Utah Disability Today

Thanks, Disability Advocacy Day 2025 Participants!

The Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice thanks the 150 people who attended this year’s Disability Advocacy Day!

Participants were also invited to attend the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities reception that evening, where they could put their training to use. Some Disability Advocacy Day participants went on to speak with policymakers at the Utah State Capitol in an event that attracted more than 300 people.

Other DAD collaborators included the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities, the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council, the Utah Statewide Independent Living Council, the Disability Law Center and the Utah Parent Center.

Find out more on our blog.

IDRPP Welcomes Visual Interpretation Service to the USU Logan Campus

IDRPP is delighted to announce we are now an Aira Access Partner! Thanks to a pilot program funded by IDRPP, anyone on the Utah State University campus can open the Aira app on their phone and connect, free of charge, with a professional visual interpreter. Find out more and download the app on our blog.

Start Small, but Get Involved

Guest blogger Kirsten Barraclough offers advice to disability advocates who want to make their voices heard.

"It might feel overwhelming to think of getting involved in political matters. My advice would be to start small. Look up the names of your legislators. Research issues that impact your life as a disabled person. Ponder how sharing your personal story might help inspire change, or at least help legislators think about different perspectives."

Opinions Needed.

We need input from state education agencies, local education agencies and schools, parent centers, early learning and childhood education staff, and educator preparation programs! IDRPP's National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials and Instruction (NCADEMI) asks: What are the barriers and opportunities to ensure digitally accessible learning environments for students with disabilities? What gaps can NCADEMI fill with no-cost training and resources?

Help us out and take a survey! Representatives from state education agencies, local education agencies and schools can also sign up for a Virtual Listening Tour.

These 10-minute guided meditations are offered freely and those interested can sign up here. The dates and times can be found through the sign up link.

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

News From Around IDRPP

Our Multicultural Disability Network was recently in San Pete County, networking with other agencies and reaching out to the Ephriam community. They had a good turnout! A free Canvas course will introduce direct service providers to the unique experiences of people of all cultures.

Applications for URLEND Are Open! URLEND offers trainings to professionals, graduate students, and community members. Self-advocates, parents, and guardians help to increase the leadership and advocacy skills, providing valuable insight with lived experiences. The program will run from August to April, with 300 hours of training. Learn more and apply.

Also, IDRPP salutes our NCADEMI staff members who presented at the Assistive Technology Industry Association 25! You can view the resources they presented on the NCADEMI website.

Finally, our hats are off to our Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education team, who provided on-site support for the Oklahoma Special Education Law Conference in Midwest City, OK. More than 450 special education professionals attended!