IPUL's Social Media Recap: June 14, 2019

Here are the highlights of our recent activity online. Not all everything is included due to timeliness. If an advertised event already took place, we've left it off.

Idaho Falls: ASL Story Time

We shared this from the Idaho Falls Public Library:

Hey there Friends! We have an exciting new Program Starting in a couple of weeks: ASL Story Time! Join us Tuesdays at 1:00 starting June 18th for a special story time focused on basic sign language vocab, enhancing early literacy, and supporting active learning styles! Idaho Falls Public Library 457 W Broadway St Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402

'It's OK to not be OK'

We shared this from the PEAK parent Center :

We applaud these efforts by Colorado's Cañon City and now Woodland Park and Park County school districts! “We were totally well aware when we started the [screening] process that we would open a can of worms,” said Brian VanIwarden, the district’s wellness coordinator. “Our job is to help these kids.” A statewide student health survey given every two years reveals just how prevalent thoughts of suicide are among Colorado youth. The 2017 version found that 17% of Colorado middle and high school students reported considering suicide and 7% reported making one or more attempts. In the 3,500-student Cañon City district, the new mental health screening is part of a broader effort to better address students’ social-emotional and mental health needs. Over the last two years, the district has also adopted new curriculum, partnered more closely with local mental health centers, and conducted teacher training on mental health topics. Read the full article here

"You are represented"

Ali Stroker took home the 2019 Tony Award for featured actress in a musical at Sunday night’s show. Stroker won for her take on Ado Annie Carnes for the Oklahoma! musical revival currently lighting up Broadway. Stroker emotionally made her way to the microphone as the crowd gave her a standing ovation. “Thank you, thank you so much. This award is for every kid who is watching tonight who has a disability, a limitation, a challenge, who has been waiting to see themselves represented in this arena. You are,” Stroker said during her moving speech. Read the full story here

DEAFinitely Dope - Inclusive Hip-Hop

Meet the hip-hop signing sensation who is making music more accessible for the deaf community Meet the hip-hop signing sensation who is making music more accessible for the deaf community. He’s even interpreted shows for Chance the Rapper. “When you provide that type of access, it’s life-changing,” says Matt Maxey, the founder of DEAFinitely Dope.  Read the full story here

Here’s a kids’ podcast that tells native stories with native voices

Molly of Denali is not just another podcast for kids. The Alaska-set action-adventure series is part Encyclopedia Brown, part American Girl, and all rooted in Native storytelling. The star of the show is Alaska Native Molly Mabray, who lives in the fictional Alaskan town of Qyah with her bush pilot mother and wilderness guide father. The adventure begins when Molly’s birthday cake goes missing just days before her 10th birthday. Being a curious young woman, she sets out to crack the case with the help of a mysterious raven and ends up finding something way better than a piece of cake. ...While everyone loves a good mystery, what makes this podcast (and TV series) truly groundbreaking is that all the indigenous characters are voiced by indigenous actors, and Alaska Native voices are featured across the production, including in story development and creative direction. The theme song, which is featured in the PBS KIDS series and podcast, is sung by members of the Yupik Alaska Native band Pamyua, with music from Gwich’in fiddler Brennan Firth. Read the full story here

DeLaet Foundation event to benefit IPUL, Idaho Federation of Families

We were excited to be able to share this great news from The DeLaet Foundation: Graham Slam 2019 will be held @spurwingclub in Meridian, ID from September 8-9! We are excited to spread our fundraising efforts to the Boise community & want to thank everyone is Sask for supporting us for so many years (we will see you again in 2020). Each year, the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation hold their annual charity event – Graham Slam – to raise funds to improve children's health and wellness and the development of junior golf across North America. In 2019, the Foundation will continue its fundraising efforts through the Graham Slam event in their hometown of Boise, ID. The Boise community has been Graham and Ruby's home since they met at Boise State University, and where they have built their lives and family over the past decade. 2019 Beneficiaries : Idaho Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health Idaho Parents Unlimited More information can be found here

I Can Bike in Eastern Idaho

We shared this news from the Eastern Idaho Down Syndrome Organization: Monday, July 15, 20198:30 a.m. - Friday, July 19, 2019 5:00 p.m. Mountain View Event Center in Pocatello Come join in on the biking fun! We are very excited to offer the iCan bike program in Eastern Idaho! This is a week long bike camp for people with special needs (8 years old and over) to learn how to ride a bike. At the camp there will be specially trained coaches to help the kids and adults with special needs learn how to ride a bike. The participants will start on adaptive bikes and transition to traditional two-wheeled bikes as they progress. The child or adult needs be under 220 lbs and have at least a 20” inseam. One parent/guardian/caretaker is asked to stay with their child/adult during the session. Each participant will come for 5 days in a row (July 15th-19th) during the same session each day. There are 5 sessions available (see the list below). Each session can only have 8 participants. Registration is first come first served. Once all spots are filled a waiting list will be started and you will be notified if a spot becomes available. Session #1: 8:30 am – 9:45 am Session #2: 10:05 am – 11:20 am Session #3: 11:40 am – 12:55 pm Session #4: 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm Session #5: 3:35 pm – 4:50 pm The cost is $149 per participant for members of Eastern Idaho Down Syndrome Family Connect and $199 for non-members (regular price). For those on medicaid or Katie Beckett Family Directed DD services the entire cost of the program can be reimbursed. Contact Andrew at  activities@easternidahodownsyndrome.org  for more information on the reimbursement. More information Registration Page

More Adaptive Clothing Availability Thanks to Kohl's

We shared news of retailer Kohl's offering adaptive apparent to it's three largest kid's brands: " With features including abdominal access and sensory-friendly and wheelchair-friendly options, the new adaptive clothing is thoughtfully designed, making stylish, quality apparel accessible to all. It recognizes the unique needs of Kohl’s customers, offering the same inclusive fabrics, styles, graphics, and shopping experience that makes their everyday realities a little easier and more rewarding. " Read the full story here

We want you to update your preferences!

You can now tune your email preferences! We want to be sure you are getting the mail from us that matters to you. We recently corrected an issue that was keeping people from being added to our mailing list, so if you are seeing this today for the first time, welcome! When you join our mailing list you begin by getting everything we send out... However we know that not everyone wants to see everything we send out, so we are making it easy to tune your preferences. If you scroll to the very bottom of this mailing you will find a link that says "update profile" clicking this will launch a page where you can update your information, and choose what mailings you will receive from us in the future. You will be able to deselect or select to be on the newsletter list, the social media update list, or the announcements list. If you are happy with getting everything, then you don't have to do anything, you are all set. But should you want to adjust what we send you, that is now possible.

Register Here

IPUL's Webinar Library:

Just a reminder that we have changed how we present our webinars - rather than a live webinar, will are now releasing a series of shorter, prerecorded modules on the same topic as our statewide training. The idea being that once we put them up, they will remain available for anyone to register to see and watch at their leisure. You can find them here on our website:  https://ipulidaho.org/webservids