February 2017

The Center on Disabilities and Human Development Monthly Newsletter

Above, Robin Greenfield presents on the Idaho Project for Children and Youth with Deaf Blindness. Above, Shawn Wright gives a tour of the Idaho Training Clearinghouse website and its search features.

CDHD projects present to Special Education Advisory Panel   The Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) provides policy guidance with respect to special education and related services for children with disabilities in Idaho. The panel meets quarterly throughout the year. This month the committee heard from two CDHD projects that assist students and teachers. The presentations were given by Shawn Wright with the Idaho Training Clearinghouse (ITC) and Robin Greenfield with the Idaho Project for Children and Youth with Deaf Blindness. Participants learned about the training resources for Idaho special educators and services ITC offers and about the wikis the Deaf Blindness project utilizes to train new staff working with students.

Disability Awareness Day at the Capitol

CDHD is a member of the Consortium for Idahoans with Disabilities (CID). Each year CID holds an annual event, Fred Riggers Disability Awareness Day, at the Capitol to bring awareness to disability services throughout the state.   The CDHD provided the event coordination for the day, Tuesday February 21st, and the Assistive Technology project provided device demonstrations and a hands-on make and take session, of a low-cost tablet or phone stand. Olivia Lebens brought CDHD trainees from Moscow, ID to the event. Mia Giglio, trainee, wrote the following about her experience. "I had the opportunity to travel to Boise for Disability Awareness Day at the Capitol building with two other trainees! While I was there, we were able to meet many great providers and key agencies from around the state that allow Idaho citizens with disabilities to reach their full potential and live their lives to the fullest! After a lot of handshakes and a very informative tour of the capitol building, we were able to watch the senate hearing on HB 41, for the ABLE legislation, which was passed after many wonderful, powerful speakers! Hearing about the lives of people with disabilities and their families was very moving, and it was wonderful to watch a piece of history take place. The joy in the room after ABLE Act passed was a once in a life-time experience, and I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to witness. The day was full of a lot of information and a lot of fun! I am so happy I got to participate in such an important day in Idaho, and I thank CDHD for giving me opportunities like this throughout my time here. I cannot wait for more!"

Pictured above, from left to right: Olivia Lebens, Mia Giglio, Laura Hannon and Amber Thompson attend a Senate Health and Welfare committee hearing.

Nick Stallings instructs trainees on making a tablet stand.

CDHD Trainees Amber, Laura and Mia standing in front of the CDHD and AT display during Disability Awareness Day at the Capitol.

CDHD Interdisciplinary Training

CDHD Trainee Book Club By Ryan Locke

Picture above: Cover of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.           All Center on Disabilities and Human Development (CDHD) trainees are required to complete 20 hours of interdisciplinary training a semester, which are activities and events designed to boost skills and competency. In the fall of 2015, Mackenzie McDermott, an English major working at the CDHD’s Moscow office, found that there was not an interdisciplinary training that was oriented toward her major; so she decided to create a book club.

McDermott, who intends to become an English teacher, has worked at CDHD for three years. She wanted to create an interdisciplinary training that would utilize her strengths, and to create an environment where participating students can learn more about interacting with others who are different than themselves. In keeping with the CDHD’s mission, the books selected by the club all have a theme of disability.       Last year the club read Marcelo in the Real World, a 2009 young adult fiction novel about a teenager with an Asperger’s-like disorder. This year the club focused on memoirs, in the fall they read The Reason I Jump, a 2007 memoir, originally published in Japan and more recently translated into English, by a 13-year old boy with autism. The club is presently reading The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, a 1997 memoir by man who was paralyzed by a stroke. McDermott is graduating in the spring of 2018 and is currently in the process of finding a successor to take over the project. She hopes that the book club can remain an ongoing project and lead to a campus cultural shift allowing more open-mindedness with all peoples.

artAbility Volunteer Training

Jen Magelky-Seiler was the main presenter at the CDHD artAbility training for possible volunteers at upcoming artAbility workshops. Magelky-Seiler covered acceptable behavior and language for volunteers to exhibit.

AT Corner

GlassOuse By Jessilyn Matthias Do you have trouble using your hands to operate your Smartphone or iPad? The GlassOuse (pictured above) might be a solution. This assistive technology fits over the head like eye glasses, or on top of existing glasses, and connects remotely to computers, iPads, iPhones, and other Bluetooth-capable devices. The device’s cursor is activated via the user’s head movements, and the wearer bites or presses his or her lips on the antibacterial sponge blue tip to “click” selections much like a typical mouse. The GlassOuse requires a small, proprietary, rechargeable battery that generally lasts 15 days before needing to be recharged. The GlassOuse company was created by Mehmet Nemo Turker, a Turkish man who lives in China, along with several of his friends. Turker’s interest in assistive technology arose when another friend became seriously injured after a scuba diving accident. Always looking for ways to improve his friend’s life, Turker created the GlassOuse to help all people who have a disability. The GlassOuse device retails for $179.00 U.S., including an international shipping fee. GlassOuse is a non-profit organization and proceeds go to donating GlassOuse devices to people who cannot afford them. For more information, please visit www.indiegogo.com  Until next time!

Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Message from Co-Chairs

CAC Upate By Eilleen Waddell, Co-Chair Greetings from the Community Advisory Committee(CAC)! CAC met as a committee in January by teleconference to review the five-year plan. Over the course of the meeting, we reviewed the five-year plan survey results, needs assessments, Core Function areas, and the newly created overriding principles of diversity, integration and human rights. CDHD created three main goals with the activity focus to build capacity of a diverse workforce, promote systems changes that reach across sectors of society, and enhance self-advocacy for people with disabilities.   The committee is currently looking for new committee members who, represent Idaho’s diverse population, and would like to be involved in guiding CDHD activites. The CAC is currently looking for adults with disabilities and family members. Visit our website for  more information.

URLEND Survey The Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (URLEND) is studying the attitudes of professionals toward the sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities. The purpose of this study is to help describe attitudes that may impact services for people with intellectual disabilities. The outcome of this study can help inform future policy and practice. Click for more information and to take the survey.

Upcoming Events

Tools for Life The Tools Fair will be in Pocatello, Idaho on March 6th and 7th! The theme for the 2017 event is Making Assistive Technology Work for You! The Fair is for transitioning youth with disabilities and all who support them.  Read more about this year's fair!

March 1 - Spread the Word to End the Word Pledge online to stop using the R-word and to use respectful, people-first language. March 20-22 - Disability Policy Seminar, Washington D.C. April 22 - Walk and Roll Disability Acceptance Event, Moscow ID April 23-29 - Week of the Young Child, Botanical Garden Boise, ID April 24 - artAbility Showcase, Moscow ID

Center on Disabilities and Human Developmen 1187 Alturas Drive Moscow, ID 83843 www.idahocdhd.org

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DISCLAIMER The CDHD Insider is a newsletter for CDHD staff, partners, and community. It is a tool used by the Center to keep everyone informed on the day to day work that is being performed and things to look forward to in the near future. NEXT NEWSLETTER March 2017 REMINDER Be sure to check out the CDHD Facebook page to stay updated on upcoming events at CDHD.