September 2026

Utah Disability Today

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

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

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NEWS

The K–12 Digital Accessibility Policy Landscape

A policy scan by the IDRPP's National Center for Accessible Digital Educational Materials and Instruction (NCADEMI) has identified only 12 states with policies that address the accessibility of digital educational materials used in K–12 schools.

State educational agencies (SEAs) and school districts have long been responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities can access their instructional materials. The 2024 ADA Title II final rule established specific standards for state and local governments’ web content and mobile apps. Depending on the size of the population served, those standards go into effect beginning in 2027. Are state educational associations ready?

Read a summary of the policy scan on the NCADEMI blog, and find a link to the full report.

Read the Blog

DDNJ Author Insights Podcast Highlights Rural LEND Programs' Influence and Leadership

Like the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice, LEND programs are part of the Associated Centers for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities network. Their focus is on interdisciplinary training. By design, LEND programs bring together practitioners, future practitioners, and people with disabilities and their families.

“I really wanted to focus on the importance of LEND programs in building rural capacity,” said Matthew Wappett, podcast host and IDRPP executive director. In the episode, he interviews LEND leaders from the University of Alaska Anchorage and The University of New Mexico.

You can read a summary, listen on the embedded blog player, or find links to the podcast on different platforms by clicking on the button below.

Pictured: New Mexico LEND Director Marcia Moriarta, Alaska Lend Training Director Jenny Miller (now retired) and Alaska LEND Director Rachel White.

Access the Episode

Events

New Mindfulness Course Offered This Fall!

The Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice is offering a new mindfulness class called: Mindful Listening.

The Mindful Listening Program is a 6-week synchronous online training that helps you learn how to listen more deeply and apply mindfulness to improve social relationships. Starting on Oct 7th and ending on Nov 18th, we will meet every Wednesday at 4 pm (Mountain Time) for one hour to go on a regenerative learning journey together to develop mindful listening.

39th National NRCP Virtual Conference

February 19-21, 2027

Online

Early Bird registration available until December 31, 2026

Join us from anywhere and connect with like-minded professionals nationwide! We are looking forward to another successful conference in February 2027, with inspiring presentations, engaging discussions, and energizing keynotes to celebrate the essential work of our nation's paraeducators, interveners, and related service providers.

Registration is open now! Early bird discounts are available through to the end of 2026, and group discounts are available for teams of three or more. We hope you will join us!

Utah Assistive Technology Program Mobile Repair Van Visits Rural Utah!

The Utah Assistive Technology Program regularly holds travel days across the state of Utah to provide minor repairs, maintenance to wheelchairs, and to loan assistive technology from UATP's AT Library. Do you need UATP's services? Click the button below.

Counties Served: Beaver, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Washington, Wayne.

View the Calendar

LINKS FROM THE FIELD

Governors Line Up Against Bid to Scale Back Community-Based Services

(Disability Scoop)

Nearly 1 in 5 Young People Turn to AI for Mental Health Advice. What Parents Should Know.

(KSL)

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CAREERS WITHIN IDRPP

Visit the Work With Us page on our website!

For a look at past IDRPP trainings, visit our YouTube channel.

Professional Development from IDRPP

Smooth Transitions: From Part C to Part B Services

Early Accessible Education Materials ECHO

September 22

Find out more & register on the NCADEMI ECHO website.

FREE

Surviving the Holidays: Supporting Routines, Regulation, and Family Expectations

Autism ECHO

September 23

Find out more & register on the Autism ECHO website.

FREE

Customized Employment Training - USU Salt Lake

Center for Employment & Inclusion

September 30

Find out more & register on the CEI website.

$300

Identification & Awareness of Cerebral Palsy

Disability Awareness & Intervention ECHO

October 5

Find out more & register on the Disability Awareness & Intervention ECHO website.

FREE

Communication & Access

Assistive Technology ECHO

October 6

Find out more & register on the Assistive Technology ECHO website.

FREE

Click, Connect, Care: What Makes a Virtual Visit Work

Early ECHO

October 7

Find out more & register on the Early ECHO website.

FREE

Domestic Violence & Disability

Disability & Healthy Relationship ECHO 2026

October 8

Find out more & register on the Disability and Healthy Relationships ECHO website.

FREE

Workplace Supports Training Online

Center for Employment & Inclusion

October 8

Find out more & register on the CEI website.

$50

Naloxone Training

Time to Act ECHO: Substance Use Effects on Children and Families

October 14

Find out more & register on the Time to Act ECHO website.

FREE

Maternal Distress and its Impact on Infant Development

Time to Act ECHO: Mental Health ECHO

October 21

Find out more & register on the Mental Health ECHO website.

FREE

Accessibility in Technology Procurement and Use

WebAIM

October 22

Find out more & register on the WebAIM website.

$200 (Group discounts available)

Sensory Processing

Autism ECHO

October 28

Find out more & register on the Autism ECHO website.

FREE

Virtual Web Accessibility Training

WebAIM

November 4-5

Find out more & register on the WebAIM website.

$600 (Group discounts available)

NEWS FROM AROUND IDRPP

large computer monitor showing many Zoom meeting participants

Utah Pyramid Model administrators came together for the Pyramid Leadership Collaboration this month. Utah has 49 Pyramid programs, and it's represented in nearly every county. It's great to see faces from so many parts of the state!

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Phone: (435) 797-1981