This week’s Provider Spotlight is Ability Training Services.
If you live in Washington County then you should check out Ability Training Services. This amazing group not only supports people with training, activities and learning based retreats, they help coordinate a central calendar with other agencies in order to help friends meet up in the community! ATS believes that everyone deserves encouragement, motivation and the tools necessary to grow.
In November and December 2014, Independence Northwest will be offering a series of forums: Brokerage 101: A Primer on Support Services. The forums are designed for people new to brokerage services – whether just recently referred (in the last year) or considering their options for in-home and community-based supports. You’ll learn where brokerages come from, what we do, and what to expect from our services. These presentations are perfect for students in transition and their families! Topics include: eligibility, funding, the K Plan, the Adult Needs Assessment, case management services, support service options, provider options, person-centered planning, supported employment, and more!
Join us to have your questions answered!
WHEN
Thursday, November 13th from 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Tuesday, December 16th from 5:30 – 7:00 PM
WHERE
Independence Northwest
919 NE 19th Avenue Suite 275 in Portland
RSVP by calling 503.546.2950 or emailing bcooper@independencenw.org. (Space is limited to 30 per session.)
Seats are filling up very fast this month! Our March 12th forum is at capacity, but there’s still space for our March 26th evening session. Save your space by calling Rachel at 503.546.2950 or emailing rkroll@independencenw.org.
There have been a lot of announced events in the last couple of weeks. Here’s a quick list of what’s happening and where (UPDATED 08.22.2013)
August 20th – 6:30pm
Provider Forum at Independence Northwest
Note: This forum is at capacity and is no longer accepting RSVPs. Future forums forthcoming
(Portland) Details
August 21st – 6:30pm
Community Forum at Independence Northwest
Note: This forum is at capacity and is no longer accepting RSVPs.
(Portland) Details
August 22nd – 6:00pm
Customer and Family Forum with State DD Director Patrice Botsford at Edwards Center
Please RSVP to Dan Peccia at 503.292.7142 x11 or dan@sdri-pdx.org
(Aloha) Details
August 22nd – 4:30pm
Craft Night at Independence Northwest
Please RSVP to Melissa at 503.546.2950
(Portland) Details
August 27th – 6:30pm
Provider Forum at Independence Northwest
Note: This forum is at capacity and is no longer accepting RSVPs. Future forums forthcoming
(Portland) Details
August 28th – 1:00pm
Community Forum at Independence Northwest
Please RSVP to Rachel at 503.546.2950 or rkroll@independencenw.org
(Portland) Details
August 28th – 6:30pm
Community Forum at Independence Northwest
Please RSVP to Rachel at 503.546.2950 or rkroll@independencenw.org
(Portland) Details
September 11th – 6:30pm
Community Forum at Independence Northwest
Please RSVP to Rachel at 503.546.2950 or rkroll@independencenw.org
(Portland) Details
September 12th – 10:30am
Community Forum at Independence Northwest
Please RSVP to Rachel at 503.546.2950 or rkroll@independencenw.org
(Portland) Details
Keep an eye on our blog for future announcements!
Six years ago today Independence Northwest became a fully-funded Oregon support services brokerage. Thank you to our founding and current board of directors, our many stellar staff members past and present, CDDP and provider partners, fellow brokerages, and customers and families for your belief, support, guidance, and partnership these past six years.
We are proud to be part of Oregon’s I/DD community and look forward to many more years with you!
Project Employ Resource Fair – Tuesday May 15th 2012
EMBASSY SUITES AT 9000 SW WASHINGTON SQUARE ROAD, TIGARD
11AM – 7PM
This is a fair for transition students, their families and educators, local business owners and hiring managers, job developers and job coaches, developmental disabilities organizations and local and state agency representatives. Don’t miss this free event!
