Disability Mentoring Day at the Standard Examiner

Disability Mentoring Day is designed to bring students and job seekers with disabilities into the workplace where they can learn about various career opportunities. For 2015, students spent the day with the staff of the Standard Examiner newspaper in Ogden.

The event is sponsored by the Utah State office of Rehabilitation, the Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities and the Utah Business Employer Team. 

As students transition from the public school system to adulthood, exploring careers and opportunities helps them shape a future. Read about the event online at the Standard Examiner.

Generations Conference: Life Happens, Plans Change, I'm possible

The Generations Conference is a highly regarded annual conference for professionals dealing with critical behavioral health and addiction issues confronting today's adult generations. This year, the topic was, "Life Happens, Plans Change, I'm possible!"

The event, which was March 16-17 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, featured Jeffrey A. Griffin, M Ed as the keynote speaker.

"I always dreamed of playing sports on the ‘big stage’. As a kid I envisioned playing football as a receiver for Brigham Young University. As a freshman, I played as a receiver for the Ricks College (BYU Idaho) Vikings," Griffin told the audience. 

"Our 11-0 season taught me a lot about being on a team and working together. Team, to me, means, 'Together Everyone Achieves More!'

"I was one step closer to fulfilling my dream until the following summer when a construction accident left me paralyzed from the waist down. I was devastated when I fell 40 feet and shattered my back. My dreams were shattered too. 

"I thought life without organized sports was over until I was introduced to wheelchair sports. It has changed my life for the better. It has given me the opportunity to see the world and meet new people and different cultures.

"As I picked through the broken pieces of my dreams, I realized I had a decision to make. I could either stay down and quit or get back up and succeed. My experience has motivated myself and others to desire, dream, and do and I have since fulfilled my lifelong dream of performing on the ‘big stage.’ 

"In 2004, I was a member of the USA Men’s Paralympic basketball team in Athens, Greece. I competed in Amsterdam, Holland, as a member of the USA Men’s National World Championship team in 2006. I currently play for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association's (NWBA) Utah Wheelin' Jazz, and was the 2007 NWBA All-Star West MVP. 

"I am currently the #1 men's singles wheelchair tennis player in the State of Utah and have won the St. George Marathon. I also hold the 2008 Guinness World Record for the most free throws from a wheelchair.

"These successes, although impressive, do not define who I am. What really defines me is my ability to overcome life’s great challenges one step at a time!"

Shine Bright for Autism

From the Autism Council of Utah: Get ready to shine bright on April 22nd for our 3rd annual Autism Awareness night at Huka! 

We will have lots of fun things going on including the return of the staff auction and a raffle! Make sure to wear your shiniest outfit for a good cause.

• Staff Auction starts at 8:30 p.m.
• Bidding starts at $20 per person.
• The winning bidder gets to hang out with the Huka Girl/Guy for the evening.

Raffle tickets are $5 at the door and will start after the staff auction. All items for the raffle have been generously donated through members of the community. Music by Dj Seanny Boy.

All money acquired will be donated to The Autism Council of Utah, they use every penny donated to them to helping people with autism all over Utah.

Utah Inclusive Arts Festival

Integrating the arts is the goal of the Utah Inclusive Arts Festival on May 30 at the Tanner Dance center. Students are free, and educators can get CEU's. Learn more at www.tannerdance.utah.edu. 

Job seekers save the date! Career Prep and Job Fair

The Career Prep and Job Fair by Work Ability Utah is a fantastic opportunity for people with disabilities to explore careers, meet business leaders, and attend workshops.

Job seekers, no need to register! Employers must register by April 7. 

Contact Leah Lobato with questions leahlobato@utah.gov or 801-887-9538.

Date: April 14
Place: Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Taylorsville
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ready, Set, Go! The National Federation of the Blind Utah Conference

SAVE THE DATE!

The National Federation of the Blind of Utah

2015 State Convention

Ready, Set, Go...

Live the Life you want!

“Our quest for independence”

April 30th-May 2nd, 2015

at the Courtyard Marriot 

247 East 24th Street, Ogden, Utah

Rates: $69/night (Book by March 31st)

Special Guests:

Mark Riccobono, NFB National President

Dan Parker, Blind Motorcycle Racer

Go to www.nfbutah.org to register today!

The U.S. Access Board is coming to Utah!

The U.S. Access Board is coming to Utah!

A Town Hall meeting on April 29 is open to the public.

Where: Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 250 North 1950 West #B, Salt Lake City, Utah

The tentative agenda includes the following:
2:00 p.m. to 2:30: The Access Board will give the audience an overview of our programs and activities.
2:30 to 4:30: We will host a series of panel discussions.
4:30 to 5:00: We will have an open microphone session where we will invite the audience to make comments and ask questions.

Access Board meetings are accessible to persons with disabilities. An assistive listening system, computer assisted real-time transcription (CART), and sign language interpreters will be available. 

Persons attending are requested to refrain from using perfume, cologne, and other fragrances for the comfort of other participants. 

This event is free and open to the public. We will send out additional information once the details of this event are finalized. 

If you need additional information, you may contact johnson@access-board.gov (202) 272-0041 (voice); (800) 993-2822 (TTY).