Community Resources

Oregon Office on Disability and Health(OODH) prevents secondary conditions in Oregonians with disabilities, improves access to public health programs, and implements effective health promotion and wellness programs for Oregonians with disabilities. Our goal is to improve the health and quality of life among Oregonians with disabilities.

OCCYSHN promotes optimal health, development and well-being of Oregon’s children and youth with special health needs.

Aging and Disability Resource Connection – a resource directory for Oregon families, caregivers and consumers seeking information about long-term supports and services. Here you will find quick and easy access to resources in your community.

Lane Transit District (LTD) EZ Access Services gives people with disabilities who use the bus for transportation an easy place to find answers to all their questions about riding the bus in Lane County. Visitors can find out about travel training, boarding the bus using mobility equipment, prices, applying for Ride Source, service animal policies, services for Seniors, and the Community on Accessible Transportation.

The Karen Gaffney Foundation is a non profit organization that is dedicated to championing the journey to full inclusion in families, schools, communities and the workplace for people with Down syndrome or other developmental disabilities.

Our Programs:

• Friends First™ Program was developed to help bridge the social gap between students with disabilities and those without by providing a social structure for students to come together, form a club, and work together on service learning projects that will benefit their schools and community. This program is intended to support schools with the social inclusion component of inclusive education. Many school districts have been very successful at implementing inclusion programs at an academic level but may still experience challenges when it comes to assisting students with disabilities to experience a fully inclusive social life among their non-disabled peers in the school environment.
• “Everyday Courage” The Workshop: We explore many different meanings of courage and facilitate participant’s reflection on the obstacles in their own lives and how they have found the courage to overcome such obstacles. Through drama activities participants learn how to make good choices in their daily lives and our arts activities assist them to visualize overcoming life’s challenging situations. Karen believes that ,”This workshop will also help participants reach out and show other people that being courageous towards others is the most important thing we need to work on in our lives.”
• We will be offering the “Everyday Courage” Workshop four times a year for participants in the greater Portland area. Please check our Speaking Engagements Calendar for next upcoming “Everyday Courage” Workshop.
• “Get Moving”! Karen, along with her co-facilitators, conduct “Get Moving” workshops in both the Greater Portland area and at conferences and self-advocate workshops all across the country.Our inclusive Portland area workshops span six weeks and are taught in collaboration with Phillip Summers, an Iron Man tri-athlete and local fitness trainer/educator. This fitness workshop includes an introduction to a variety of physical fitness activities for youth and young adults that are adaptive in nature, including yoga, strength training, dance, cardio, and sports/games. In addition to learning new exercise techniques, students spend a class on cooking together to learn the importance of nutrition and we end the workshop with a session devoted to creating a personal exercise plan to accomplish future fitness goals. Karen also loves to bring the “Get Moving” program to self-advocates and families nationwide, presenting a shortened version of the workshop at conferences. Karen discusses her swims and the need for everyone to make physical fitness a priority in their daily lives to maintain optimum health, mental focus and a positive attitude. Through hands-on fitness activities and guided exploration Karen assists self-advocates and families in creating realistic fitness plans that are enjoyable, adaptive and fit into everyone’s daily lives.
• Life Quest” is a seven week workshop (one day per week for seven weeks) for young adults with developmental disabilities who are making the transition from the world of high school to the adult world of work and higher education. We created the “Life Quest” curriculum to assist young adults in learning more about themselves and the path they would like to create for their own future. Through “Life Quest” young people learn to trust themselves, their own desires, and begin to plan for a life of greater independence and self-determination. This workshop is structured to provide a mixture or drama, arts, and skill building activities that assist young people in planning for their future as independent young adults. Whether its an interest in attending a college transition program, an associates degree, finding a rewarding career, or learning to take mass transit the “Life Quest” workshop will help participants focus on developing a life plan that will offer concrete steps to help participants accomplish their dreams.
• We All want to Belong-Every child wishes to feel like they belong at their schools and that their classrooms are safe spaces where they can learn, laugh and grow, but not every child experiences this sense of belonging. In response to this issue, over the years, Karen has been giving presentations to students of every grade level, teaching students about the fact that on the inside all people are more alike than different and that all people want to belong!

The Northwest Tribal FASD Project seeks to reduce the level of FASD through the development of effective programs and multidisciplinary collaborative partnerships. The current project scope includes strategies for identifying and supporting women of childbearing age who are potentially affected by fetal alcohol exposure in utero and increasing community knowledge and developmentally responsive interventions that create prevention for future generations. Project training focuses on prevention and intervention strategies using community, family and individual strengths and resources that can be appropriately designed to meet cognitive and social emotional needs. The development of family focused case coordinated systems continues to be a primary goal of the project, insuring that all activities proceed from a culturally congruent context to truly create circles of collaborative care. The project also provides resources and links for families living with FASD.

Native American Youth and Family Center in Portland, Oregon mission is to enhance the diverse strengths of our youth and families in partnership with the community through cultural identity and education.

The UCEDD center on  Early Autism Research and Learning for the Young Child has produced a very helpful eight-page Frequently Asked Questions document [spanish]. This FAQ organizes resources and under the most frequently asked questions. The document includes links to websites and other documents.

Bridgeway House in Eugene serves over 150 families a month affected by autism by offering home programs, social skill groups and many other resouces. Bridgeway now has an autism school that has been approved for special educational services through ODE.

The Northwest Autism Foundation website provides information about autism and contact information for hundreds of individuals and organizations that are contributing to the treatment and cure for autism spectrum disorders. Start here for resources specific to Oregon.

Adventures Without Limits (AWL) empowers people of all abilities through quality outdoor experiences. Participants develop new skills, enhance awareness of the natural environment, build self-confidence, and recognize personal potential. AWL can adapt equipment and provide additional staff support to accommodate people with disabilities. AWL provides recreation programs for communities in the greater Portland metropolitan area.

Eugene, Oregon, based Trips Inc. – Special Adventures provides travel outings to adults of various abilities in a safe, respectful and fun atmosphere. Trips are designed for people with developmental disabilities and special needs who require staff assistance for a safe and enjoyable vacation. The average group size is 20.

The Oregon State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) ) is a group of consumers, advocates, business and community representatives, appointed by Oregon’s Governor to advise the Department of Human Services’ (DHS’) Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVRS, formerly VRD) in the development, implementation and review of rehabilitation service delivery for Oregonians with disabilities. Their website includes links to other governmental offices and links to community resources.

Oregon State Independent Living Council promotes choice, equal access, and full inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the State of Oregon. their website is packed with information, reports, contacts and links to resources.

Full Access Brokerage envisions a world where equal access ensures that all people live, work, and recreate in their community, consistent with their preferences and choices. This is a world where partnerships thrive and support is a natural extension of community membership. In the Full Access Brokerage vision, dreams are pursued through active community participation, choices, and advocacy. Contact information for their offices in Eugene, Cottage Grove, Bend and Madras, Oregon, is available on their website.

Autism ANSWERS stands for A Nurturing Support With Educated Resource Services. This organization provides services through the Oregon and Washington  Departments of Health. Their website includes a variety of links to community resources.

The Autism Society of Oregon strives to empower individuals with Autism, their families and their service providers to improve the quality of their lives through support and information. Their web site provides access to support groups in every county in Oregon, information on autism related events in the state, and information about lending libraries located throughout the state.

AutismOregon.org is a blog for parents, teachers, individuals, family and community to search for autism related resources. Registered users are allowed to post. and comment. A feature on the site allows pages to be translated into Spanish.

United Cerebral Palsey of Oregon and SW Washington offers direct service, information, and advocacy for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities based on an individual’s need and choice.

The Arc of Oregon, together with its network of members and affiliated chapters, advocates for the rights and full community participation of all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Providence Child Center, in Portland Oregon, provides a rich continuum of services for children, and is home to the a pediatric skilled nursing facility; Center for Medically Fragile Children, Providence Neurodevelopmental Center for Children, comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluation and therapy services; and the Jean Baton Swindells Resource Center for Children and Families, providing education and information to families, caregivers and friends of children with special needs.  In addition, Providence Child Center encompasses the Providence Montessori School and Wee Care child development center.

Welcome to Oregon SafeNet
We are a toll-free, health and social service helpline for Oregon. We connect individuals and families with services in their local community and across the state.
Call Oregon SafeNet if you need information about SNAP (food stamps), WIC, Oregon Health Plan and other government programs. Oregon SafeNet is a great resource to find low cost medical help, immunizations and women’s health needs. In an emergency, Oregon SafeNet can help find resources for basic needs, such as food, shelter, and bills. We are also prepared to assist non-English speaking callers with staff that are bilingual along with the use of an interpretation service with access to 150 different languages.
Call 1-800-723-3638 (SAFENET) for help.

Oregon Family Support Network is a private non-profit resource for Oregon families with children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, mental and/or physical challenges and special needs. Locate your local program from the interactive map.

Oregon Child Care Resource and Referral Network From this site you can locate child care providers, learn how to evaluate quality care, get assistance with applications assistance with child care costs, and learn about other resources in your community.

Oregon Department of Human Services Being a successful caregiver means finding a balance between providing the necessary care and encouraging the care receiver to be as independent as possible. This site offers support, information and tools for the caregiver.