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FACT Oregon

Empowering families experiencing disability.

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Acceptence

Team Ruby’s Story

November 21, 2019 by Molly Williamson

Have you ever struggled to participate in an activity that was inaccessible to you? Have you felt or seen the tears, frustration, and sadness that result?

At FACT Oregon, we interact with families every day whose children are told they can’t participate. Or only in a limited way. Or only in a certain place. Or only if it’s not “too hard.”

FACT Oregon created the All Ability Tri4Youth to provide youth with and without disabilities an opportunity to compete together in a triathlon open and accessible to all. Participation in community sports and recreation is a key aspect of pursuing a whole life for many families. All our kids deserve to participate in a way that celebrates their effort, recognizes barriers, and addresses their needs so that they can be successful.

Read this story from Angie Sims about her daughter’s experience:

“It is often difficult for Ruby to participate in organized sports or events. She has a hard time following concepts and directions. Ruby has several diagnoses that help explain why Ruby “does life” a bit differently — epilepsy, autism, ADHD…but for us, it’s just Ruby! This year Ruby, participated for the first time in FACT Oregon’s All Ability Tri4Youth. She had fun, and so did we!  

Woman and girl running together at the All Ability Tri4Youth
Ruby and her caregiver Dawn

Ruby succeeds best when she can watch and then do and when she is familiar with a venue.  Thankfully, FACT Oregon allowed participants to come the day before to drop off bikes, see the facilities, and look at the course. They shared a social story and communication board, and we watched a video about the event. We talked about how everyone participates differently. Ruby felt very independent and empowered participating with her teammate and caregiver Dawn while we cheered her on from the sidelines.  Although she was nervous, she was also excited, and with everyone cheering for her, Ruby felt like a star! She was able to take that energy and stay focused through the finish line.  

At the All Ability Tri4Youth, everyone is a winner. Every participant is genuinely supported, and the event is relaxed, sensory friendly, and with no expectations except to have FUN. And really, that is our main focus in life. At other events, we feel the need to explain Ruby’s behaviors or teach her social norms she doesn’t fully grasp. But at FACT Oregon, we just see acceptance.

For us, the All Ability Tri4Youth is a fun way to be a part of something bigger. It is truly magical to be involved in a community that allows us all to recognize life for what it really is. I give thanks for Ruby leading me to this place in life and thank FACT Oregon for the ongoing education, support, and unique events to allow us to come together and witness greatness in all of its forms!”

 

But FACT Oregon needs your help. The All Ability Tri4Youth is one of many ways we support families and connect them to resources and community. Our trainings and peer support line help families get information and guidance on special education, disability services, behavior, assistive technology, visioning, community access, planning for adulthood, and more. This year, we are traveling across the state with our free day-long Regional Learning Summits. And our support team is busy connecting with families by phone and email in English and Spanish, and working through interpreters in other languages.

 

If you value being part of a community that, as Angie says, “allows us to come together,” then the time to donate is now.

 

Your generosity ensures our ongoing ability to support families experiencing disability. 

We are grateful to The Collins Foundation for a 1:1 CHALLENGE MATCH.

Donate today to take advantage of this 1:1 match of new and increased gifts!

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Acceptence, advocacy, Assistive technology, Athlete, Belonging, Building Community, communication needs, Community, Community Building, dignity of risk, donate, Dream Big Dreams, inclusion, Independence, Letter board, personal story, Rock Star, special needs, support FACT, Tri4Youth, Volunteer, whole life, Winner

Making Sense of Sensory Showings

April 16, 2019 by Molly Williamson

By Nicole Silverman

“There’s no adult special needs grocery store, restaurant, or post office.”

I’ve heard this phrase several times and it used to HAUNT me! Especially at a time in my life when I already felt like we couldn’t leave the house for ANYTHING because of my son’s behaviors and medical issues. I remember the day my husband and I called “being out in society” quits! It was summer, we had just moved into a new neighborhood and my son was 3 years old.  We were walking a few blocks to a neighborhood picnic… our first one! My son, Benjamin was in the wagon and as soon as we got to the small park with all the people – his screaming began… and didn’t stop. It felt like all 50 some people fell completely silent and were just watching us. I remember sweat literally pouring down my face and so were the tears. Nobody said hi, nobody came over to see if they could help, we were like weird aliens coming to earth for the first time. But what happened next, really sealed the “never leaving our house again” for both of us. Benjamin had severe acid reflux and when he became really upset, he would throw up! And he did… loud and lots and all three of us were covered in it. We could not leave the park soon enough. Walking quickly back to our house we decided we were done going out in public. We’d just stay home… FOREVER!

This is such a bad place to be… and if you are in this place right now in your journey you are not alone. But do not give up hope! Although it’s not for the faint of heart and it’s certainly not easy, COMMUNITY is worth it! Living a WHOLE life is worth it and your child learning to do hard things to be included in society is worth it the most!  

One of the reasons I LOVE working at FACT Oregon is how we partner with communities to provide what we call “soft landings”.  Our next one is April 28th at Northwest Children’s Theatre, for their sensory showing of Tenali, the Royal Trickster. What is a sensory showing? Basically, the lights are dimmed, the sound turned down, often times it’s a shorter time frame and ANYTHING goes. Seriously. It’s the perfect place to come and do something that might be very hard and I promise, you will not have 50 strangers looking at you like aliens! I remember our first time going to a sensory showing… just coming into the doors and taking a seat was a success for us. Literally, we left after 10 minutes. Now, we can come to the shorter plays and stay the entire time. We invite friends to go with us and practice keeping our shoes on the ENTIRE time. (my kid is still the loudest one there!)

Benjamin and our family at a sensory showing

So what happens for our family at those events that aren’t sensory? Sometimes we’re successful, and sometimes it’s really hard, dare I say disastrous.  But we are working daily towards getting to all events through many avenues. Does society need to be more accepting of those who need different supports to be involved in community? Absolutely! And I will continue to advocate and educate in every way possible. My goal as Benjamin’s mom is to never stop trying, learning, exploring ways to help him overcome some of his own obstacles and keep moving him forward with the right supports to be as successful as possible in the future.

My biggest encouragement to all families, especially with those who deal with big behaviors like we do… Don’t give up! Keep moving forward! Try it! And when it goes terribly wrong, take a break, call us here at FACT, investigate and rethink strategy… and try it again from a different angle.

p.s. My son’s 10 now… last summer at our neighborhood picnic we walked there with our neighbors/friends we now know, stayed and ate dinner and had a blast! Don’t give up! Want to join us on April 28th for NWCT’s sensory showing of Tenali, the Royal Trickster? Click for free tickets and details!

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Acceptence, advocacy, advocate, autism, Behavior, Belonging, Building Community, Cerebral Palsy, communication needs, Community, dignity of risk, Event, FACT Oregon, family, friends, Future, inclusion, meaningful participation, Northwest Childrens theater, personal story, sensory needs, Sensory Shows, support FACT, Supports, try hard things, When we stretch we grow, whole life, you can do hard things

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FACT Oregon
2475 SE Ladd Ave. Suite 430
Portland, OR 97214

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