RESOURCE EXHIBITOR DISPLAYS 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
1:30 PM PANEL OF EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS
Rob Stern, HR Director; Karen Burch, OVRS; Job Developers,
Kelly Wallace and Kathy Holmquist; Emily Lang, Employee
3:30 PM PRESENTATIONS
Representative Gelser – HB2283 Impact on Transition Services Forum
Debra McLean – “Finding the Right Fit” Customized Employment
5:15 PM PRESENTATIONS
Cynthia & Andy Owens – “Mission Possible” Overcoming Barriers
Emily Harris – Mobile Technology for Job Seekers & Employees
From Project Employ:
Project Employ Mini-Conference & Information Fair
Wednesday – April 20, 2011 – 3:30 to 8:00pm
Westview High School
4200 NW 185th Avenue – Portland, OR 97229
ARRO Westside Family and Community Center
2360 SW 170th Ave, Beaverton, Oregon
Tuesday, October 12 th
6:30-8:00 PM
ARRO (Autism Research and Resources of Oregon) will be hosting a panel discussion on high school transition for teens with Autism. The panel will feature Jonathan Chase, Peter Fitzgerald, and David Abramowitz, discussing the ins and outs of transition out of high school and into adulthood as it relates to teens with Autism. Topics will include pre-high school planning, writing long-term goals into an IEP, eligibility and services in high school, and how the various agencies and services interact with families and the public school system. The panel will also be taking questions and offering advice specific to the laws in the state of Oregon.
Jonathan Chase is an adult with Asperger’s Syndrome and a member of the Autism Society of Oregon’s board of directors. Peter Fitzgerald works with the Youth Transition Program with the University of Oregon and has over 30 years of experience as a special ed teacher and transition specialist. David Abramowitz also has over 30 years of experience working with transition-age teens and their families in the Eugene school district. Jonathan, Peter, and David all serve on the Transition Subcommittee on the Oregon Commission on ASD.
This event is open to the public and will offer information helpful to parents of children with Autism who are currently in high school or looking ahead to high school in the future. Teens and adults with ASD, service providers, and professionals are welcome to attend and ask questions. The forum will be held at the ARRO Westside Family and Community Center and a $5 donation is suggested, but not required, to help support our efforts to support the autism community and develop resources that meet the needs of our families and individuals with autism throughout their life and throughout the spectrum of ability. Handouts, refreshments, and coffee will be available.
Walk-ins are welcome, but RSVP’s would be appreciated. Please email Jonathan@JonathanChase.Net if you plan to attend or have any questions.
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.
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.
KATU’s current list of cooling centers in the metro area:
Multnomah County:
Clark County:
Clackamas County:
Portable, electric fans may be available for loan to families through the Wilsonville Community Center. The Clackamas County Energy Assistance Program also has fans available for low-income households free of charge. People in need of a fan can call its energy assistance line at (503) 650-5640; Spanish speakers can call (503) 650-5766. Additionally,
Washington County:
In the City of Hillsboro there are several cooling centers open for residents, including:
The following Hillsboro churches also will be open this week for those needing a respite from the heat:
Children must be accompanied by an adult at the Hillsboro cooling centers specifically. For recorded location and hour information for Hillsboro cooling stations call (503) 681-5295.
Assisted living center opens its doors as cooling center through Sunday:
Columbia County:
Marion County:
The Arc of Oregon has received grant funding to implement a new project to assure the successful transition for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities from school to competitive community employment. PROJECT EMPLOY targets youth (16-21 years) with intellectual and developmental disabilities that have been typically labeled as “unemployable” and referred to community inclusion programs rather than being considered for competitive employment. PROJECT EMPLOY will provide training for these students’ families, school personnel, and community professionals to bridge transition from school to community employment. Support teams will receive training and technical assistance in the following areas:
As a region with a mix of urban and rural that provides opportunities for learning, Washington County has been selected for the initial year of this 3-year project. In subsequent years, PROJECT EMPLOY will expand to two other regions of the state. We are currently seeking interested Washington County school districts that wish to learn with us and are willing to commit staff resources. Participating school personnel would be expected to attend an initial meeting (late August / early September), a one-day training with other professionals on Statewide In-service Day (October), six hours of training with participating students/families (November), and monthly Project meetings (December-June). In lieu of an April meeting, Project Employ will sponsor an Employment Resource Fair where students can learn about summer internships and schools will have the opportunity to share information about their programs. Teams will have access to additional technical assistance as needed and will be expected to provide data on students’ progress.
By supporting and mentoring all members of the students’ teams, the expectation is that by age 21, students will be employed in community jobs. For ages 16-20, it is expected that students will participate in appropriate vocational activities and work experiences during the school year and in jobs or paid internships during the summers.
Please join us in supporting students’ transitions to work. If interested, please contact Tara Asai, The Arc of Oregon: tara.asai@arcoregon.org or at (503) 706-3273.
CASH Oregon is a community-based nonprofit organization committed to improving the financial health of working individuals and families. We provide free tax preparation for Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah counties in partnership with AARP Tax-Aide. CASH Oregon seeks to help low-income families and individuals in the tri-county area from every community and background. Through aggressive Earned Income Tax Credit outreach and free tax preparation with AARP Tax-Aide and financial advocacy, we provide families and individuals with the tools and resources to begin building solid financial futures.
Via 211
From the Project Lifesaver website:When children or adults with autism, Down’s Syndrome, Alzheimer’s Disease, or other memory-related illnesses wander from the safety of caregivers, your Sheriff’s Office and its Search and Rescue personnel are called to action.
Now, law enforcement in Washington County has another great tool to help us find and rescue your loved ones more quickly with the Project Lifesaver Program. A search that might have taken days may now be successfully concluded quickly – saving lives and thousands of taxpayer dollars!
Project Lifesaver participants will receive a plastic bracelet containing a waterproof radio transmitter. Each participant’s transmitter is assigned a radio frequency that is unique both to them and to their geographical area. The bracelets may be worn on the participant’s wrist or ankle.
When a Project Lifesaver client is discovered to be missing, a caregiver will report the situation to the Sheriff’s Office via the 9-1-1 dispatch center. Trained deputies will respond at once to search for the missing person using Project Lifesaver radio-frequency tracking equipment.
Project Lifesaver is a voluntary program. In order to qualify, the client must:
Live in Washington County;
Be diagnosed by a certified physician as having Alzheimer’s Disease, other dementia disorders, autism, Down’s Syndrome or other similar disorders; and
Be known to wander away from caregivers.
In order to participate, caregivers must agree to assume the following responsibilities:
Test the client’s radio transmitter battery daily
Check the condition of the bracelet daily
Maintain a monthly log sheet provided by the Project Lifesaver Team
Most importantly, call 911 immediately if a Project Lifesaver client goes missing!
Thanks to Angela Bradach for the tip.
The Yes on 66 & 67 campaign has released data on the measures’ impact by county. Check it out here.
Ever wondered what services are available beyond your own county? Check out the DD Coalition’s fact sheets on county services for more information.
Baker County
Benton County
Clackamas County
Clatsop County
Columbia County
Coos County
Crook County
Curry County
Deschutes County
Douglas County
Grant County
Harney County
Jackson County
Jefferson County
Josephine County
Klamath County
Lake County
Lane County
Lincoln County
Linn County
Malheur County
Marion County
Mid-Columbia: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman Counties
Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam Counties
Multnomah County
Polk County
Tillamook County
Umatilla County
Union County
Wallowa County
Washington County
Yamhill County
A new “Now What” Group is now forming in the Tigard area. This is a private-pay opportunity for individuals with Autism or Asperger Syndrome offerings tools, support, and social experience for post-high school young adults, (age 18–28 years).
About the course:
This series of 12 sessions is designed to address some of the cognitive-social issues that are common to individuals with Asperger’s, Non-verbal Learning Disorder, and High-Functioning Autism. Our group supports the inclusion of a variety of abilities. The series follows a sequence of topics that range from discussions about the member’s individual interests, to talking about plans for the future. Our final meeting is a “group date” for dinner, during which we enjoy each other’s company and apply some of the things we have discussed over the preceding weeks.
The topics that we discuss overlap from one series to the next, but this is not a comprehensive course. We often have much more material than time to cover it. There is new material in each series. As a consequence of that, and of having some new members in each series, it is a different experience every time we do it. Each series is, to some extent, tailored to the needs of the members. Many members are returning from earlier groups.
We are committed to providing an emotionally and physically safe environment. In order to maintain that safety, we discourage negative comments, and will not tolerate disparaging remarks directed at any member. We maintain confidentiality and respect for the young adults who participate in the group experience.
Each weekly meeting builds on the ones before it. In order to get the most benefit from the series, it is important that members attend every group. It is also important for the members to be able to count on each other’s support from one week to the next. We know that life happens. If you know ahead of time that you will not make many of the groups, it might be better to consider joining the next series.
Free informational meeting
Wednesday, September 9 2009, from 8:00pm to 9:00pm (at the end of clinic hours) at Southwest Family Physicians, 11900 SW Greenburg Rd., Tigard, Oregon, 97223
Meeting Schedule
Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 8:00 pm
At: Southwest Family Physicians
11900 SW Greenburg Rd.
Tigard, Oregon, 97223
$55* per 90-minute group. 12 weekly meetings.
Skills Notebook and other materials included.
*NOTE: Brokerage funds cannot be used to pay for this resource due to the rate structure.
For more information, please contact:
Peggy Piers, M.Ed.-counseling (503) 977-2411
Email: piers.p@comcast.net
Last Friday, the metro area brokerages (Independence Northwest, Inclusion, Mentor Oregon and The Arc Brokerage Services) held the 2009 Resource Fair. The fair was an enormous success. We’re still tallying the attendee count, but it will likely surpass 400! Special thanks to all the vendors who came and presented their resources to metro area brokerage customers. You can check out their services below.
Child Development and Rehab Center
Disability Accomodation Registry and Safety Zone
Disability Rights Oregon Work Incentives Program
Disabilty Rights Oregon Help America Vote Act Project
Families Supporting Independent LivingGenerations X and Y
Happy Trails Riding Center
Independent Police Review
Making Magic Tours
Mentored Learning
Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services
Off The Couch Activity Night
Oregon Office on Disability and Health
PASS
Portland Community College, Culinary Assistant Program
Special Olympics Oregon
The Companion Program/Adventures Without Limits
*NOTE: Not all vendors listed above provide services that can be paid for through Support Services funding. Some are natural resources and others are available through private pay. Check with your Personal Agent if you have questions.
Lifespan Respite of Washington County is a community-based network of accessible respite care services. Lifespan helps Washington County families and caregivers who serve individuals with special needs, regardless of age. It helps caregivers find temporary relief from the demands of providing ongoing care through referral to respite care services in their community. Please call 503-640-3489.
Services are provided without regard to income, race, ethnicity, special needs or situation.
Note:
For more information about Lifespan Respite, please call 503-640-3489.
What is Respite Care and Who Needs It?
Respite care is temporary, short-term care for an individual with special needs. Respite care is provided in order to give the caregiver a short-term break from the extraordinary demands of providing ongoing care.
Many caregivers face health and emotional problems because of these demands. Respite provides families and caregivers with the relief they need to remain healthy. It helps families stay together and continue to provide quality at-home care.
History
In July 1997 the Oregon legislature unanimously passed House Bill 2013. The law established the Oregon Lifespan Respite Care Program as part of the Oregon Department of Human Services Community Partnership Team. Lifespan’s mission was to help counties develop community-based Lifespan Respite Care Network chapters.
Benefits of Respite Care to the Caregiver
Relaxation – Provides peace of mind, helps them relax and renews their energy
Enjoyment -Allows them to enjoy favorite pastimes and pursue new activities
Stability – Helps to cope with daily responsibilities and maintain stability during crisis
Preservation -Lessens the pressures that might lead to institutionalization, divorce, neglect or abuse
Involvement -Allows people to become involved in community activities and to feel less isolated
Time-off – Allows people to take that needed vacation, spend time together and time alone
Enrichment – Makes it possible for people to strengthen individual identities and enrich their own growth
Lifespan Respite Benefits to the Community
How Can You Become A Part of Lifespan Respite?
Independence Northwest is partnering with the three other Portland metro area brokerages, Mentor Oregon, Inclusion Inc. and The Arc Brokerage Services to bring you the 2009 Metro Area Resource Fair. There will be barbecue food, games and most importantly vendors and resources for you and your family to check out. This is a great opportunity to meet other community members and expand your knowledge of the local DD community and its resources.
A mailer has gone out to all customers of the four brokerages hosting this event.
Resource Fair Time 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Where: Kaiser Permanente Town Hall – 3704 N. Interstate Ave, Portland
BBQ Time: 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Overlook Park (directly across the street)
Some quick stats on Independence Northwest’s current customer base. Independence Northwest serves 450 adults with disabilities across Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties.
Multnomah – 61% of our customer base
Clackamas – 23% of our customer base
Washington – 16% of our customer base