March 2023

Utah Disability Today

The official newsletter of the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice

Phone: (435) 797-1981

You received this monthly newsletter because you are a friend of the Institute for Disability. Keep reading for news, resources, events, and job openings!

NEWS

Read about Kellie Kohler and Dr. Tressa Johnston on our blog.

IDRPP Service Division Adds Two Associate Directors

The Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice’s Service Division is growing, with new projects coming on board and existing ones poised to grow. To manage the changes, IDRPP has brought in two Service Division Associate Directors.

Wisdom from women with developmental disabilities:

Loving My Skin

"I learned early in life, as the youngest of the six “Super Coopers” children, that for me to get my wants and needs met, I was going to have to learn how to advocate by speaking up for myself. This was not an easy task because, besides having the physical disability of cerebral palsy, my disability also included a speech impairment..."

Shari's story is on our blog and in the latest Developmental Disabilities Network Journal.

Disability Awareness Can Be a Joyful Experience

Guest blogger Kirsten Barraclough reflects on inclusion in the classroom. "The Americans with Disabilities Act was not quite six years old, and my teacher had 'never been around a physically handicapped person' and was afraid that she couldn’t include me enough. ... By the end of the year, she excitedly came up with adaptations herself."

Kirsten shares her story on our blog.

2023 Utah Legislative Session Roundup

Visit our blog for a list of legislation—passed and failed—that will affect Utahns with disabilities and their families.

The Institute for Disability, Research, Policy, and Practice is doing a survey about sexuality, healthy relationships and people with disabilities. Are you an adult with a disability, family member, or a professional in a related field? Please take our survey. It will take 15-20 minutes.

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EVENTS

ACRE Employment Specialist Training - Online

April 4-6

$200

StrategicA11y - Virtual Strategic Web Accessibility Workshop

April 4-6, 12-13

$1,200/person, $1,000/person for groups of 2+

Early ECHO: Feeding - Part 4 with Kimberly Hirte

April 5

For more information, visit the Early Echo website

FREE

Saturday Mornings with the NRCP: Understanding and Supporting Social-Emotional Growth

April 8

$25

CIFR 2023 Fiscal Webinar

April 11

FREE

Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Landscape Analysis Launch

April 11

FREE

Project SCOPE: Foster Care with Kyla Clark

April 12

For more information, visit the Project SCOPE website

FREE

Workplace Support Training - Salt Lake City

April 19

Completion of online modules required in advance

$25

Improving Access to Mental Health Care Services for Autistic People in Utah

April 20

FREE

Webinar: Building Expectations for People with Disabilities by Dismantling Bias and Using Empowering Language

April 20

FREE

WebAIM Web Accessibility In-Person Training

April 26-27

$950/person, $800/person for groups of 2+

ACRE Employment Specialist Training - Online

May 2-4

$200

Early ECHO: Behavior - Part 1 with Ashley Stewart

May 3

For more information, visit the Early Echo website

FREE

WebAIM Web Accessibility Virtual Training

May 3-4

$500/person, $400/person for groups of 2+

Cache Valley Caregiver Workshop

May 24

FREE

CAREERS WITHIN IDRPP

Visit the new "Work With Us" section on our website.

RESOURCES

ABLE SSA Webinar with ABLE Expert Q&A

ABLE works to empower individuals with disabilities toward more independent and secure futures by offering tools and resources. This webinar discusses how ABLE and Social Security interact. At the end of the presentation, there is an ABLE Experts Questions & Answer Session.

Kayci Lynam discusses her role as a para-educator

Kayci works a variety of different jobs, including being a para-educator. In this role, she help students gain life & academic skills. As a para-educator with a disability, she knows the importance of being understanding & patient.

Project SCOPE Session: School Approach to Trauma

Tami Curtis presented about trauma and mental health in school-aged children. She discussed what trauma is, how agencies can create a psychologically safe environment for the kids they work with, the importance of mental health awareness, and how to incorporate wellness rooms into our schools and the benefits they bring.

Develop Abilities Podcast

The Utah Developmental Disabilities Council creating a podcast to promote disability awareness in the state of Utah and across the country.

Disability and Health Information for Women with Disabilities

The CDC provides information for women with disabilities.

A Snapshot of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Utah

Findings from the Utah Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Program help understand more about the number of children with autism spectrum disorder, the characteristics of those children, and the age at which they are first evaluated and diagnosed.