Family Links Conferences

Every year the Utah Parent Center and various disability organizations and agencies host the Family Links Conferences. These conferences have been created to help parents of individuals with disabilities and special needs.

Northern Conference

Thank you to everyone that participated in our 2009 conference on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14 at Murray High School.  It was a HUGE success – we were able to reach more than 300 participants each day!  Participants were able to gather valuable information and be uplifted by our two keynote speakers: Robert Brooks, Ph.D., and Michael McLean.  Each of them gave participants great ideas to be more resilient, boost self-esteem, and have a renewed commitment to their families and individuals with disabilities.  Our exhibitor fair featured more than 35 organizations and agencies.  Participants were able to make valuable connections and get information that will help them and their families for years to come.

We are already beginning to plan the 2010 conference. If you would like to suggest presenters, topics, or other events to be featured at the conference, please send an email to familylinks@utahparentcenter.org.

2009 Award Winners
This year we had a large number of nominations submitted for our annual awards. Our committee definitely had their work cut out for them! Here is a list of the winners and a portion of each of their nominations.

Advocate of the Year: Diana Smith
Diana has advocated on behalf of her son, family and community in more ways than can be expressed. While doing this she has faced great health challenges but has never given into her diagnosis. She has a form of Muscular Dystrophy that has weaken her ability to do physical things but it has never taken her spirit to fight back. Though Diana has had her plate full she never said no to help where and when she could. She has served on the Family to Family Network Board, the Primary Children’s Medical Center Family Advisory Council, ULREND family involvement training, Kindred Spirits Board of Directors, Utah-Kids list serve support and information member, Family Specialist for transition issues for Family Voices and the Bureau of Children with Special Health Care Needs and she would attend legislative committee meetings at the capital and testify whenever she had a chance. She was an expert on resources for housing, transportation and adults with disabilities raising children. She never took “NO” for an answer, she would just keep advocating for what she thought was in the best interest until she was satisfied and move onto the next issue with a smile. This award means so much and her husband is here to accept it on her behalf due to the fact that Diana is starting her journey into the next life advocating for all of us here and in heaven. Diana is not only a great advocate but a hero to many of us. The work she has done will forever touch the lives of children with special needs and their families in one way or another.

Professional of the Year: Michelle Murphey
Michelle Murphy is the mother of a young son who is twice exceptional being gifted and on the autism spectrum. She has been a pioneer in her job at the Utah Parent Center, helping to invent the position as the parent consultant working in collaboration with Granite School District. As a district consultant she has developed a great relationship with the district and has been able to prepare parents to effectively participate in IEP meetings. She has also to attended many meetings as a support for parents. She has been super focused on the needs of families in Granite District and is able to give very specific help. In large part because of her leadership and example, the district consultant program has become available in two other school districts—Salt Lake and Davis. Michelle applies herself to everything she does and has become very knowledgeable. She is active in various community groups and is a great resource to families of twice exceptional children in Utah. Thank you Michelle for your caring, your hard work, and your unwavering support of families.

Professional of the Year: Marsha Honore-Jones
Marsha Honore'-Jones is the Program Manager for the Utah Developmental Disabilities Council. She is the statewide advisor and support for Utah People First. Through her efforts many collaborations have transpired, and successful new groups have been developed. She supports self advocates in many activities, including supporting 19 Utahns to attend the Self Advocates Becoming Empowered Conference in Indianapolis last September. In the past year Marsha wrote and received a grant to write and produce a voter training video staring self-advocates. This video and training materials were taken statewide and almost 1,000 Utahns with disabilities were trained about voting with a number becoming first time voters.
Marsha is a tireless advocate for individuals with disabilities. She is an adult sibling. Her brother, Paul, has cerebral palsy. Experiencing discrimination herself growing up, She has been able to draw on her personal life experiences to improve the lives of people with disabilities so that they learn about their own rights.
Marsha was recognized last June by Governor Huntsman's for the statewide Humanitarianism Award of Excellence for her work supporting individuals and the positive impact she is having in their personal development. Thank you Marsha for your positive impact in supporting individuals with disabilities.

Parent Professional of the Year: Deborah Bowman
Deborah Bowman is well known in the disability community for her tireless volunteer advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities. She is the mother of an adult daughter with multiple disabilities. She has been very involved with the Family to Family Network in its various forms over the years. She was a great board member and contributor to the Arc of Utah. She developed the Bridge to the Future transition guide which continues to be a great resource. She has been very involved in representing families on a systems level and has been instrumental in making many improvements in the ways systems operate, including helping to develop the system for self administered supports. Deb is currently working part time supporting the Family to Family Network. Deb is a great example to all because of her willingness to remain active from the time her child was very young through the transition to adult life and as her daughter is an adult. Thank you Deb for tireless efforts.

Sibling of the Year: Ashley Sorenson
My daughter Ashley has been a very positive role model for my fourteen year old son, Steven, who has autism. When Ashley as in high school, she took college classes during the summer. She was very hurt when she came home to find out that Steven did not acknowledge her existence. Ashley soon realized that unless she took him by the face and made him look at her every time she said goodbye to him each week, that he would not know that she was gone. She began making an effort to say goodbye and hello to him this way every time she came home or left the house. Now that Ashley is away at college in Cedar City, she and her brother speak on the phone at least once a day. Ashley always makes time for him and is currently majoring in special education. She says that Steven is her inspiration and she is a much better person in the world for having the privilege of being his big sister. Steven talks all the time about how he is going to go to college like his sister. He is so proud of her as she is of him.

Sibling of the Year: Cydnie Spencer
Nomination made by her 12 year old sister Devany who has Down syndrome Cydnie is my best friend and little sister. She hangs out and plays games with me. She is teaching me how to dance, play the piano, and to swim. She is a peer tutor at school. I am so lucky to be her sister. She is the best.

Mentor of the Year: LuWenn Jones
LuWenn wears many hats of duty and she wears them with honor and respect. She is a mother of 3 children, and her middle daughter has autism. She is a leader in the disability community, and is well-known by veterans and new-comers as an advocate and educator. She has served in many organizations including the Family to Family Network Board of directors , the Autism Council of Utah, The Legislative Coalition and the DSPD board. She is currently working as the coordinator of the Family to Family network. She travels extensively to accomplish all of these activities. She has spent the last twelve years fighting for her daughter and others with disabilities and their needs and rights. She is an outstanding role model and support for parents.

Mother of the Year: Brandy Iverson
Brandy is the mother of two children that have been diagnosed with autism. She is a cheerful person with a positive attitude. After attending a conference on autism, she decided she didn’t want other parents to suffer and feel alone. She began the Uintah Basin Autism Parent Support Group in 2007. Parents and professionals meet monthly for information and emotional support.

Paraeducator of the Year: Shari Muncy
Shari is an advocate of inclusion. She has helped teachers and students understand the benefits of having children with special needs attend with their peers. She is a team player gathering and implementing ideas and materials from parents, teachers, and other service providers. She has taken the time to adapt lesson materials to the needs of students. She believes parents should be informed of concerns and successes. Our year has been better because of Shari.

Volunteer of the Year: Marialice Nielson
Marialice has contributed for over 15 years to the Family to Family Network and its preceding organizations and has never missed a meeting. She has opened her home for monthly meetings and parties. She is the treasurer and a master at raising and stretching funds. She goes over and above in everything she does. Marialice is one of the greatest people in the world and a timeless member of the Networks. She is loved in the community and her support, insights and compassion are truly appreciated.
Her son has never received DSPD services, yet she has showed the way by arranging an apartment in her home for her son without affecting his funding. She is always there with visits and gifts to support families as they experience medical problems or losses in their families. She is the glue that keeps the volunteers united and pushing forward. One nominator said, ”So many of us who struggle in our daily lives have found great advice and comfort in Marialice. She sees what needs to be done or said and gets right to it. If there was an award for Best Friend, it would most certainly belong to Marialice.”