Attention Washington County Students 16 – 21

Have you and your family been wondering what you will be doing when you finish school?

Starting a career?
Going to community college?
Getting that first job?
Moving out of your parent’s home?

Although most students think about these questions, sometimes it is harder to imagine if you are a person with a disability. One major step is having a job. You may want this, but you and your family may not be sure how to make this happen.

If you are a student, ages 16-21 years old with intellectual and developmental disabilities, PROJECT EMPLOY would like to talk with you and your family. Starting in September, we will be working with families in Washington County and the Sherwood, Beaverton, Gaston, Forest Grove, and Banks School Districts to support students towards having jobs in the community upon leaving school at age twenty-one.

PROJECT EMPLOY will provide training on Person Centered Planning—which lays out a future for you, employment related supports, and advocacy. Since it takes lots of work to get and keep a job, everyone including you, your family and support team will all be expected to do their part. PROJECT EMPLOY will hold monthly gatherings starting in September and continue through the school year. One major event will be for you and your family to spend a day with your support team in November or early December creating a Person Centered Plan to lay out plans towards your future after school ends.

We will be taking applications through September, but are signing-up families starting in August. We would like to hear from you, now!

Contact:

Arlene Jones: Arlene.jones@arcoregon.org , (503) 329-6809 or
Tara Asai: tara.asai@arcoregon.org or (503) 706-3273.

Rally Against Special Education Budget Cuts at PPS

From an email distributed by UCP’s Family Support Program:

When:  August 23rd, 2010

Where: Portland School District Administration Office

501 N. Dixon

Portland  OR  97086

Time:   6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

A broad coalition of parents, educators, advocates, and non-profits have coalesced around the budget cuts to Special Education (SPED) recently announced by Portland Public Schools. This evening they will turn out in full force to support equity in education for ALL students in PPS, give testimony and request that the Superintendent and PPS Board reconsider their decision to cut SPED resources.

On June 30th, 2010 PPS announced a $3.3 million reduction from the previously approved budget for SPED, eliminating approximately 20 teaching positions and 51 paraeducator positions. While PPS claims they can provide Maintenance of Effort (MOE) despite these cuts, many parents and staff question how this is possible when they are already struggling to adequately serve students receiving special education services.

Media Contact: Chloe Eudaly

503-867-4304 or chloe.eudaly@gmail.com

Looking for Activities as Summer Winds Down? Disability Compass Lists Tons of Resources

Don’t forget to check out Disability Compass for listings of local events, respite providers, trainings and resources.

Compass is a one-stop site providing information about and direction to services, products, and special health care resources for people with disabilities in Oregon, their families and those who support them.

Disability Compass is a project of Community Vision, Inc. Community Vision was awarded the “Best Kept Secret” award for for Portland Monthly’s “Light A Fire” nonprofit awards in November.

Below are currently listed August events.

August 7
FREE Adaptive Bike Clinic for Youth

Dawson Creek Park – Hillsboro, OR
August 7
Challenge Air’s 4th Annual “Fly-Day”

Aurora County Airport – Aurora, OR
August 9
Dream it, Do it! Day Camp!

Oregon Zoo – Portland, OR
August 9
What Parents Need to Know About the IEP

Providence Medford Campus – Medford, OR
August 10
“Skills for Effective Parent Advocacy”

Beaverton Library – Beaverton, OR
August 11
“Skills for Effective Parent Advocacy”

Midland Library – Portland, OR
August 11
MultCo CIC Diversity Outreach Training

Multnomah Building – Portland, OR
August 12
CHADD Parent Support Group (AD/HD)

Christ Community Church – Beaverton, OR
August 13
August 20
Move Into A New Career

Oaks Park – Portland, OR
August 20
Walk to Work! When You Work You Win!

Oaks Park – Portland, OR
August 24
August 28
Saturday Sessions: A Day of Learning

Columbia Gorge Community College – The Dalles, OR

Metro Area Brokerage Resource Fair – THIS FRIDAY – August 13th

You’re invited to the 2010 Annual Brokerage Resource Fair presented by Community Pathways (formerly The Arc Brokerage), Independence Northwest, Inclusion Inc and Mentor Oregon Brokerage.

Come learn about resources and activities in your community, network with providers and meet new people. There will be food, activities and plenty of people at the BBQ. Bring your provider, learn something  new and make some connections.
Parking is limited – consider taking the yellow line MAX to the Overlook Park stop or TriMet.

Friday August 13th

1:00pm to 5:00pm
Kaiser Permanente Town Hall
3704 N. Interstate Ave, Portland
BBQ: 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Overlook Park (directly across the street)
N Fremont & Interstate

Summer Food Service Program for Children

From summerfoodoregon.org:

What? Free food and fun in the summer sun.

Who? For kids and teens (18 and younger)

Not a kid or teen? Check out other food assistance.

During the school year, thousands of Oregon children depend on free or reduced price meals each day. However, when school ends for the year, so does this important resource. The Summer Food Service Program is meant to help fill that nutritional gap.

Funding for meals is provided by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program. All open sites are located in neighborhoods that USDA considers high need areas. However, no application or proof of income is needed to participate, and all children are welcome!

The Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP) was created by Congress in 1968. It is designed to provide funds for eligible organizations to serve nutritious meals to low-income children when school is not in session.

You can find more information about SFSP at http://oregonhunger.org/summer-food.

Thanks to Natasha Roe for the tip.