Here are the highlights of our upcoming events and recent activity online. Not everything is included due to timeliness.

If an advertised event already took place, we've left it off. 

Awareness Month for:

Glaucoma Awareness Month

Braille Literacy Month

World Braille Day (January 4)

Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day (January 24)

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Awareness Day (January 30)

Look up local community events by visiting myplacesce.org

January community events include:

• Karaoke

• Birthday fun

• Painting

• Bowling

• Crafts

• Family fun

• Bingo

• Ice cream

• Snow tubing

• + More!!

Need some New Year’s resolution ideas?

Here are a few:

• Clean your room

• Swap soda for water

• Eat more fruits and veggies Start a better sleep schedule Learn a new recipe

• Floss

• Do more things that make you happy (raisingteenstoday.com)

Please join us in celebrating Mary Gauthier! Mary is both a parent as well as an educator and administrator of children's programs in Idaho having worked in Head Start programming for more than 25 years. Her passion for children and especially children with disabilities shines through all she does.

In her role as a board member, she is thorough and precise. She maintains an organized and detail-focused approach, guaranteeing that IPUL adheres to critical nonprofit standards while also acting as a conscientious steward to the families we serve and the community as a whole.

We are so grateful to have her as an Idaho Parents Unlimited Board Member!

We shared this from the Oregon Family to Family Health and Information Center:

Do you have genetic questions, but don't know where to ask? Have you been searching for a diagnosis, but aren't sure how genetics fits? This FREE webinar might be for you! 

Medical Genetics Services: An introduction for parents and caregivers of children with special health Specialized Needs Recreation

Tues., Feb. 06, 2024

6:00pm -7:00 pm

Register here

http://tinyurl.com/F2FGen24

You will receive a Zoom link via email

Cost: Free

Spanish interpretation is provided. Request interpretation in other languages by January 23, 2024.

Have you been searching for information or answers about your child’s disability or health condition? Have you wanted to ask questions about genetics but weren’t sure who to talk to?

Join the Oregon Family to Family Health Information Center and the Genetic Support Foundation to learn how medical genetics services can play a role in your

child’s health journey.

Topics will include:

• When and why families may want to seek a genetics evaluation

• How to ask for a referral to a geneticist

• Why medical genetics matters for children with special health needs

• What to expect during a visit to a genetics clinic

• How much does genetic testing cost?

Q&A session with the speaker:

Devin Shuman, MS, CGC (she/her) received her

Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of California, Irvine in 2017.

She is passionate about rare disease advocacy, public speaking, and inclusive care for LGBT and disability communities

The Family to Family Health Information Center is a project of the Oregon Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs. It is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (Grant # H84MC21658/Family Professional Partnerships

Sharing an event on behalf of our partners at Boise School District

We will be present with IPUL resources at this event! 

We recognize that when we share information from a Boise or Treasure Valley area school district, as a statewide organization, many of you think, "Well, that's not for me...why don't they share information from other school districts like this?"



We most definitely would love to do that. We share the information that is sent to us with an ask to share. If you have information about events that we should be sharing from school districts in other parts of the state, please send them our way and we'll be happy to spread the word. Thank you

 Join us for a night of connection and community education!

LIKE, a documentary about the impact of social media on our lives.

-This film examines the benefits and risks of technology. It raises questions about the addictive nature of social media and the need to find balance. 

-Suitable for ages 10 and up

-Dinner will be provided

-Childcare for children under 10 will be provided 

February 15th from 5:00 - 7:00 PM

Whittier Elementary School 301 N 29th St. Boise, ID 83702

For questions, please contact Sara Nord at sara.nord@boiseschools.org

Link to register ---> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-SqtXO-FV7IILQqWLbp2vZcZvTzSkqkCij2T1xv-n6v--Kw/viewform

As some of you have already noticed, February's podcast episode dropped a day early. Our mistake is your early Valentine's present!

Listen in as Kaitlyn offers her perspective on transition to adult systems and services. We were so honored to have her as an IPUL intern, we hope you enjoy listening to her journey as much as I did!

Add us on your favorite podcast platform!

https://direct.me/unlimitedparenting

“Has your child been newly diagnosed and you want to know what Idaho offers? Maybe your child is supported by the Family Directed pathway and you are curious how it differs from the Traditional pathway. Have you just moved to Idaho and want to know more about Idaho Medicaid services for children with disabilities or special healthcare needs? Then this training is for you!”

IPUL's Self-Guided Module on Accessibility and Inclusion: Understanding 504's

The module will cover:

• History of 504 Plans
• Eligibility
• 504s in school
• 504 vs IEP

Live Now!

via self-guided module

Registration Required Join our upcoming session where we delve into the intricacies of 504 plans within the school setting. This informative session will explore the fundamental aspects of 504 plans, shedding light on their purpose, implementation, and the crucial role they play in supporting students with disabilities. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the key differences between 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) empowering educators and parents to navigate the educational landscape effectively. Elevate your knowledge to ensure that your student receives the tailored support they need to thrive academically and socially. But what happens if you still have a question after finishing the modules? That is what our "Connect the Dots" office hours every month are for.

Connect the Dots: Join us for our Monthly Office Hours

Accessibility and Inclusion: Understanding 504s

February 28, 2024 from 12:30-1:30 pm MST

To access Zoom for Q&A please register for the current month's Self-Guided training module.

Contact Idaho Parents Unlimited!

The best method to reach us for assistance is through our website:  

https://ipulidaho.org/connect-with-us/ . You can also shoot us a question using the abbreviated version of that form at the bottom of every page on our website, although we may need to get more information from you.

We monitor our intake phone line (208-342-5884) during the workday, 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. (Please be sure the number you are leaving us can accept text or voice messages.)

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.

We keep our website updated with new events and maintain a presence on Facebook, and Instagram

Programs and services offered by Idaho Parents Unlimited are supported in part by the U.S. Department of Education (H328M200033) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Affordable Care Act Family to Family Health Information Center (H84MC12896), opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the positions of either department, endorsement is not assumed