IDASL students learning interactively

The Interdisciplinary Disability Awareness and Service Learning (IDASL) Program at the CPD offers opportunities for USU students from a variety of disciplines to increase their awareness, knowledge and understanding of people with disabilities and their families across the life span.

IDASL classes also include individuals with disabilities and family members who add their personal experience and expertise. The interactions between these individuals and the students are invaluable in helping the students understand the issues facing those with disabilities and their families.

The IDASL staff are currently recruiting individuals with disabilities and their family members to consider enrolling in the class for the 2010-2011 USU school year.  Classes are held on Friday afternoons from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and enrollment is around 12-15 participants.  The class can be audited or taken for credit.

USU students are always encouraged to consider registering for the IDASL class.  It can be taken on three levels of involvement:  1) Orientation/ Awareness; 2) Intermediate/ Skill Development; or 3) Leadership/ Experiential.  Depending on the involvement level chosen, students can earn from one to three USU credits.

If you have any questions or need more detailed information about the IDASL class, including stipends, credit options, and time commitments, interested persons can contact the following individuals: Jeanie Peck, Alma Burgess, or Connie Panter.

Each year the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council likes to recognize outstanding people and their efforts on behalf of the disability community. 

Recognizing individuals who go the extra is important.  Nominating someone for the Advocate of the Year award is a wonderful way to publicly acknowledge the time, energy, and commitment these advocates contribute to the disability community, and to express appreciation for all the ways they help enrich the lives of people with develomental disabilities and their families.

The categories for the awards are:  Self-Advocate of the Year, Employer Advocate of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Child Advocate of the Year, Legislator of the Year, Parent of the Year, Adult Sibling of the  Year, Media Representative of the Year. 

Nominations should be submitted to the Council office no later than July 31, 2010.  Please submit to:  UDDC, 155 South 300 West, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 or by fax at:  801-533-3968, or email bemartin@utah.gov. 

The winning advocates will be recognized during the annual DD Council meeting this fall on September 7, 2010.

The whole crew at Arches National Park

Common Ground Outdoor Adventures seeks to increase the accessibility of outdoor recreation for people with disabilities by providing adaptive equipment and staff/volunteer support.  These experiences help to reduce stereotypes, raise awareness, and empower people to realize their full potential doing something that is fun and exciting!

Common Ground works with a small paid staff, but relies on the services of individuals in the area who are willing to volunteer their time helping the participants enjoy these outdoor opportunities to their fullest.

Steelhead fishing in Idaho

They are currently in need of volunteers to help with their full schedule of adventures and activities scheduled for this spring and summer.

Common Ground is a  private, non-profit organization first organized in 1933 as an AmeriCorpsVISTA program that is located in Logan, Utah.

Common Ground will be holding its next volunteer orientation on Wednesday, May 12 at 6pm.  The orientation will be held at the Common Ground office at 335 N 100 E in Logan.

At the orientation, they will be reviewing the types of individuals Common Ground serves, disability awareness and etiquette for working with people with disabilities.  They will also go over the adaptive equipment and techniques used to make outdoor recreation accessible to people of all abilities.

Camping at the Snake River

If you love to help people, love to be outdoors, and love new adventures,  Common Ground is the place for you!

Contact Carey at (435) 713-0288 or email volunteer@cgadventures.org if you would like further information about Common Ground or if you would like to attend the Orientation.

This spring, the CPD welcomes a new Psychological Services Coordinator to its family,  Dr. Martin (Marty) Toohill.  Marty fills the position recently vacated by the relocation of Dr. Robert Cook who has been the coordinator for the past seven years.

Marty is returning to Utah State University after obtaining his Ph.D. in Professional-Scientific Psychology (Clinical emphasis) and Research and Evaluation Methodology at USU in 1994.  During that time, he trained two years at the Center for Persons with Disabilities under Dr. Phyllis Cole, who was then the director of Clinical Services at the CPD.

For ten years, Marty pursued his career in Virginia working in a community mental health program and opening his own private practice.  He returned to Cache Valley in 2004  when his wife got a position at USU in the Special Education Department.  Marty began working for the Cache County Study on Memory, Health and Aging as a neuropsychologist.  In 2008, he became a primary therapist for the Adult facility at the Avalon Hills Eating Disorder Treatment Center located in Paradise, Utah.

Marty brings a wealth of experience to this position, having worked with adults and children in both private and public settings.  He has treated a variety of clinical populations, including individuals with developmental delays, substance abuse, and eating disorders.  He has extensive psychological testing experience, evaluating children, adults, and older adults for a range of clinical conditions, including learning disorders, ADHD, personality assessments, Alzheimers and related dementia, and forensic evaluations.

As Coordinator of the Psychological Services unit, Marty will be involved in the clinical evaluation of children and adolescents referred to the Center by school districts, parents, and other professionals.  He will also supervise USU students here at the Center.

According to Marty, this is his “dream job.” He loves evaluating individuals and working to make “all of the pieces fit together” again and improving their lives.

The CPD family welcomes Marty back to the place where his passion for  clinical evaluation was first kindled.

Our next CPD Legacy Story is from Jaceson Zierle, a student attending the PEER (Postsecondary Education, Employment and Research) classroom located at the CPD.

Jaceson working with a child in a child care setting.

My name is Jaceson Zierle and I am 20 years old.  This is my second year in the PEER classroom at the CPD.  The first year was really hard, because every class or activity that I wanted to do, I couldn’t get into.  But this year, it is really great because I am two classes away from getting my GED, and I am taking Driver’s Ed at Mountain Crest High School!  I also have a job at the HUB Food Court at USU for 2 ½ hours every day.  I bus the tables and take out the garbage.   At first I had a job coach come with me until I learned what I needed to do, but I don’t need a job coach anymore.

What I like best about PEER are the teachers.  They go out of their way to find stuff that I am interested in to work on.  They help me research things for my homework and help me work it out so I can take the classes that I need.  They are great!

I like the friends I have made at PEER.  There are 16 other students here in the PEER class.  I also made some new friends when I went to a faith-based program on campus.

I want to take a ballroom dance class next because I am good at dancing and I want to become a dance teacher someday.  When I get my GED and my driver’s license, I want to get an apartment and a car, and find a better job.  I ride the Cache Valley Transit District bus every day, and I’d like to see if I can drive a bus someday.  The teachers here will help me with my resume and write a letter of recommendation when I am ready to get another job.  I am planning on going to school and get a Child Development Associates degree so I can work as a Male Involvement Specialist in a child care program or Head Start.

The PEER teachers have helped me get the classes I need for my GED, study for my Driver’s License test, and get a job.  When I am ready to leave the PEER class, I will have other people to help me reach my other goals.  I am very lucky to be a part of the PEER program.