January 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

Self-advocates tell how they became involved in their communities

Disability Advocacy Day took place earlier this month at the Utah State Capitol. In the spirit of the event, we asked young self-advocates about their own community involvement.

Courtney Edgington spoke on her experience as a classroom volunteer and self-advocate leader in this video.

Kirsten Barraclough wrote about her community volunteerism and offered some advice to those who wish to involve people with disabilities in their communities. Read more on our blog.

Disability Advocacy: A Letter From Your Editor

In the spirit of advocacy, I wanted to share some thoughts with all the self-advocates out there, wondering how to share their stories here, on our blog.

Some of my favorite posts are frank discussions about the challenges people face, whether it is physical barriers or bad policy or misunderstanding or flat-out injustice. Then the author offers whatever solutions they have found, even if they are imperfect or incomplete.

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Women with disabilities are less likely to be screened for cervical cancer. They are often diagnosed at a later age compared to women without disabilities, and later diagnosis leads to the cancer being more difficult to treat. Screening and prevention are key.

Find tips and resources on our blog.

Congratulations, 2023 Spirit of Service Award Recipients!

Meet the IDRPP staff members who embody the spirit of service. These are people who are examples of quiet service and dedication, they are self-starters, and they are always looking for ways to make a difference.

Find out more about Jodie, Aubrey, Michael and Kim!

Thanks to all who joined us for Disability Advocacy Day.

It was great networking with you!

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EVENTS

Disability:IN Utah - Seasonal Depression & Burnout

February 1

FREE

Early ECHO: Feeding - Typical Development with Pat Boyle

February 1

For more information, visit the Early Echo website

FREE

Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities (LCPD)

February 2 from 12:30 to 1:45 PM

Participate via Zoom

Meeting ID: 899 4125 4502

Passcode: 461666

FREE

Project SCOPE: NAS/NOWS with Camille Fung

February 8

For more information, visit the Project SCOPE website

FREE

Saturday Mornings with the NRCP: Best Practices & Tools to Help Students Learn

February 11

$25

ACRE Employment Specialist Training - Online

February 14-16

$200

Workplace Support Training - Salt Lake City

February 15

Completion of online modules required in advance

$25

Customized Employment Training - Online

February 22-June 23

$200

Early ECHO: Feeding - Practical Strategies with Kait Bennington

March 1

For more information, visit the Early Echo website

FREE

WebAIM Online Zoom Accessibility Workshop

March 1

$200/person, $160/person for groups of 2+

CAREERS WITHIN IDRPP

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

RESOURCES

Ageist? Ableist? Who, Me?

This article explores the overlap between aging and disability.

Captioning and Sign Language Interpretation in Zoom: Features and Pitfalls

This article provides tips for accessible captioning & sign language interpretation.

Center for Employment & Inclusion: Natural Supports in the Workplace

Tricia Jones-Parkin from the Center for Employment and Inclusion discusses supported employment and developing/maintaining natural supports.

How Can I Tell If An Animal Is Really A Service Animal and Not Just A Pet?

This article explains the appropriate questions to ask about service animals under the ADA.

How Healthcare Providers Can Support Timely Cervical and Breast Cancer Screenings for Individuals with Disabilities

This fact sheet outlines how healthcare providers can apply current evidence and best practices in screening for cervical cancer & breast cancer in individuals with disabilities.

IDRPP History: Memories

Mark Innocenti, Mary Ellen Heiner, Sarah Rule, and Marty Blair all share stories of traveling by plane in very rural places, the early days of computers, some pioneering days in educational broadcasting and the trouble one wayward ballon can cause.

Research Brief: Support and Customized Employment Outcomes

There are distinct service delivery differences between supported employment (SE) and customized employment (CE). This research brief from CEI explores whether SE and CE produce different employment outcomes for jobs seekers with disabilities.

Seniors for Seniors

The Salt Lake County Animal Services gives older dogs a chance at a second life by waiving the adoption for individuals over 55 years old.

Tips for Accessible Screen Sharing

This article provides tips for accessible screen sharing on Zoom.

United Angels Foundation

This non-profit organization is a parent-to-parent support group.

When is an employer required to make a reasonable accommodation?

This article explains workplace requirements to provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities.