Updated Holiday Resource List on 211

Be sure to check out the updated list of holiday resources from the fine folks at 211.info. The list includes gifts, hot meals and food boxes.

The Latest Issue of GO! Bulletin Out Now – News on Measures 66 & 67

Check out the latest issue of the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities’ GO! Bulletin here.

What's in this issue:

A Message from the Oregon DD Coalition Chair
State Issues
Register to Vote
Training
Resources

A MESSAGE TO OUR FRIENDS

Occasionally, people ask why the DD Coalition takes positions on Ballot Measures and whether we are actually allowed to legally take these positions.

The answer to the question of whether we are legally allowed to take positions on Ballot Measures is YES. A 501c3 is allowed to take positions on ballot measures. We are not allowed to take positions on candidates running for office.

Why does the DD Coalition care about these Measures?

The DD Coalition is comprised of nearly 30 organizations representing individuals with developmental disabilities, families, providers, and advocacy groups focused on issues of importance to people with developmental disabilities and their families. Ballot Measures 66 & 67 will affect the DD community profoundly and it is important that our voice is heard. Services for people with developmental disabilities have already been cut and additional cuts will be devastating.

The DD Coalition believes that individuals with developmental disabilities, families, and those who provide support and services have a right to know about and participate in the decisions that will affect their lives. The outcome of the vote on Measures 66 & 67 will overwhelmingly affect the DD community and the quality of life for all Oregonians.

For these reasons, the DD Coalition urges you to get informed, educate your friends and neighbors, and Vote Yes on Measures 66 &67.

Margaret Theisen, Chair
Oregon DD Coalition

Free Clothing – The Closet at Roosevelt High – Dec 14th & 15th

WHAT:
A donation clothes closet for children
ages birth to 18

WHERE:
Roosevelt High School’s Shop Building.
(Entrance behind Roosevelt on
N. Smith St.)

WHEN:
* Monday, Dec. 14th 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
* Tuesday, Dec. 15th 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Thanks to Natasha Roe for the tip.

Thanksgiving Hot Meal Resources

Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington County resources listed below are courtesy of the fine folks at 211 Info. Be sure to check out their entire holiday season support list here.

MULTNOMAH COUNTY

• Elm Court Loaves & Fishes Center
  Thanksgiving meal served Thursday, November 26th, from 11am-1pm
  All are welcome. For questions, call Loaves & Fishes at 503-736-6325
• Belmont Loaves & Fishes Center
  Thanksgiving meal served on Thursday, November 26th, from 11am to 1pm
  4610 SE Belmont, Portland
  For more information, call Loaves & Fishes Centers at 503-736-6325
• St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
  Dinner, Thanksgiving Day, Thurs, Nov. 26 – in basement dining hall 1-4pm,
  7600 N. Hereford Ave., Portland
  Wheelchair accessible
• Blanchet House of Hospitality
  Thanksgiving meal will be served on Friday, Nov. 27th from 11:30am-1:30pm at 340 NW Glisan. Open to all.
• Portland Rescue Mission
  Thanksgiving meal will be served at 111 East Burnside, Portland on Wednesday, November 25th, from 5pm to approximately 8pm. All are welcome, wheelchair accessible.
• SnowCap
  Thanksgiving meal will be served at Rockwood United Methodist Church at 17805 SE Stark in Portland on Thursday, Nov. 26th from noon-2pm. All are welcome.
• St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
  Dinner will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2009 from 1-4pm, in the basement dining hall. Church is located at 7600 N. Hereford Ave., Portland. Wheelchair accessible.
• Trinity United Methodist Church
  Vegan Thanksgiving meal will be served at the church on Thursday, November 26th from 5:30-8pm.
  3915 SE Steele, Portland Entrance on Steele through courtyard.
  Free to all – donations accepted. Those needing wheelchair access call 503-777-2337.

CLACKAMAS COUNTY

• AMERICAN LEGION
  2146 SE Monroe St., Milwaukie
  Thursday, Nov. 26th, 1-4pm
  Drop-in – sit-down holiday dinner
• CLACKAMAS SERVICE CENTER
  8800 SE 80th Ave., Portland
  Thursday, Nov. 26th, 5pm
  Drop-in, sit-down holiday dinner
• ESTACADA CHRISTIAN CHURCH
  29101 SE Eagle Creek Rd., Estacada
  Thursday, Nov. 26th
  Drop-in – sit-down holiday dinner, 3-5pm
  For further information call 503-630-6707
  Transportation may be available,
  may call until 12:00 noon, November 25th – If no answer, leave message
• LAKE GROVE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
  4040 Sunset Drive, Lake Oswego
  Thursday, Nov. 26th, noon-2pm
  drop-in, sit-down holiday dinner
  Reservations preferred – call 503-636-5656
• ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH
  417 Washington St., Oregon City
  Thursday, Nov. 26th, noon-3pm
  Drop -in – sit-down holiday dinner
• SENIOR CENTERS normally operate on regular meal schedules – Contact local center for details.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

• Banks Community United Methodist Church
  Thanksgiving dinner will be served on Thanksgiving day, Thursday, November 26th, from 12noon to 2pm. The church is located at 151 Depot Street, Banks. Persons interested in helping serve or fund the dinner may contact Trisch Wentz at tomtenbouv@earthlink.net or 503-324-3610.
  Community Cafe, located at St. Anthony’s Church at 9905 SW McKenzie Street, Tigard, will be serving a Thanksgiving meal on Sunday, November 29th at 5:30pm.
• Cornelius – Centro Cultural
  Thanksgiving dinner at 12 noon on Thursday, November 26th
  1110 N. Adair St., Cornelius 503-359-0446
• Elsie Stuhr Center
  5550 SW Hall Blvd, Main Entrance, Beaverton
  Serving Thanksgiving Dinner, November 26th 11am to 1pm. (Roast Turkey and gravy, cranberry relish, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, peas and pearl onions, pumpkin pie.) Dinner is open to all.
  For more info, call Loaves & Fishes at 5063-736-6325
• Faith Café will be serving a free Thanksgiving dinner (turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie, etc.) on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th, at 6pm at the Beaverton United Methodist Church, located at 4th and Watson, Beaverton. All are welcome.
• Tigard Senior Center
  Located at 8815 SW O’Mara, Tigard. Loaves & Fishes will be hosting a traditional Thanksgiving meal from 11am to 2pm on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th. Dinner is free and open to all.
• Tualatin United Methodist Church, located at 20200 SW Martinazzi Ave., Tualatin, will be serving a Thanksgiving meal at 12noon.

SALEM: Applebee’s Donating a Portion of Proceeds to OrPTI Tomorrow

Applebee’s is helping the OrPTI Support Parents of Students Experiencing Disabilities.

November 21, 2009
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

At the  Applebee’s Restaurant located at:
747 Lancaster Drive N.E. Salem, Oregon
(S.E. Corner of Lancaster Mall Parking Lot)

Cost: $7.00 per person
Come enjoy: Pancakes, Sausage, Fruit & Choice of Drink!

$5.00 of every ticket goes directly to the
Oregon Parent Training & Information Center.
www.orpti.org

Every dollar counts, come join us for breakfast, and watch the OrPTI Staff and Board Members in action.
We’ll be your hostesses, servers, dishwashers and more!!!

For more information or to purchase your ticket please contact:
Danielle Bethell
(503) 581-8156, ext.105
or email her at dbethell@orpti.org

Empower Oregon

About Empower Oregon:

We are workers dedicated to providing quality human services and opportunities to live with independence and dignity for the individuals we serve: People with mental, emotional or behavioral disorders; adults with developmental disabilities; individuals struggling to overcome substance abuse addictions and people who are homeless. The essential services we provide help our clients become healthier, more productive members of our community.

Like the rest of the nation, Oregon is facing a severe economic crisis. Our state leaders have taken bold steps to preserve essential human services by passing new laws to increase tax fairness and ensure that corporations and the wealthy are doing their part.

We are uniting our voices now to protect and improve these vital services and hope you will join us in taking action.

Family Blogs on Autism

Autism Learning Felt – A website hosted by the mother of children with autism.  Full of resources and anecdotes.

Mothering Autism - Words of personal experience, opinion, and lessons learned about mothering a child on the spectrum with autism, his younger sister, marriage, finances, and seeking out a sense of self.

Autism, Aspergers and More, Oh My! – Following an abrupt introduction into the world of Special Needs children after the birth of my very premature (14 weeks to be precise) son I embarked on a journey. If you are reading these words I suspect you or someone you know is traveling a similar path. My intention in these pages is to share information about the therapies and treatments that are within the scope of my experience as a parent.

Autism: An Introduction for Parents and Guide to Oregon’s Human Service System

Autism: An Intro­duc­tion for Par­ents and Guide to Oregon’s Human Ser­vice Sys­tem, Fifth Edi­tion (2005)

The book­let was writ­ten and edited by two moth­ers of chil­dren with autism. It gives basic infor­ma­tion about the dis­abil­ity and sum­ma­rizes resources avail­able through the Depart­ment of Human Services.

Catherine Strong and Mary Anne Seaton first produced this booklet in 1996 as a labor of love. Both are parents of children with autism. They met when Catherine’s daughter was diagnosed 12 years ago and Mary Anne visited their home to answer the questions that Catherine and her husband Ted had about autism. That kitchen-table conversation was the inspiration for this booklet.

Download here.

Via OTAC

211 Publishes Annual Holiday Resource List

211.info has released its annual Holiday Resource List. Check it out here.

Resources include hot meals, food boxes and gift/toy programs. The list highlights Thanksgiving and Christmas resources statewide.

Thanks to Natasha Roe for the tip.

Share Your Feedback with the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities

The Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities is conducting its annual satisfaction survey. From their website:

Each year the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities conducts a brief survey to measure customer satisfaction with activities, projects and programs that the Council sponsors or co-sponsors. The results of this survey will be included in the Council’s annual report to the federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). Survey results will also help the Council plan for the coming year.

We hope you will take a few minutes to complete this survey. You only need to answer questions related to one activity, project or program that you are most familiar with. Please respond by Friday, November 27, 2009.