Utah Disability Today

Learning from my Disability

Guest blogger Kirsten Barraclough writes: Did you know that more than 1 in 4 adults in the US have a disability? That’s over 70 million people. ... The disability community is continually working to increase acceptance of all disabled people.

Disability Pride Month celebrates disability identity and community and recognizes disability culture and leadership, along with marking the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) anniversary and the ongoing work to make civil rights real in daily life.

Read more about Kirsten's experience and her reflections on disability pride.

Mental Health and You Workshop

Coming up on July 29-30th is the Mental Health and You Workshop. This is a FREE two-part workshop held over zoom and hosted by us here at the IDRPP. This workshop is for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who are 18 years old or older who want to learn more about mental health, AND caregivers or family members who support people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. 

As part of this workshop you will:

• Learn about mental health and how to advocate for yourself.
• Participate in activities to learn skills to support your mental health.
• Learn how to identify your values and mental health needs.
• Learn how to ask for help with your mental health.

Specific times for this workshop are Wednesday, July 29th from 10 AM to 12 PM and Thursday, July 30th from 10 AM to 1 PM.

Register for the workshop. You can also call 801-656-8210 to register.

If you have questions, contact Rachel Byers.

Mental Health and You: Bridging Mind and Body

Join us for a day of interactive workshops focused on mental wellness, self-advocacy, and practical skills to support well-being for self-advocates,

direct support professionals (DSPs), and disability service providers.

What to expect:

• Skill-building workshops and activities
• Mental health and wellness strategies
• Self-advocacy training
• Community Resources and connections
• Lunch provided

This event will be on Friday, August 28th from 9 AM to 3 PM at the USU Salt Lake Center, 920 W Levoy Dr., Taylorsville, UT 84123

This event is FREE. Register for the workshop.

LINKS FROM THE FIELD

What If Belonging Was Infrastructure?

(Disability Rights Montana - Growth Rings)

Visit Utah Offers an Accessible Utah Guide to Recreation

(Visit Utah)

This Utah Girl Can't Walk, but She Can Hike, Thanks to Her Dad's Invention

(Utah Public Radio)

Utah Assistive Technology Program Mobile Repair Van Visits Rural Utah!

Utah Assistive Technology Program regularly holds travel days across the state of Utah to provide minor repairs, maintenance to wheelchairs, and 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.

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

From our Partners

ASSERT is Hiring!

The ASSERT Autism Program is hiring more instructors to work in the fall! They are currently interviewing USU undergraduate students and incoming freshmen for training positions. 

Training is starting soon and will be flexible around school and work schedules. Training to work during the fall will begin this month and take place during the summer with flexible dates. For more information and an application, please email Lyndsay ASAP at assert@usu.edu. 

Don't miss out on this opportunity for an invaluable experience of working with kids on the autism spectrum!

Learn more on the ASSERT website.

Rocky Mountain HIDTA 2026 Youth Prevention Institute

A FREE "Science of Relationships" training for professionals dedicated to building protective factors in their communities is hosted by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, in partnership with ADAPT, the Overdose Response Strategy, Utah Department of Public Safety, University of Utah Department of Public Safety and HEART Extension, Utah National Guard, Center for Behavioral Health Integration, and Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative.

It takes place September 15-16. Register for the Rocky Mountain Youth Prevention Institute.

NEWS FROM AROUND IDRPP

Our K-12 Educational Interpreters (TASK12) Project Director attended the National Association for Interpreters in Education (NAIE) Conference this month. The event celebrated10 years of supporting the important work of educational interpreters.