Idaho CDHD Front and Center newsletter

Cohort number two for ICIE pilot program

The Idaho Competitive Integrated Employment (ICIE) Center, together with the Idaho Department of Education, offers Pathways to Partnerships. This program focuses on building interagency collaboration through Local Interagency Leadership Teams (LILTs).

LILTs support youth with disabilities as they plan their journey into adult life, improving pathways to competitive integrated employment.

Pathways to Partnerships began with an initial cohort of six school districts last year, and the project is excited to announce cohort number two. Five districts have been selected for the 2026-27 school year:

· Boundary County District (north Idaho)

· Buhl Joint District (southwest Idaho)

· Idaho Falls District (southeast Idaho)

· Snake River District (southeast Idaho)

· West Ada School District (southwest Idaho).

This second cohort will help to form new LILTs to serve their respective regions. Made up of school districts, state agencies and community services, LILTs bring together families, youth, schools and key service providers to build strong partnerships that:

· improve communication

· coordinate services

· build shared goals

· save time and resources by working together.

Throughout the school year, they will work with ICIE’s Regional Secondary Transition Coordinators to focus on aligning and improving transition services. They will receive targeted technical assistance, training, and leadership development. The result is established networks of support that help in effective planning, positive post-school outcomes, and more independence for youth with disabilities.

Their work will also help inform statewide practices, resources and technical assistance. This provides improvements that continue to strengthen interagency collaboration and LILTs across Idaho.

WHAT IS INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION?

Learn how working together improves outcomes for youth with disabilities.

Learn more

VISIT THE

ICIE WEBSITE

Check out the ICIE website for more information about the project and its services.

Visit ICIE

ITBS impacts for north Idaho school district

We reached out to Summer Tigert, District Behavior Specialist for Lake Pend Oreille School District, to talk the value of ITBS.

Hear from Summer

Looking to the front of an elementary classroom from behind. All the children are seated at desks, with many raising their hands. The teacher is at the front of the classroom.

A man with dark hair and a salt and pepper beard is standing outside smiling at the camera. He is wearing a dark button-up shirt.

Sukha Worob: IAAP Certified

Sukha Worob, ITC Coordinator and Senior Instructional Designer, became one of just 222 IAAP Certified Accessible Document Specialists in the world! His new certification helps to ensure accessibility best practice for the ITC project.

Find out how

ORED recognition for Melissa Crist

Melissa Crist was recently recognized by the University of Idaho's Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED) at the annual ORED awards. She was named a Top F&G Generator for 2025 for generating the most F&A through research expenditures. Her work in securing grants will continue research and programming that benefits Idaho's communities.

A woman wearing an orange top and dark pants, holding an award certificate. She is smiling at the camera.

Checking in with our student trainees

A young woman is smiling excitedly as she is holding a bottle of dye in her hand. She is working alongside self-advocates on a tie dye art project.

artAbility sneak peek

The 12th annual artAbility Showcase is days away! Sofia Bronaugh, Project Coordinator, shared a few details about what to expect at the event along with this year's highlights.

Read Sofia's interview

Disability Advocacy Day 2026

We sent three CDHD student trainees to Boise for Disability Advocacy Day 2026. They also explored different disability services available in Idaho. Hear from them on what they got up to and their top takeaways from the trip.

Check out their story

Three CDHD trainees posing and smiling at the camera at twilight with the Boise Capitol building lit up in the background

A young man smiles slightly at the camera. He is wearing a tuxedo and holding a saxophone.

Student trainee impacts: Avery Pierce-Garnett

Avery Pierce-Garnett, former CDHD student trainee, sat down to talk about his time at the Center and how it helped prepare him for his current role as an Idaho teacher.

Read Avery's interview