Category Archives: Region 7

FREE Online Interactive Training in Technology

Posted on May 6, 2013 by KDChapman
May 15, 2013
3:00 pmto4:30 pm

The Utah Assistive Technology Program (UATP) will present a FREE online interactive training, “Using the latest technology to foster communication,” on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

This free training will be presented by Jean Bosco Walsh, AT Consultant for Saltillo Corp. Saltillo Corporation is dedicated to making personal communication possible to individuals who are unable to use their natural voice. Jean will explore the TouchChat app that is a total communication application available for your idevice. She will then discuss the latest communication devices from Saltillo that are based on the Android system. These communication devices are completely fundable through Medicaid and private health insurance companies.

Jean is a Special Educator with a Master’s in Education. She taught students with significant disabilities in Georgia and Colorado for over 15 years. She’s presented at ‘Closing the Gap’ for 14 years, and has also been an ATIA presenter. She’s also presented at regional Assistive Technology Conferences in Arizona and Colorado. For the past seven years, Jean has worked exclusively in the Augmentative Communication Field. Currently, she is a consultant for Saltillo Corporation covering Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

In order to participate, you will need a computer with high-speed Internet access. If you are interested in participating please RSVP by Monday, May 13, to Storee Powell via email storee.powell@usu.edu, or call 435-797-7412. Participant instructions will be emailed to you.

If you are a screen reader user please contact Sachin Pavithran at 435-797-6572 or sachin.pavithran@usu.edu, no later than Friday, May 10, to make arrangements to participate via phone. If you need any other accommodations in order to participate in the training please let Sachin know by this date also.

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Children’s Mental Health Focus Group

Posted on March 19, 2013 by KDChapman
March 19, 2013
6:00 pmto8:00 pm
March 21, 2013
6:00 pmto8:00 pm

Join us for a Children's Mental Health Focus Group!

The U.S. Department of Justice will be holding two focus groups to gather information on how the children's mental health system works in Utah. They will be speaking with a broad range of stakeholders in an effort to fully understand the Utah system of care for youth with mental health needs.

The Utah Parent Center will be hosting a focus group for Youth and Families who are interested in speaking with the DOJ regarding their experiences with the children's mental health system in Utah.  They would like to hear from folks who have sought mental health services through Medicaid funded providers, county program, foster care services and/or juvenile justice programs.  The DOJ has an open investigation into Utah's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act in its children's mental health system.

If you have questions or concerns from your personal experience or with someone you know, please come and participate.

March 19th Focus Group Information:

Who:       Youth and Families who have experience with the children's mental health system in Utah

When:     Tuesday March 19 at 6:00 PM

Where:    Utah Parent Center,  230 West 200 South, Suite 1101, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Parking: Traveling West on 200 South, Enter the paid parking lot on the North (right) side of 200 South.  Take a ticket if the arms are down.  Park in the front of the building. If needed the UPC will validate for parking.

Find the UPC:  Enter at the building's main entrance (East of the Post Office Entrance).  Go through security and take the elevator up one to the "first" floor.

 

March 21st Focus Group Information:

Who:       Youth and Families who have experience with the children's mental health system in Utah

When:     Thursday March 21 at 6:00 PM

Where:

Five County Association  of Government                                                                                            1070 West 1600 South, Building B                                                                                                               St. George, UT 84770

Directions:  Take exit 5 (Dixie Downs)
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Latest GAP Newsletter

Posted on March 13, 2013 by KDChapman

Help us stop HB391; Read the Latest GAP Newsletter for more details:

GAP News Letter

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Posted in Action Alert, Newsletters, Region 1, Region 10, Region 11, Region 2, Region 3, region 4, Region 5, Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, Region 9, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Join GAP, LCPD, UDDC, and DLC in Requesting Respite

Posted on February 14, 2013 by KDChapman

 

WHY UTAH NEEDS A FAMILY RESPITE PROGRAM FOR THOSE
IMPACTED BY DISABILITY

Four advocacy organizations (Grassroots Advocacy Partnership,  Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities, Utah Developmental Disabilities Council, and Disability Law Center) have come together to request an appropriation of $350,000 to provide critical support to families on the Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) waiting list through a Family Respite Program (FRP).

