Expert to Discuss Building Better Disability Support Systems at Blue Plate Research

For individuals and families, navigating the complex world of disability systems and services can feel overwhelming, confusing or impossible to access. The next Blue Plate Research event will introduce a statewide resource designed to help: the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice at Utah State University.

Matthew Wappett, the institute’s executive director, will lead the conversation at 11:30 a.m. April 21 at Gallivan Hall in downtown Salt Lake City.

Disability is a part of everyday life, touching families, workplaces, schools and communities. It’s far more common than most people realize; more than a quarter of Utahns meet the federal definition of having a disability.

“If you have rheumatoid arthritis and you can't wash dishes, that qualifies you as having a disability,” Wappett said.

Because disability touches so many lives, the systems meant to support people need to be strong, accessible and grounded in evidence. That’s where IDRPP comes in.

To understand the institute’s role today, Wappett will discuss the evolution of disability services. For centuries, societies recognized that families and churches can’t do the work alone. Early American communities constructed buildings and established institutions to care for people with disabilities, and Utah was no exception. The Utah State Hospital was built before the Salt Lake Temple and was originally the larger building — an indication of how central disability care once was to public life.

“Families often don’t have the resources, so from the very beginning, the founding of this country, the government was providing resources and supports for people with disabilities,” Wappett said. “Families, community-based services and churches can't secure rights.”

Over time, the country shifted away from large institutions and toward community-based services, special education and modern disability rights laws. That led to the creation of the Developmental Disabilities Network, a trio of organizations in every state that work together to protect rights and improve services.

IDRPP is Utah’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, the university-based partner in that network. Its mission is to connect research with real-world needs so that evidence-based practices actually reach the people who need them.

During the presentation, Wappett will share examples of IDRPP’s work and impact. These include early intervention services for infants and toddlers, assistive technology programs that provide and repair wheelchairs, mental health training across the state and long-term research on child development and disability.

“We do have a very large, oversized impact, not just here in the state, but nationally,” Wappett said. “We worked in 36 states last year.”

Ultimately, this Blue Plate Research presentation carries a simple message: The work of the IDRPP blends research, training and hands-on service to improve lives and strengthen communities.

Whether it’s guiding a family through the web of disability assistance, helping community leaders strengthen local services or providing reliable data to inform policy decisions, the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice is a resource for the entire state.

For those unable to attend, the full presentation and Q&A session will be available afterward on the Office of Research YouTube page.

Blue Plate Research is an event series hosted by the Utah State University Office of Research and sponsored by Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. The series brings together state and community decision-makers with premier researchers to explore the health and well-being challenges facing Utah.

Learn more about past events and RSVP for future events at blueplateresearch.usu.edu.