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. 

You may have heard that IPUL has a podcast, "Unlimited Parenting".

We are looking to consistently publish news you can use TWICE a month. Those of you who have already given our podcast a listen know that we can talk for days; but we want to talk about the topics YOU want to hear about!

With that IPUL would want your feedback - which you can give on our Facebook post that this link will take you to directly. 

We would like you to respond to the options below - either by commenting on the Facebook post with the topic you would like to hear about, or by selecting one of the corresponding emoji.

Leave a "thumbs up" or "like" if you want more examples of least restrictive environments in special education.

Leave a "heart" if you'd like to hear more about how Medicaid defines allowables vs. non-allowables in the family directed pathway of children's DD services.

Select the "care" emoji for us to discuss whether or not speech services can be provided by a paraprofessional in school.

Finally, select the "laughing" emoji to hear about whether or not doctors can write a prescription for IEP's in school.

Again you can comment HERE

Parents with children ages Birth to 5, Deaf, Hard of Hearing:

Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind (IESDB) and Idaho Parents Unlimited are partnering together to provide interactive opportunities to learn about moving on from Early Intervention Services.

If you live outside the Treasure Valley (Regions 3 and 4), don't worry, plans are in the works to bring this training to families across the state.

Family Education Series

Early Childhood Transition

Moving on from early intervention services.

Introduction to Special Education services.

Parent Rights and Responsibilities.

Part 1 April 8, 2024

Part 2 April 29, 2024

6-8:30 PM

Dinner served at 6 pm

Childcare provided

College of Idaho

Simplot Hendren Dining Hall

2112 Cleveland Blvd.

Caldwell, ID 83605

RSVP: https://forms.gle/rFpMnmNfTLTwPunR9

Food For Thought Recording - 504 Plans and Schools

If you missed our Food for Thought last week that we held with Chynna Hirasaki, Special Education Director with the Idaho Department of Education, You can watch it at this link, as well as accessing our resource padlet.

Workforce Wednesday

Guidance Issued to All Schools on Adaptive Technology

Ed Department Warns Schools Not to Overlook Assistive Technology in IEPs

With new guidance, the U.S. Department of Education is pushing schools to ensure that all students with disabilities have the assistive technology they need and the supports to use it effectively. The agency issued a “Dear Colleague” letter and a 24-page “myths and facts” document this week aimed at clarifying schools’ responsibilities to provide various aids.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the agency said that every time an individualized education program team meets to develop, review or revise a student’s IEP, they are required to factor whether the child needs assistive technology devices and services. Read the full article here: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/01/25/ed-department-warns-schools-not-to-overlook-assistive-technology-in-ieps/30714/

From the creator of Arthur, Marc Brown, comes a first-of-its-kind animated children’s show featuring a cast of characters who all have some type of disability is coming to television.

The half-hour show “Hop” follows an eclectic group of best friends whose comedic adventures are intended to teach preschoolers to embrace differences in themselves and others.

The streaming service Max will air the show. Read more about this here: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2024/03/25/hbos-max-to-launch-kids-show-focused-on-disabilities/30800/

Self-Guided Modules

Leveling Up: Transition to Adulthood

Life is full of transitions, and one of the more remarkable ones occurs when we get ready to leave high school and go out in the world as young adults. When the student has a disability, it’s especially helpful to plan ahead for that transition.

Many educators and providers recommend that planning for the transition to adult life begin as early as age 12 to 16 years. Whether your youth is in middle school or has already graduated high school, this training has information for all!

The modules will cover:

Education Transition

Healthcare Transition

Money Matters

Person-Centered Thinking

Registration Required!

Register here: https://ipulidaho.org/rsvp-workshop/

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