to quit" due to changes in their jobs. For infants and toddlers not receiving early intervention services, key developmental milestones may have been missed.

Indiana Disability History Project

Center for Health Equity at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community and Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities

2021-06-22

Kylee Hope - interviewee

Jane Harlan-Simmons - interviewer

Peggy Holtz - videographer/editor

Copyright © 2021 The Trustees of Indiana University

video/mp4

English

Moving Image

180-mi

Open to all users

"Kylee Hope - The Pandemic's Impact on People With Disabilities" YouTube video, 00:04:43, from an interview by the Indiana Disability History Project, posted by "Indiana Disability History" on September 15, 2021, https://youtu.be/d0aq-dIHPzQ

Indiana

2020-2021