Dear Families, Friends, and Partners,

Welcome to March… a time when I start to think about spring, planting flowers, and celebrating the birthdays of some of my favorite people! For FACT Oregon, it means planning and hosting:

• An in-person Northern Oregon Regional Summit on Special Education (Hood River),

• Virtual trainings around the transition to kindergarten (English and Spanish),

• Two new groups of parent leaders through the Activate Your Advocacy program, and

• A wide range of other partner events (see Find Us Here).

It’s also a time when we see school districts making decisions for the next school year, from staff to budgets, and it’s an important time to stay connected to your own school district.  FACT Oregon has heard concerns from families and community partners across the state about budgetary cuts that unfairly impact students with disabilities – which we strongly oppose.  Check out our position statement and other resources below on ways to engage locally.

In community,

Christy Reese, Executive Director

School districts across Oregon are in the middle of their budgeting process for the 2024-25 school year. All children have the fundamental right to a public education, and it is imperative that funding be allocated in ways that protect this right for students with disabilities. FACT Oregon has serious concerns over proposed budget cuts in school districts across the state. We firmly oppose budgetary measures that disproportionately harm students with disabilities.

Read our Position Statement

Resources:
School District Budget Timelines
Oregon Special Education Funding
Fiscal Monitoring for Special Education Funding
Read our tips for writing or speaking to elected officials
Read 5 school board advocacy tips for parents and caregivers (understood.org)

Upcoming Trainings 

Getting Ready for Your Child's
Move to Kindergarten from
Early Childhood Special Education 

Thursday, April 4 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Sessions in English and Spanish | Virtual

Advocate, Navigate, Build & Thrive: Supporting Children with Disabilities
Tuesday, March 5 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Zoom
Beaver Family Connections hosts FACT Oregon in this virtual training on strategies for advocating on behalf of your child, promoting self-determination, and navigating support needs across the lifespan.

Exploring Your Child's Special Education Services in Spanish
Wednesday, March 6 | 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm | 905 Stewart Ave, Medford or Virtual
Thursday, March 7 | 9:30 am – 12:00 pm | 60 Hawthorne St, Medford (in person only)
Bridging Communities, The Arc of Jackson County, and Douglas ESD are hosting FACT Oregon for two trainings in Spanish on IFSPs and IEPs.

Hillsboro Early Learning Fair
Saturday, March 9 | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm | Hillsboro Civic Center, 150 Main St, Hillsboro
Stop by and say hello! FACT Oregon will be at the Hillsboro Early Learning Fair.

Eugene 4J School District’s Strength in Neurodivergence Festival
Friday, March 15 | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm | Sheldon High School, 3455 Willakenzie Rd, Eugene
FACT Oregon will be at the 2nd annual Strength in Neurodivergence Festival.

Breaking Barriers: Life Beyond Labels Conference
Wednesday, April 24 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | Deschutes County Expo Center, Redmond
The vision of Breaking Barriers is to learn how to support people experiencing disability across all areas of their life by hearing directly from self-advocates and others with expertise to share.

ODDS In-Home Service Hours Q&A

The Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) has issued an update regarding upcoming changes to in-home care hours. Read the full message here.

ODDS is hosting listening sessions to offer information about these adjustments and provide opportunities for questions and feedback.

Tips to Talk to Your Legislator
It’s important to talk to your legislators about issues that affect you! Check out this video from Self-Determination Channel for tips on how to talk to your legislator.