March with FACT Oregon:
News and Resources

Dear FACT Oregon Community,

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month—a time to celebrate and lift up self-advocacy and ensure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have the supports they need to lead a good life. At FACT Oregon, we’re proud to partner with coalitions and community leaders across the state who are laser focused on this work.

This month, we’re highlighting tools for families and youth self-advocates, updates about DD services, and ways to make your voice heard about the issues that are important to you. Plus, upcoming trainings - including our 2026 Special Education Virtual Conference on April 4 - and expanded self-paced courses available in multiple languages.

Join us to learn, connect, and act this March—and beyond.

In community,

Christy Reese
Executive Director, FACT Oregon

Our most popular trainings are offered online to learn at your own pace and in your own space. These include interactive modules that test your knowledge:

• Understanding Special Education: Introducing the Six Core Principles of IDEA (English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Somali, Ukrainian, Vietnamese)

• Overview of Developmental Disability (DD) Services in Oregon (English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Somali, Ukrainian, Vietnamese)

• Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Supports in School (English, Spanish)

• Manifestation Determination Review (MDRs), Explained (English, Spanish)

• Emergency Preparedness Planning for Families of Youth with Disabilities (English, Spanish)

Multilingual Formats: See all offerings here.

The Oregon Consortium of Family Networks is made up of six member organizations, including FACT, with dedicated funding to support work in specific regions. Together, we are committed to providing support and resources to anyone with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD), regardless of where they live.

Learn more and get support

Confused by DD Services?

FACT Oregon has a self-paced online course that helps you learn how to access DD services, the types of support available, and how DD services can work with family, community, and personal strengths. Now available in eight languages!

• Go to the On-Demand Trainings page to take the course.

Multnomah County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services has a new animated PSA to help explain what services can look like.

• Watch the video.

ODDS has a new director! Congratulations to Acacia McGuire Anderson!

Acacia’s first day was February 18, and we’re excited to partner with her and the entire ODDS team to grow and improve services and supports for people with I/DD.

• Read about Acacia.

Alyssa Massie is a Youth Ambassador who completed a 13-week training with the Center on Youth Voice, Youth Choice. In this video, she shares her project on Supported Decision-Making in Oregon.

Watch the video

The Self-Advocate Guide to Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Services is a workbook created by the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services for individuals with IDD. It covers the I/DD service planning process. Use it to improve your self-advocacy and service experience!

Get the guide