Front and Center

Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development logo over the University of Idaho logo
October 25 2024 Front and Center Welcome to the quarterly newsletter for the Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development

Scholarship program helps to improve child outcomes

IdahoSTARS academic scholarships remove the financial barrier of higher education and make it easier for early care and education professionals to advance their academic journey. This is something Leslie Richard – a recent University of Idaho graduate – is very familiar with. As an IdahoSTARS scholar, she completed a degree in Early Childhood Education in December.

Leslie lives in the Post Falls area and has worked as an early childhood teacher for the last nine years. It was her experience in the classroom that fueled her desire to continue her academic career.


“There were so many kiddos coming through our program that had needs that I didn’t have the abilities or tools to be able to meet. We outsourced as many as we could, but all those amazing resources that are in the community – they can’t live in your classroom all the time. It almost felt like a disservice to those kids to not have the tools and resources in my toolbelt,” she said of making the initial decision to go back to school.


She learned about the IdahoSTARS academic scholarship program through her child care program director, saying “My boss introduced that to me and I was really excited. It gave me the incentive to think I can make this happen.”


Last year alone, IdahoSTARS awarded 58 students nearly $200,000 in scholarship funds. The program is currently supporting 36 scholars across eight different colleges and universities in Idaho. The Project supports continued education to help professionals gain skills at every stage of their career, creating better outcomes for scholars. Ultimately, it’s about creating better outcomes for Idaho’s children.


For Leslie, receiving an IdahoSTARS scholarship made it possible for her to return to school. She was not only able to gain the skills needed to provide more immediate support to children with additional needs in her classroom, but she’s confident that she can now set them up to thrive through their entire academic journey.


“Basically, this sets me up for success no matter what I do. It gave me the ability to go back to school as well as the possibility to gain the knowledge and wisdom that I have to pour into kiddos. That is my ultimate goal – being able to help kids not only regulate themselves socially and emotionally but to be able to further their own education. To take them from where they are now to where they need to be in the future,” she said.


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LESLIE'S STORY


Visit the IdahoSTARS blog to read Leslie's full story and how she plans to put her knowledge into practice.

Read more
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SCHOLARSHIPS


Get more information about the IdahoSTARS scholarship program, including how to appl.

Get more info

Idaho Living Well: Blueprint


The Idaho Living Well project competed its six years of work. This culminated in the creation of a blueprint document to share lessons learned in developing systems changes for Idaho's home and community-based services system. The blueprint can be utilized by other states and organizations to develop their own strategies and systems improvements.

Review the ILW Blueprint (PDF)
A man who uses a wheelchair sitting on the seat of a lift affixed to the back of his truck. The lift has him raised high above the ground next to a yellow tractor. He is smiling proudly.

New lift provides new opportunities


The Idaho Assistive Technology Project recently helped an Idaho resident connect with a unique assistive technology device. Read about this case and how the Project helps people with disabilities across the state.

Find out more about this case

National spotlight for Idaho Pyramid Model


The NCPMI spotlighted the Idaho Pyramid Collaborative, recognizing our state's cross-sector effort to build the capacity of early childhood programs.

Read about this spotlight
A young woman is sitting on a carpet with three toddlers. They are all looking at colorful blocks and working together to build.

ITC For Credit Courses are open


The Idaho Training Clearinghouse (ITC) provides inservice/professional development courses across a variety of special education topics, with credit provided by the University of Idaho.


Registration for our spring courses doesn't close until March sign up today!

Sign up  for a course now

Idaho SESTA launches Beacon


Idaho SESTA launched a new sub project called BEACON – Behavior Education Application Cohort Network. This project aims to increase LEA capacity by providing behavioral training for Idaho's educators.

Read all about BEACON
An outline of a lighthouse over a light blue background. There is a bright yellow spotlight behind the top of the lighthouse and text across the bottom that reads BEACON Behavior Basics

Welcome, new staff!

Peighton Pratt

Associate Director

ECLIPSE (remote)

Bethany Martens

Competitive Integrated Employment Specialist

ECLIPSE (Moscow)

Carolina Valderrama

Evaluation and Dissemination Coordinator

ICIE (Boise)

ICDD survey


Help the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD) inform their next five-year plan. Take the survey to provide feedback on what issues they should focus on for people with disabilities, family members and other stakeholders.

Take the ICDD Council Survey

Checking in with our student trainees

Checking in with our student trainees
A young woman with her arms resting on a balcony railing. She is bent down resting her chin on the back of her hands. She is looking off to the side with a slight smile and mischievous look on her face as she wears a graduation cap.

Congrats, Kira Haile!


Kira Haile is officially a University of Idaho graduate! Joining us in congratulating her on completing her degree in December. Click through to read all about her time at the CDHD and where she's headed next.

Read more about Kira

Student research explores accessibility on campus


Kincaid Moberly is exploring student perceptions of accessibility on the University of Idaho campus with the aim to improve student success through accessible policies/practices.

Learn more about this research
The University of Idaho's Memorial Gym in front of a summery blue sky. The Gym is surrounded by vibrant green grass and leafy green trees. The University of Idaho water tower is in the background.

Mark your calendar

Mark your calendar

February


February 5:

Fred Riggers Disability Awareness Day (Boise)


February 14:

Valentine's Day


Proven Behavioral Practices Workshop

Feb 19: Moscow

Feb 21: Coeur d'Alene

Feb 25: Idaho Falls

Feb 26: Pocatello

Feb 27: Twin Falls


A11y Idaho

Feb 5: Open hours


Feb 12: Sensory characteristics, contrast, resizing text


Feb 19: Open hours


Feb 26: Open hours




March


March 1:

ITC For Credit spring enrolment closes


March:

artAbility workshop


March:

artAbility workshop


March 17:

St Patrick's Day


March 17-18:

My Tools for Life Conference (Moscow)


Proven Behavioral Practices Workshop

Mar 6: Boise

Mar 7: Nampa


A11y Idaho

Mar 5: Open hours


Mar 12: Content structure, consistent structure


Mar 19: Open hours


Mar 26: Open hours

April


April 6:

Hearts of Glass screening (Moscow)


April 21:

artAbility Showcase


A11y Idaho

April 2: Open hours


April 9: Plain Language

and tools used


April 16: Open hours


April 23: Open hours

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