There are 1,878* families waiting for services throughout Utah. The FRP will help some of these families with respite services they need.

⫸ Respite care is relief for those who are caring for family members with disabilities. Respite can prevent the need for more intensive services that the family would not otherwise choose. Respite programs provide planned short-term and time-limited breaks for families and other unpaid caregivers of children and adults with disabilities. Respite helps keep the family unit together. The FRP will allow families to hire caregivers to provide direct care in their home. For example, a caregiver may be hired for a few hours a week, giving the family caregiver an opportunity to focus on other siblings.
⫸ Respite care is the MOST requested DSPD service because it gives families a break from the constant stress of caregiving and helps prevent further crisis. These individuals are already determined Medicaid eligible and qualified for much more costly services.
⫸ The FRP is a Utah designed program and is intended to serve a limited number of families without additional federal oversight. FRP supports the collection and analyses of data on the program’s effectiveness and possibly a limited services-type waiver.
⫸ Funding the FRP at $350,000 will begin to serve families with the most critical needs-families near or in crisis today.
⫸ The value of respite cannot be overstated. It provides the family caregiver with dependable care options while the caregiver engages in self-care and tends to other family responsibilities. Respite also can be a source of prevention for potential abuse and neglect. Uninterrupted and persistent stress among family caregivers has been shown to contribute to negative health outcomes, increased use of medications, and increases in depression.(1) Furthermore, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest respite care as a means for keeping balance in the family (see www.cdc.gov Caregiving Tips for Families of People With Disabilities).

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:

Please join us in asking your legislators to support this appropriations request. Contact your state senator and representative. Tell them you are a member of GAP and that you support the appropriation for a Family Respite Program. Send emails to your family and friends and ask for their support. Share this information with other disability organizations. A printable copy of the fact sheet is available here.

(1)As just two of many research findings about the value of respite, see the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. virginia.gov; and the Administration for Children and Families at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

*As of January 22, 2013

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Read the Latest GAP Newsletter

Posted on February 14, 2013 by KDChapman

Click on the link to view the latest GAP newsletter. It contains information on advocating from a distance, how to give public testimony, video of Jacob Hansen testifying, and the respite appropriations request that GAP is supporting.

GAP Newsletter, Legislative Session Week 2

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Utah Symphony – Utah Opera Education – Events for Individuals with Special Needs

Posted on January 21, 2013 by KDChapman
January 24, 2013
7:00 pmto10:00 pm

The Utah Symphony | Utah Opera offers an annual concert for children of all ages with special needs and their families. We present this concert because we know that many families cannot attend cultural events together because their special needs child acts in distracting ways. We feature our Opera Resident Artists with the Utah Symphony on the Capitol Theater Stage in a special concert where everyone understands the difficulty of keeping these family members quiet in their seats. This concert is FREE but registration is required.

WEB--special-needs-concert-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utah Symphony – Utah Opera Education – Events for Individuals with Special Needs.

 

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LCPD Legislative Reception February 7, 2013

Posted on January 14, 2013 by KDChapman
February 7, 2013
4:00 pmto5:45 pm

Please join us at the LCPD Legislative Reception. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your elected officials. Call them prior to let them know you will be attending. Invite your local People First chapter to attend with you.

For a printable flyer, please click here.

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GAP Newsletter — Pre Session

Posted on December 19, 2012 by KDChapman

GAP’s most recent newsletter contains a link to Governor Herbert’s budget, lists of committee members for the upcoming Utah State Legislature, links to websites where you can contribute for victims of the Newtown shootings, and statements from NAMI and the autism community regarding the tragedy. There is also a link where you can sign up to join our mailing list.

GAP Newsletter — Pre Session.

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Free Family Carnival in Provo – June 23

Posted on June 15, 2012 by KDChapman
June 23, 2012
10:00 amto1:00 pm

Join members of the ASD community at a free carnival in Provo. The event is being held on June 23 from 10am – 1pm. Click on the link below for further details.

Autism: Understanding The Puzzle: Provo Carnival – June 23.

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Utah’s Early Childhood Education Conference

Posted on April 11, 2012 by jhansen
November 1, 2012
November 2, 2012

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Posted in Events, Region 7 | 2 Comments