IPUL's E-News for December 19, 2020 |
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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. |
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Idaho Parents Unlimited will be closed on Friday, December 25, 2020 as we observe Christmas Day. We will also be closed on Friday January 1, 2021 in observance of New Year's Day.
We wish you and yours a very happy and safe holiday this year!
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College Programs For Students With Disabilities |
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Did you know that Idaho now has three programs in our colleges and universities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities? PEERS (Boise State University), SPARC (Lewis-Clark State College), and Vandal QUEST. (University of Idaho)
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Idaho Ed News Is Asking For Your Input About Public Education |
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Idaho Ed News is asking parents to fill out a survey to help them explore what topics to best cover in 2021, and to find out your thoughts about how things have been going during the pandemic: |
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We want to include the voice of parents more often in our coverage of Idaho education. A parent perspective could not be more important as we cover the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on Idaho’s children.
We want to know:
- Are you happy with your neighborhood school?
- Is your child successful in online studies?
- When should schools reopen?
- How should student performance be measured?
- How should teachers be held accountable?
- How should tax dollars be spent to ensure the best experience for your child?
You tell us which of these topics we should explore in 2021: academic achievement, attendance, accountability, teacher performance, mental health, equity, higher education affordability, technical career opportunities, education policy and political influences on education. There are many others to choose from.
Fill out the survey here:
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Work of Art - Hidden Gems |
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Our incredible Work of Art employment skill building program has continued to go on even through the pandemic.
Earlier this year, we even held a virtual version of the program in which students created an amazing piece for St. Luke's Medical Center's new Behavioral Health Clinic in their Family Medicine Clinic in Nampa. Because it was online, students with disabilities participated from all over the state including those from the Treasure Valley, Salmon, Garden Valley, and beyond.
This particular piece of art focused on the "Hidden Gems" where the students focused on the things about themselves that are often invisible to others.
We are grateful to all who make this possible including the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, our fantastic teaching artists, our students and their parents, and our community client, St. Luke's.
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Pictured above is Dr. Sarah Porter, Medical Director, Travis Miner, LCSW, Heather Kirk, IPUL Arts Coordinator, and Angela Lindig, IPUL Executive Director.
Special thanks to Western Trophy and Engraving for donating this plaque shown below to be displayed with the artwork. The text of the plaque reads:
This artwork was made by students with disabilities throughout Idaho in the "Work of Art" program, ages 14-21. The employment readiness initiative teaches job skills using the arts to prepare youth to engage in the job market and explore careers in the arts. Students work with professional clients to create an original piece of art. "Hidden Gems was commissioned by St. Luke's and we thank them for partnering in the support of youth with disabilities and for serving our greater community.
The gemstone images are layers of visual art stacked on top of one another, each one representing an aspect of the students that is part of them, but hidden from the world. Work of Art is a program of Idaho Parents Unlimited and made possible by the support of the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and our other funding partners.
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IPUL Wants To Know If Provider Shortages for Community Based Services Are Impacting You |
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Dear families, can you please contact IPUL if you have struggled to access community-based services due to provider shortages during Covid?
Can you also let us know if you have lost staff for your child during this time? This NOT about school-based services. This is more in regards to direct care staff such as Personal Care Services, CSWs, Community-Based Supports, or if your child is in an out of home placement.
We've heard from a few families on this issue, but we would definitely like to hear more. We especially would appreciate hearing from families who live in rural communities where access to these services may have already been challenging. Thank you!
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January 2021 Statewide Training:
Start the New Year Organized!
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Start the new year prepared and organized with help from Idaho Parents Unlimited. 2020 has reminded us all of the need to have important and up to date records. And these records should be ready to go anytime and anywhere:
- Home Files, Hospital Visits, Disasters - Oh My!
- What to keep and how long to keep it.
- Organization strategies that fit many styles.
- Evacuation plans for individuals with disabilities or special health care needs.
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Wednesday, January 13, 2021
6:00 - 7:00 PM MST
via ZOOM
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Registration required -
parents@ipulidaho.org
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Contact Idaho Parents Unlimited!
The best method to reach us for assistance is through our website:
We monitor our intake phone line (208-342-5884) several times a day, and will try to respond to any request there within 24 hours. We use an automated intake phone system, so you will be leaving a message.
For questions that are not about something in our scope of work, you can still leave a phone message as above, send the question to the form on our website, or shoot us an email at parents@ipulidaho.org.
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IPUL's programs are funded through grants and contracts with the following: |
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