Erik is our new Director of the Interdisciplinary Training Program. He is also a Clinical Faculty member in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences within the Department of Movement Sciences.

He joins us after four and a half years at California State University, Sacramento. He worked as an Assistant Professor of Recreational Therapy in the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration.

As a native Idahoan and proud Vandal, Erik is excited to be back on the Palouse with his family.

Click through to read more about Erik's background and professional experience, and join us in welcoming him to the team!

2022 went out on a high for three of our CDHD trainees. Maddie Coleman, Victoria Rae and Kellie Matern had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC to present at the 2022 AUCD Conference.

This annual event brings together AUCD network members, experts and members of the disability community from across the nation for three days of learning and growth. Maddie, Victoria and Kellie represented the Idaho CDHD and presented our Movement in the Park project, which emphasizes adaptable exercise for adults of all abilities.

Click through to read all about their experience, including their top takeaways and a gallery of photos from their time in the nation’s capital.

Interdisciplinary Training Director

Clinical Faculty

Moscow

Administrative Financial Specialist

Idaho Living Well and CORE

Moscow

Student Trainee

CORE

Moscow

Direct support services for people with disabilities is in crisis. At home and community supports are dwindling due to a number of workforce factors. Low pay, limited benefits, lack of quality training opportunities – the industry is facing high turnover rates with fewer people interested in entering direct care positions across the country. Idaho is no exception.

Idaho Living Well is working to implement change. In December 2022, the Project, in partnership with Community NOW! and the bFair 2direct Care Workgroup, finalized and submitted their recommendations to improve the developmental disabilities services direct care workforce in Idaho.

In the report, the Project outlines recommendations focused on training, incentives and support for direct support professionals. The overall goal is to retain professionals in the field and further develop their skills to provide person-centered care and support. These recommendations were developed over the last three years with direct input from self-advocates, family advocates, service providers and health and welfare staff.

Meetings with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to implement these recommendations started in November 2022 and will be ongoing in 2023.

The 18th annual Tools for Life conference is scheduled for February 27-28 in Boise at the Riverside Hotel. With record breaking attendance expected, this year’s event is going to be a fun-filled learning experience for youth with disabilities and all who support them.

“We’re looking forward to a giant conference in Boise,” said Dan Dyer, head of the Tools for Life planning team. “It will be our largest since COVID hit, and possibly our largest event ever! A notable new addition to the conference is the inclusion of a workforce simulation program involving a virtual reality fork-lift driving experience.”

Along with this exciting new addition, attendees can expect two days of learning and growth, with presentations, breakout sessions, activities and more! Sessions will focus on key secondary transition topics. The Phillips family will return as keynote speakers. There will also be a BSU campus tour and the return of the Reality Town experience.

iCanConnect Idaho is Idaho's national deaf-blind equipment distribution program. It’s part of the Idaho Assistive Technology Project and provides people who have significant vision and hearing loss with free equipment and training for distance communication.

The program recently added a new device to their inventory – the Amazon Fire TV Cube!

iCanConnect Idaho received a referral for a person who is unable to access a cell phone, iPad screen or Echo Show screen because of vision loss. He also has trouble remembering where buttons are on an amplified phone. He needed a way to stay in touch with family and request assistance – he is often at home alone and prone to falls.

Enter Alexa. The National Deaf-Blind Distribution Program Consultant did some research and found a great resource called Tech-enhanced Life. It’s an online community of older adults who explore the future of aging to “improve the quality of life of older adults and their families.” One of the group’s Longevity Explorers, Frank Engleman, published an outline on how the Amazon device can be used with a TV to make Alexa calls.

The Consultant gave it a try for the gentleman from the referral, helping him acquire the appropriate equipment, install it and use it. With an account set up through his wife’s iPhone, he's able to have Alexa make video calls through his TV.

The larger screen and higher volume controls help him see and hear the person on the other end. His family is also able to call and see him using the system with a web camera set up on the TV. Even better, when he's finished with a call, Alexa switches back to the television for him.

For more information about using Alexa for accessibility or iCanConnect Idaho, contact the Idaho Assistive Technology Project.

Join us at the 2023 artAbility Showcase!

Come to our inclusive event to meet this year’s artists and view their work. Art cards and artwork will be available to purchase. There will also be a digital showcase for those who can’t attend. Keep your eyes on the artAbility webpage for all the details.

The spring artAbility workshop schedule is also coming soon. Slated for March, two new workshops will focus on music. Both will be instructed by Lori Kahn with assistance from two U of I music students. Participants will learn about the role of music in culture, with listening, dancing and testing out different instruments.

More details about the upcoming workshops will be released soon, so keep your eye on the artAbility webpage for more information.

CDHD trainee Maddie Coleman, is officially a graduate. She joined the ranks of University of Idaho alumni after completing her undergraduate degree in December 2022.

She completed a Bachelor of Science in Exercise, Sport and Health Science with a minor in Pre-Health Professions.

We sat down with Maddie for a quick Q and A about her time at the CDHD, including her favorite memories. Click through to read more and join us in congratulations on this amazing achievement!

We would like to welcome Julia Bailey to our team of talented student trainees!

She is a senior at the University of Idaho, studying movement sciences. She hopes to pursue a career in physical therapy. Julia is also a member of the University of Idaho’s Women’s Soccer team.

She has joined the CDHD to assist with our CORE team.

When asked what she’s looking forward to the most about working at the CDHD, she said, “I am most looking forward to meeting some great people and learning what I could do as a future physical therapist to best care for my patients in my community!”.

Welcome to the team, Julia!

Classes are held at the 1912 Center in the Art Room. Once the weather warms up, they will move to East City Park (at the corner of Third and Hayes Street).

These 20 to 25-minute exercise sessions are open to all adults.

Victoria (vrae@uidaho.edu), Kellie (kmatern@uidaho.edu), or Maddie (madelinec@uidaho.edu).