2012 Legislative Session

The 2012 session is in full swing! We hope you the following resources will be of some use to you over the next several weeks.

• 2012 Legislative Session Update
• 2012 Legislative Session Bill Tracker
• 2012 Legislative Session Committee Meeting Schedule

University Union Lacks Wheelchair Access

 
 

Newspaper office out of reach for student sportswriter

 
Ryan McDonald, a 22-year-old junior at the University of Utah, is glad, like any other student, to be done with finals. As a journalism student, McDonald is naturally nervous about his long-term prospects in the field, but is excited about his short-term opportunities, as next semester he will begin covering the University of Utah women’s gymnastics team full time for The Daily Utah Chronicle, the school’s student paper.
 
Read full story here . . .
 
 

Service Dog’s Legacy

 
OGDEN — Twinkles the service dog blazed a wide trail for people with disabilities in Utah, and her grieving owner, June Robbin Henson, is determined that the beloved pet will not be forgotten.
 
Read the full story . . .

 

DLC Board Member Recognized for Her National Efforts

Kelly Holt, recent recipient of the National Association’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, might not be here today without the love and support of family and friends, as well as her own perseverance.

Read Complete Article . . .

Service Animals at Center of Most Utah Fair-housing Disputes

Feds file discrimination complaint in Utah case.

 

BY PATTY HENETZ

The Salt Lake Tribune

 

Salt Lake City apartment resident Wanda Howard, who is disabled, wanted a cat.

 

Her doctor, who thought an emotional support animal would help Howard, wrote her a prescription for one and a letter to her landlord verifying Howard’s disability. When the landlord required a $300 deposit for the animal, Howard turned to the Disability Law Center, which informed the landlord such a demand is illegal under federal law.

 

Read full article…

 

Temple Grandin Speaks to Utah Students with Autism

KSL reports on Grandin’s visit to Salt Lake City’s Spectrum Academy.

Temple Grandin in Utah to Honor the Legacy of the Real Rain Man

PRESS RELEASE

October 19, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, please contact:

Levi Elder, Utah Film Center at 801-746-7000

Eric Mitchell, Fifth Ocean Consulting at 801-366-4548

 

GRANDIN NAMED FIRST RECIPIENT OF PEEK DISABILITY IN MEDIA AWARD

 

Salt Lake City Utah

 

– With more than 400,000 Utahns living with disabilities and the third highest rate of Autism in the nation, Temple Grandin’s visit to the state in celebration of the life and impact of the real Rain Man, Salt Lake City native Kim Peek, promises to be a deeply impactful and personal experience.

 

Jessica Kerr, a Utah mother of an 11 year-old with Autism says that

 

 

“Temple’s story has helped us so much in dealing with the times that people tell us all of the things that our son will never be able to do. Her story has helped our other children to see that people with disabilities can do amazing things in life and have the ability to change the world.”

The Utah Film Center together with support from the Utah Autism Foundation, the Disability Law Center, O.C. Tanner, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, and countless community partners have joined forces to produce three days of events aimed at increasing community awareness about disability and the critical role that media can play in promoting understanding and acceptance.

 

The events kick-off with a free showing of the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-Winning HBO Film

 

 

Temple Grandin at the Salt Lake City Public Library on November 1st. Dr. Grandin will be on hand for a Q&A immediately following the film. She will spend Wednesday the 2nd at Utah State University meeting with students, faculty and community members and agriculture professionals. On the 3rd, Dr. Grandin will visit with parents and faculty at schools serving children with Autism and participate in a book signing at Art Access Gallery.

 

Events will culminate Thursday evening at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center with Barry Morrow, the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of Rain Man, presenting the Peek Award to Dr. Grandin and permanently loaning his Oscar® statuette for the people of Salt Lake City to enjoy through the Utah film Center, in celebration of the legacy of Kim Peek, who served as the inspiration for the film Rain Man. Dr. Grandin will give an exciting keynote address about her ability to “think in pictures” and making the case that people on the Autism spectrum have an important role to play in society.

 

The purpose of the Peek Award is to annually honor an actor, filmmaker or subject of a film who best embodies the energy and passion of Rain Man and Kim Peek and is helping to promote positive images about people with disabilities in our society. Joining Dr. Grandin in this exciting celebration will be Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and father of the real Rain Man, Francis Peek. The evening will be emceed by journalist Carole Mikita. For a complete schedule of events and additional information about the participants and the award, please contact Levi Elder or Eric Mitchell.

 

Temple Grandin Press Release Download

Temple Grandin Poster Download

 

###

 

HUD AWARDS UTAH $124,900 GRANT TO COMBAT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

FOR RELEASE
Friday
October 7, 2011

 

HUD AWARDS UTAH $124,900 GRANT TO COMBAT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

 

SALT LAKE CITY – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $124,900 to the Disability Law Center to assist people who believe they have been victims of housing discrimination.

 

HUD Regional Administrator Rick M. Garcia said, “The grants announced today in Utah are funded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and will be used to investigate allegations of housing discrimination, and work to promote equal housing opportunities.”

 

“The Obama Administration is committed to ending housing discrimination, and these grants enable local fair housing and community organizations all over the nation to help HUD enforce the Fair Housing Act, and make people more aware of their fair housing rights,”stated HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

 

HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity, John Trasviña added: “Last year, HUD filed more Fair Housing Act charges than any year since 2002,” “The Fair Housing Initiatives Program grantees play a vital role to enhance our civil rights law enforcement efforts.”

