Dear Families, Friends, and Partners,

Get ready, everyone! As our kids go back to school, it’s a great time for parents and older youth with disabilities to learn, too! FACT Oregon has a full schedule of fall trainings that help us:

• Understand disability and special education,

• Get older youth involved in money management and in healthcare decisions, and

• Support kids to use augmentative communication.

Starting September 15, we’ll also celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Check out articles, podcasts, and videos to celebrate Hispanic and Latinx culture in the disability community. Plus, our bilingual program staff share their own cultural and family traditions!

Wishing you a fantastic September, and we hope to see you at a training or event soon!

Christy Reese, Executive Director

Trainings

Tuesdays and Wednesdays
September 17, 18, 24, 25 and October 8, 9
6:30 pm - 7:30pm | Zoom

This 6-session series helps young people with disabilities learn how to manage money and make smart choices about money. This training is for youth with disabilities (14-26) and families. Youth MUST attend.

Tuesday, October 1 | 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm | Zoom (English)
Wednesday, October 2| 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm | Zoom (Spanish)

A joint training with Oregon Family to Family Health Information Center.
Learn how the IEP can help youth with disabilities be involved in their own healthcare decisions… because making choices about health is part of becoming an adult and living a full life!

Wednesday, October 16 | 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm | Zoom

Come join us for a special parent panel! Parents will share their stories and tips on helping children to use AAC. Find out how using AAC has improved their children's lives.

Wednesdays, November 6, 13, 20 | 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm | Zoom

Join FACT Oregon for a series of three introductory trainings on disability and special education. In these sessions, you will learn key concepts related to disability, understand the purpose of special education and the six main principles of IDEA, and explore how to advocate for your child and work with their school team effectively.

Session 1 (Nov. 6): Key Concepts in Disability Justice
Discover disability justice concepts that help change views about disability. Then, explore some tools that help promote your child's self-agency and positive development.

Session 2 (Nov. 13): Understanding Special Education
Explore the purpose of special education and learn about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and its main principles.

Session 3 (Nov 20): Collaborative Communication
Building on what we learned about the six core principles of IDEA in Session 2, we will talk about the important role families play on an IEP team. We will share how you and your child can meaningfully participate in meetings and proven ways to effectively communicate, collaborate, and participate with school teams.

Attend 1 or all 3 trainings in the series.

Register: English | Español

Language Services: Trainings will be provided in English and Spanish. Please request other language supports at least fourteen (14) days before the event.

Download Flyers: English | Español

Friday, September 6 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
905 Steward Ave., Medford
(White City and Central Point locations also have open houses)
For more information, call 541-494-7800.

Sunday, September 22 | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Millennium Park, Lake Oswego
Learn More and Register

PODCAST: How the ADA National Network Connects with the Hispanic and Latinx Disability Communities
Learn how the ADA National Network and its Multicultural Outreach Committee teach the Hispanic disability community about their rights under the ADA. They also share efforts to help Hispanic people with disabilities live independently, take part in communities, and find jobs.

Listen (In Spanish)

ARTICLE: ¡PRESENTE! Disability Justice and U.S. Latinx Art
In this article, author Rocío Aranda-Alvarado highlights  artists who “recognize the contributions of disabled people across various fields of work.”

Read the article

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, get to know our Bilingual Program Specialists Britania Vazquez and Maria Rangel!