Tools for Life Fair
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Setting up for Success
Tools for Life is for transitioning youth with disabilities and all who support them. Attendees include educators, special educators, therapists, counselors, service providers, job developers, other rehabilitation specialists, and especially high school students with disabilities and their families.
Each year, the Fair is held in a different city in Idaho. This helps to make it more accessible to students and families across the state. The Fair travels between North Idaho, Boise and Pocatello.
Check out our Tools for Life video playlist to learn more about the different things you can expect to learn and do at Tools for Life.
Tools for Life 2022, March 7-8
Tools for Life Report
Download the 2022 Tools for Life infographic (PDF) to see learning outcomes and attendance figures.
The 17th annual Tools for Life event was the first in-person Fair since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. The event was scaled down to ensure the safety of attendees but was still a major success!
The two-day Fair encompassed more than thirty presentations and group activities to expand student knowledge related to assistive technology, self-advocacy, independent living and college/career readiness. After attending Tools for Life, survey data showed that students had a better idea about their options after high school and were more familiar with resources to help them live, learn and work.
2022 Highlights
The conference kicked off with introductions and guidance given to the students by Dr. Andrew Sheef who MC’d the event. Randi Cole from the Idaho State Department of Education gave a special welcome address.
I learned how to stand up for myself and how to cook.
Inspiring keynote speeches were given by the Philips family and Sarah Patterson. Full conference information along with keynote speaker bios are available in the Conference Program (PDF).
I learned about different AT that is available.
Students participated in the financial literacy event, Reality Town. During the activity, students made theoretical life choices. They used a checkbook and/or debit card to make purchases and balance expenses to come away with a better understanding of what it means to live independently.
I learned how to be a self-advocate.
Students went on a field trip to the University of Idaho Campus where they got a glimpse of college life and exposure to post-secondary educational options.
I learned what to expect when paying bills and how to handle real life situations.
An Adapted Movement activity was provided to keep students active during the day. At night, the students made new friends and had a great time at the dance party where they ate pizza, danced to music and took memento photographs.
I learned you can do anything if you put your mind to it, and there are a lot of things for your phone to use in college.
Thank You for Your Support
We would like to say thank you to all of our sponsors!
The Fair was planned by members of the Idaho Interagency Council on Secondary Transition (IICST) as a collaborative effort to improve outcomes for students with disabilities post-high school.
Conference expenses totaled approximately $43,000. In addition to this figure, countless hours were spent in the planning, preparation and execution of the conference by many individuals who donated in-kind support.
Tools for Life is coordinated and sponsored by: