Gordon Richins, CPD consumer liason

By Gordon Richins

Snow removal is an issue that our community deals with every winter. Individuals with and without disabilities find it extremely difficult and dangerous to use the sidewalks in our communities. As a person with a physical disability and user of an electric wheelchair, this subject is one I understand very well. Individuals can get stuck and unable to move. This has happened to me several times. I end up getting very cold before I can get pushed out by a helpful individual.

Another serious hazard is being forced out into the street to access the bus or area businesses, which is very dangerous. Fortunately I have not been hit yet.

 This blog entry is an effort to provide the community with a process to address snow removal issues. It will also allow the community to be involved directly with a variety of solutions.

An example would be community collaboration in developing the use of volunteer organizations or other community groups into action teams that may agree to remove snow for a given area, in a timely manner. This could be done similar to the trash removal that takes place along our highways, with recognition going to the group or individual responsible for the area. The work would include clearing the snow banks in areas to allow public access from the sidewalk to the street, including bus stops.

These groups could also be paid with support from the community. For example, businesses, individuals, friends and family may donate money to a group for their efforts in removing snow. This could be a win-win opportunity for our youth and anyone needing some exercise.

Another idea would be hanging a snow shovel in the shelters at bus stops or at nearby businesses that individuals could use to clear the walkway near the bus stops. I use the bus regularly and often times see individuals sitting or standing, waiting for the bus. Anyone who chose to could remove snow for the few minutes they are waiting. I know when I was out in the weather working I was always warmer when I was moving than when I was just sitting.

I received the following information from, Cheryl Atwood the Executive Director of OPTIONS for Independence, Northern Utah’s Center for Independent Living.  This general information is to help individuals with disabilities understand the process used in Logan City in regards to snow removal at the Cache Valley Transit District (CVDT) bus stops.

CVDT wants you to be aware that they try very hard to keep snow removed from bus stops, but, when a big storm hits it can be very difficult to get to all the stops and it may take a few days.  It is actually the property owners’ responsibility to remove snow from sidewalks on their property as well as to keep the bus stops clear.  However, CVTD has no way to enforce this.

It might also be helpful to contact the property owners at stops that you use and let them know how having a clear bus stop impacts you.  If the stop is in front of a business that you frequent, let them know how much you would appreciate having increased and safe access to that business.  Contact Logan City or the city where the stop is located with concerns regarding the enforcement of clear sidewalk ordinances.  

CVTD has developed a priority list for snow removal that includes 25 bus stops with the greatest demand.  They will do their best to get the stops cleared. (This list is from CVTD General Manager Todd Beutler.):

1. Spring Hollow

2. Hospital

3. Innovation Campus

4. Lee’s Marketplace

5. Cache Valley Mall

6. Wal-Mart North (inbound/outbound)

7. Specialty Hospital

8. Deseret Industries

9. Cache High

10. OPTIONS

11. Adams Park (inbound/outbound)

12. Senior Center

13. Post Office (inbound/outbound)

14. Rec Center (inbound/outbound)

15. CETC

16. South Campus

17. 300 W. Riverbend Road

18. Human Services

19. Wal-Mart South (inbound/outbound)

20. Fast Forward

21. BATC

22. Mt. Logan Middle School (inbound/outbound)

23. Vet Science/Education Bldg

24. Industrial Science/Richards Hall

25. Aggie Village

If you have questions or concerns, please call Lisa Peterson (CVTD) at (435) 713-6971, or contact the city office where the bus stop is located.

As you do your holiday toy shopping this holiday season, be aware of toy safety guidelines that can prevent any harm from coming to your children.

Accidental injury is the number one killer of America’s children, taking more lives than disease, violence and suicide. Prevention is the cure. It’s estimated that by taking these and other simple precautions, almost all (90 percent) of these accidental injuries can be avoided.

Play is an important part of your child’s development. Toys offer joy and entertainment, and can help your child learn. Most toys are quite safe; however, they can become dangerous if misused or given to children who are too young to play with them.

Here are a few tips to consider from the Health News website & the Safe Kids USA website:

1. Carefully selecting the toys you give your children, keeping toys in good condition and playing alongside your children can help reduce or eliminate the risk of injury, allowing you to relax and enjoy playtime together.
2. Any toy with parts small enough to fit inside the cardboard tube on a roll of toilet paper is a choking hazard.
3. Toys with strings, straps, or cords longer than 7 inches pose a risk for strangulation.
4. Toys with magnets, sharp points, edges, or angles, and toys with parts that fly may also be unsafe for certain ages.

Safe Kids USA website has a more extensive list of Toy Safety Tips  to help you when you are buying toys.

Let’s make sure that our children are not in danger while they play this year!

The Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University  is currently seeking applications or nominations for the Director of the Research and Evaluation Division.

Research scientists and staff in the Division work in a collegial, interdisciplinary environment that emphasizes research and evaluation, dissemination, and service to communities throughout the world.

This Division conducts a variety of projects designed to discover, develop and validate new knowledge, better intervention techniques, and more successful training procedures. Staff conduct program evaluations for international, federal, state and local programs serving persons with developmental disabilities to assist decision makers in program improvement.

The full Position Announcement outlines the responsibilities, and minimum and preferred qualifications for this position.  There is a printable PDF version of this announcement available to download, also.

 El programa de Intervención temprana Up to 3 (Hasta los 3) de la Universidad del Estado de Utah esta patrocinando un entrenamiento para familias hispanas.

Fecha:  17 de Diciembre (jueves), 2009 de 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Lugar:  Centro para Personas con Discapacidades (Center for Persons with Disabilities); 850 N. 1001 E., Logan, UT, Sala 151.  (Frente a la heladeria Aggie Ice Cream.  Entrando por el cementerio y la cancha de Tenis.)

Se proveerá cuidados de hasta 2 niños por familia en la sala 167.

 Oradores Invitados:

 6:00- Nutrición y alimentación Presentado por: JANETTE SMITH, Profesora Asistente de Departamento de Nutrición y Ciencias de Alimentos, Universidad del Estado de Utah .

6:30–Manejando la Conducta y la DisciplinaPresentado por: GRETCHEN E. SCHEIDEL, M.A en Psicología Clínica de Program de Up-to Three(Hasta los tres)

7:00-  Asesoría Legal y Migratoria–Presentado por:  SILVIA PENA, Abogada de Servicios Legales de Utah

7:30 Evaluación

Refrigerio, regales navideños, preguntas y respuestas y mas…

Todas las familias Hispanas con niños en el programa de Up to 3 estan invitadas a participar. Para preguntas, por favor contactar a Rafael Gutierrez al 435-797-0141.

 Hispanic Family Training

The Up to 3 Early Intervention Program at Utah State University is sponsoring a Hispanic Family Training on December 17, 2009, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the CPD, 850 N. 1001 E., Logan, Utah, Room 151.  Child care will be provided for two children per family in room 167.

The Agenda will be as follows:

6:00- Nutrition- Presenter: JANETTE SMITH, Clinical Assistant Professor de Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Utah State University

 6:30 Behavior and Discipline-Presenter: GRETCHEN E. SCHEIDEL, M.A in Clinical Psychology of Up-to-Three Program.

7:00- Legal and Immigration Matters–Presenter: SILVIA PEÑA, Attorney of  Utah Legal Services

7:30 Evaluation

 Refreshments, Christmas gifts, questions and answers and more…. 

All Hispanic families who have children in the Up to 3 program are invited to attend this meeting.  For questions, please contact Rafael Gutierrez at 435-797-0141.

WebAIM team members Jonathan Whiting, Jared Smith, Cyndi Rowland and Aaron Andersen.

“Few know that this past year marked WebAIM’s 10th birthday,” wrote WebAIM  Executive Director Cyndi Rowland. “Frankly, we have been so busy we almost missed it ourselves.”

But Rowland remembered in time to post a birthday  blog entry on WebAIM’s website, reflecting on ten years of service delivered and growth experienced.  WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind) is a voice for web accessibility and a resource for businesses and organizations committed to the concept. It is an initiative of the CPD that provides products, training sessions and consulting help.

It started 10 years ago from very little. Now, Rowland says, WebAIM has grown to become one of the most trusted names in Web accessibility.

The comments at the bottom of her blog post back that statement up.

Here are a few of our favorite things from WebAIM:

The WAVE accessibility evaluation tool helps identify accessibility problems on a web page, and here’s the best thing: it’s free.

Articles and resources help explain different facets of web accessiblity. They’re free, too.

History of the browser user-agent string is crossover tech humor at its best. It will make you laugh, even if you don’t understood every word.