The Glenn I. Latham Award is the highest award given by the Center for Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education, the Technical Assistance Division of the CPD.  This award is given to a State Education Agency staff member who best characterizes the attributes of Dr. Latham—knowledge, wisdom, and a passion to improve programs and services for children with disabilities.

We are proud to announce that the 2011 Glenn I. Latham Award was presented to Mark Ward, dispute resolution specialist from the Kansas State Department of Education and Susan Bailey Anderson, Professional Development Specialist from the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

The Glenn I. Latham Award was created in 2001 in memory of Dr. Glenn I. Latham, who was the founder and Director of the Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center at Utah State University.  Dr. Latham passed away in 2001 while on a technical assistance trip. Dr. Latham was nationally known for his expertise in special education, specifically in the areas of behavior management and parent involvement. He was highly respected for his dedication to improving services of children with disabilities.

The individual receiving the award must possess similar attributes and characteristics as Dr. Latham including:

• Contributes to improving results and services for children and youth with disabilities at the local, state and regional levels.
• Ongoing compassion and dedication in the area of special education.
• Demonstrates leadership—leading with mind and heart.
•  Willing to share their expertise with other professionals.
• Possessing similar characteristics and philosophy of special education as Dr. Latham.
• Keeping the main thing the main thing—children with disabilities.

The TAESE was established as part of the CPD in 2004.  The Glenn Latham Award is now an annual award.

The Interagency Outreach Training Initiative (IOTI) is currently looking for those parties interested in providing needed training in Utah for the 2012-2013 year.

The IOTI initiative focuses on areas where there are gaps in training in the education of paraprofessionals who provide supports to people with disabilities in Utah.

Paraprofessionals serve in various roles in many agencies: education, adult services, early intervention, and health care. Often paraprofessionals have not had the preservice training needed to help them learn to serve people with disabilities. The IOTI offers a means to provide educational opportunities for paraprofessionals, thus helping them to provide improved services.

Since 1995, the IOTI has funded more than 100 projects conducted by over 30 public and private agencies and organizations.  A Steering Council, headed by Chair Martin Blair, determines which proposals answer the current need for training in Utah. Funding is administered through the CPD.

Letters of Intent and Proposal Cover Sheets are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, 2012.  Letters will be reviewed and evaluated by the IOTI Steering Council and those applicants whose letters are determined to best address IOTI guiding principles and the training requested will be invited to submit full proposals. Written invitations to submit full proposals will be sent no later than March 16, 2012.

Full proposals are due by Wednesday, April 18, 2012.

To view the entire rfp and for more information about how to apply for IOTI funding, visit the IOTI link or contact Sharon Weston, CPD Assistant to the Director.

Kelly Holt, a member of the CPD’s Consumer Advisory Council, already has an impressive list of achievements that showcase her advocating efforts for those with disabilities.  She was recently recognized for her efforts at the 2011 National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities Annual Conference, in Washington D.C.

Kelly was chosen as the self advocate recipient of the Champions of the Equal Opportunity Award. Only one self advocate is chosen in the nation, along with one Political representative , that has made a significant contribution to advancing the values and goals of the Councils on Developmental Disabilities.

Kelly was chosen for advancing the goals of increased independence, productivity, and integration of people with developmental disabilities.

Kelly grew up in California and moved with her family to Price, Utah over ten years ago.  She soon became active in the self-advocacy movement, and came to an advocacy meeting in Salt Lake City.  Kelly immediately saw the “big picture” and her local legislators and Price elected officials soon came to know her as the “language matters” advocate.  She currently serves as a Board member of the Disability Law Center along with her role as a self advocate member on the CPD Consumer Advisory Council.

Kelly is self-employed and lives with her sister and father.

We are proud of Kelly’s achievements and are grateful that she is a part of our Consumer Advisory Council.  Congratulations, Kelly!

An excerpt from Panel 19 details the disability advocacy movement.

An exhibit on the history of disability and advocacy in the western world is now showing by Special Collections at the Merrill-Cazier Library on the Utah State University campus.

The exhibit continues through January 27. It is the latest in a series of events celebrating the CPD’s 40th Anniversary–and it’s a poignant look at disability and human rights. It includes panels that outline the history of disability and advocacy. This walk through 3000 years of the human condition is remarkably detailed.

You can see it for yourself outside Special Collections in the Merrill-Cazier Library. Just go in the main doors and down the stairway straight ahead. The posters line one wall. Just opposite the poster exhibit are three cases displaying some of the CPD’s current, disability-related work.

This Consumer Advisory Council Corner Blog is written by CAC Chair, Tom Brownlee.

This upcoming Utah Legislative Session (January 23-March 8, 2012) will be important, as they will decide on money for programs for people with disabilities.  It looks like the governor was gentle (last session) and funded some of these programs we need.

As an advocate, I testified, shared, wrote, and emailed local law makers.  In the past, I have made a difference in doing these things. I have written many representatives and senators and gotten  many responses back from them.

This year I plan to attend my caucus which will be a new experience for me.

Another important election for this year is for the President of the United States (November 6, 2012).  We want all people with disabilities to get out and make a difference and cast their vote.

NOTE:  You can find Utah voter registration information and how to register for an absentee ballot online. 

The AUCD is holding a Disability Policy Seminar in April that will be focusing on presidential election-year issues and how to make a difference with grassroots advocacy.