Institute on Disability/UCED

More than 35,000 residents living in New Hampshire have an intellectual disability (ID). Youth and young adults with ID are significantly more likely to be underemployed and live in poverty   than same age peers, and the majority of these young people, particularly those from low-income families, lack access to meaningful post-secondary education and career opportunities that would help them change these outcomes.                                  

This month’s Spotlight celebrates the accomplishments of the 2018 NH-ME LEND cohort! This year has gone by quickly, and trainees have been engaged in a wide variety of activities across our two states. We would like to take a moment to share two highlights. 

On Monday, May 14, 2018 Dan Habib’s new film INTELLIGENT LIVES had its New Hampshire premiere at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. The evening included a Q&A discussion with Dan Habib, Executive Producers Chris Cooper and Marianne Leone Cooper, and Micah Fialka-Feldman and Naieer Shaheed who star in the film.

“We were thrilled to have hundreds of people from throughout New Hampshire join us for the New Hampshire Premiere,” Habib said. “There was a strong spirit of community and inclusion in the packed theater.”

On Monday, May 14, 2018 Dan Habib’s new film INTELLIGENT LIVES had its New Hampshire premiere at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH. The evening included a Q&A discussion with Dan Habib, Executive Producers Chris Cooper and Marianne Leone Cooper, and Micah Fialka-Feldman and Naieer Shaheed who star in the film.

“We were thrilled to have hundreds of people from throughout New Hampshire join us for the New Hampshire Premiere,” Habib said. “There was a strong spirit of community and inclusion in the packed theater.”

• Dr. Tobey Partch-Davies received a grant to fund the Granite State Challenge through the Think College National Coordinating Center’s State Capacity Building Project to build the capacity necessary to implement an inclusive college program at the University of New Hampshire.

The Institute on Disability is conducting a survey which will be used to help in the development of online courses in Evidence Based Practices in children’s behavioral health.  We are looking for participation from school staff (ie.

Dr. JoAnne Malloy and Kathy Francoeur published Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in High Schools: A Case Study from NH in the Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation.

• Jennifer Rabalais is named the Co-Director of the Center on Aging and Community Living.

New Hampshire adults with cognitive and/or mobility disabilities are more likely to smoke cigarettes than adults without disabilities. The Disability in Focus, March 2018 data brief, released by the NH Disability & Public Health Project (DPH), shows that NH Adults with disabilities are motivated to quit smoking.

Jennifer Bertrand is a member of the IOD’s Consumer Advisory Council. In April, she along with trainees in the NH-ME LEND program, and members of IOD’s faculty and staff attended the 2018 Disability Policy Seminar. She writes about her experience.