 

The categories of grants awarded today are:
•Private Enforcement Initiative grants (PEI) – HUD awarded $17.5 million to help groups investigate alleged housing discrimination, and enforce the Fair Housing Act and state and local laws that are substantially equivalent to the Act.

 

•Education and Outreach Initiative grants (EOI) – HUD awarded $4.6 million to groups that educate the public and housing providers about their rights and obligations under federal, state, and local fair housing laws.

 

•Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI) – HUD awarded $5.9 million to groups that serve rural and immigrant populations in areas where there currently is no existing fair housing organization, or are otherwise underserved.

 

FHEO and its partners in the Fair Housing Assistance Program investigate more than 10,000 housing discrimination complaints annually. People who believe they are the victims of housing discrimination should contact HUD at (800) 669-9777 (voice), or (800) 927-9275 (TTY).

Welcome to the DLC – Utah’s Protection & Advocacy Agency

Since 1979, the Disability Law Center (DLC) has helped thousands of Utahns with disabilities and their families. The DLC has broad statutory powers to safeguard the human and civil rights of persons with disabilities. We provide self-advocacy assistance, legal services, disability rights education, and public policy advocacy on behalf of the more than 400,000 Utah residents with disabilities. Our services are available statewide and without regard for ability to pay.

 

More than 75% of our clients say the DLC is the only place they can turn for help. How can we help you?

The Client Assistance Program – Advocating for Informed Choice

With help from the Client Assistance Program (CAP), he has successfully launched his own business! Now, Mark’s dream of brightening the surroundings of children with serious health issues has become a reality.
 

This dream actually began when Mark had health concerns of his own. In his own words: “In 2006 I was injured in the line of duty as a Federal Special Agent resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). After failing to obtain traditional employment since my abilities were significantly impaired I sought out the assistance of Vocational Rehabilitation (or DRS). I still thought I could make a contribution to society and strive to achieve some sort of income.”
 

Due to his injury, Mark had to leave a six figure income and the security of a successful career. He developed organizational skills to compensate for some memory loss and the other effects of his injury. Mark said, “I knew I had the capacity to collaborate with a wide audience and effectively communicate a “vision”. [I can] surround myself with trusted advisors who are brilliant. I have the tenacity to never give up and to be “diplomatic yet –persistent.”

 

A couple of years ago while Mark was considering these strengths and how he could use them for a different kind of employment, he was experiencing sleep apnea. He was evaluated and sent home with a CPAP machine.

 

“I looked at the ugly thing and thought; I can’t believe that this thing is always going to be with me.” Next he thought of the children who are dependent on medical equipment for their health. How must they feel? What if there was a way to make that equipment personalized and as cool as possible? He did his research and found that “skins” or adhesive pictures could be produced and applied to these devices. He developed templates for some of the more common medical equipment. He began expanding his thinking to providing fun colorful murals for pediatric hospital rooms. That was the new beginning for Mark. He’d found a place that he could use his passion and skills to carve a new niche in life. He just needed some support to make it happen.

 

After working with the DRS for some time, Mark was frustrated. He felt that services focused on “achieving primarily low skill re-employment”. He felt that “self-employment could mean something more fulfilling”. He suggested this route to DRS and felt ignored. That’s when he contacted the CAP Program at the Disability Law Center. Mark was quickly put in touch with an advocate. She explained that DRS should assist people in getting work that is consistent with their capacities, abilities and informed choice. While DRS can assist with self-employment, the required process of developing a business plan, getting it approved and launching the business is complicated and time consuming. Mark considered that and decided to move forward anyway.
 

When Mark and his advocate first met with DRS, Mark was prepared. He brought beautiful sample murals in all sizes that could be stuck to windows, walls, medical equipment etc. He explained that testing proved they withstood the sanitation requirements of a hospital. He reviewed his marketing ideas and explained how the product could be distributed with very low overhead. His advocate helped to demonstrate that Mark’s interests and abilities were a great fit for the business he proposed. CAP supported Mark from that meeting with DRS, through business plan development and finally to all the details of getting equipment, a website and technical support for the business.
 
Mark sent a “kudos” letter to the DLC when his case was closed. He said, “The CAP advocate’s demonstrated performance in my case was instrumental in facilitating the dialogue (often contentious) between me and Voc Rehab. Her efforts exceeded my expectations as I reached out to the Disability Law Center in my frustration in dealing with Voc Rehab and their archaic paradigm.”
 

What Mark is Saying Now So perhaps in every cloud there really is a silver lining. I created a company that puts bright images in hospital rooms for kids. Recent scientific studies demonstrate that children not only have a better experience but HEAL faster with bright images in their rooms.
 

My approach is unique since I use a reusable material (sticker/skin) that is much more cost effective than what a Mural Artist would charge. In addition, my “print on demand” manufacturing process allows for hundreds of images to be made per day. I have entered into a distribution agreement with a national healthcare company who will sell the images in North America to hopefully improve the lives of thousands of children in hospitals across the country. Moreover, we have been asked to put bright images in Veterans Hospital rooms.
 

Cross your fingers and hope that I am a success. Please see the 4 minute video on our website for the visual story (www.imagineitskins.com). Contact me directly if you would like to purchase my product and or sponsor skins (your logo displayed) in your local Hospital or health care setting…..Mark 801-781-0078.