November 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

$500,000 Grant Bolsters Utah's Customized Employment Training

Specialists from IDRPP have received nearly $500,000 to continue their work on bolstering customized employment for people severely impacted by disability in Utah. The funding will cover training and consulting work over the next three years.

They are also adding an element to the training that they hope will have a big impact: hands-on work in placing people with disabilities in jobs. Read the rest of the story on our blog.

Pictured: Dr. Tim Riesen,

lead author

Institute for Disability Research Shows Continuing Employment Gap

Since 2014, federal policy has focused on competitive, integrated employment for people with intellectual disabilities. New research from IDRPP shows there is lots of room for improvement.

In an article published in Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, IDRPP researchers analyzed data gathered from the US Rehabilitation and Services Administration between 2017 and 2020. Their conclusion: 31 percent of people in supported employment and 59 percent of those in customized employment are not exiting into competitive, integrated employment. Read more on our blog.

Everette Bacon smiles as he holds up a cell phone

Voting Electronically: A New Possibility In Utah

For individuals with a print disability, voting can be a more strenuous and time-consuming process, compared to those without a disability. In the past, they could only submit their ballots by mail or at vote centers equipped with accessible machines. For the first time in Utah history, however, this year individuals could qualify to submit their ballot online. Read more on our blog.

IDRPP Seeks New Advisory Council Members

Consumer and community involvement is vital to our work!

We are seeking adults with disabilities, family members of children with disabilities, university faculty members, and representatives from other community/state agencies who work with people with disabilities to serve on our Consumer Advisory Council. Find out more and apply on our website!

Pictured: Kayci Lynam, Autumn Cuellar and Eric Stoker, self-advocates on the CAC.