Disability Rights Oregon

04/07/2026

Autonomous vehicles could expand transportation options for people with disabilities — but only if accessibility is required from the beginning.

The City of Portland’s current proposal does not guarantee equal, direct service for wheelchair users. As written, accessibility is treated as a goal, not a requirement.

That leaves too much room for companies to fall short.

Wheelchair access is a civil right. It must be built into the system — not added later or outsourced.

We’re urging the City to pause and make changes that:
• Require companies to provide their own wheelchair-accessible vehicles
• Ensure equal service in availability, response times, service area, and pricing
• Strengthen safety and liability protections

📧 If you’re in Portland, email a public comment by Friday, April 10 to
pbotpolicycomments@portlandoregon.gov

Then stay updated at: portland.gov/transportation/code-rule-updates/news/2026/2/18/updates-trn-1434-automated-vehicles

Thank you for sharing your opinion and this post, so more people can weight in!

04/07/2026

Warning: post contains sensitive subject matter.

Every survivor of sexual assault deserves to be believed—including those with disabilities who are too often overlooked.

To every survivor reading this:
We believe you.
We support you.
You are not alone. 💜

To get help for you or a loved one, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit www.RAINN.org.

04/07/2026

Since 2021, there have been eight incidents or patient deaths at the Oregon State Hospital. Every investigation that followed found significant federal compliance issues, records show.

The Oregonian's homelessness and mental health reporter Lillian Mongeau Hughes recently spoke with whistleblowers and other employees at the state hospital who believe recent changes will not fix the hospital’s culture or protect patients.

👉 Read the whole story and share your experiences with The Oregonian at https://ow.ly/NWR450YE2PH

04/05/2026

Are you or someone you love affected by brain injury in Oregon? The Oregon Brain Injury Council wants YOUR voice at the table.

The Council is a diverse group of people with lived experience: family members, caregivers, state agencies, and community providers — all working together to improve services and supports for people with brain injury across Oregon. They especially want to hear from people in rural communities, Native and immigrant communities, young adults, seniors, and those with experience in the justice system.

Council members meet virtually once a month for 90 minutes, share their expertise, and help shape real change statewide.

👉 Interested? Email Megan Jones at jonesm@cbirt.org or visit tinyurl.com/OR-brain-injury-council

04/04/2026

🎉 May 8th in downtown Portland — and you won't want to miss this one!

We're bringing NPR investigative journalist and author Joseph Shapiro to Portland — the man behind No Pity, the groundbreaking book that helped shape the modern disability rights movement.

And the night only gets better from there ...

✨ Ready & Rising: A Celebration & Fundraiser
Join us for drinks, tasty treats, fun raffles, and inspiring stories from Oregon's 2026 Partners in Policymaking© graduates — self-advocates and parents who are already turning their training into real policy wins for Oregon's disability community. Joseph Shapiro closes the night as our keynote speaker.

⭐ Power Hour: An Intimate Reception (Add-On)
Get there early for a rare small-group conversation with Joseph Shapiro before the main event. Only a handful of spots are available.

Huge thanks to our presenting sponsor, Kuni Foundation, and our generous sponsors — City of Portland, OR's We Are Better Together program, NW Natural, Metro, TriMet, and yes&ersand.

🗓️ Six weeks out and tickets are going fast. Get yours today!

🔗 Ready & Rising: droregon.org/ready-and-rising
🔗 Power Hour: droregon.org/power-hour

04/02/2026

04/02/2026

There are currently two measles outbreaks in the Portland area. You can find a measles vaccination near you by visiting this webpage: https://www.easyvax.com/0

1. Click "+ Expand" under "Additional Vaccines"
2. Choose "MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
3. Enter your zip code under "Find a Pharmacy" and click the button.
4. Choose your location and make an appointment

Thank you for working to keep yourself and people with disabilities healthy!

04/02/2026

Oregon Health Authority and Clackamas County health officials have identified a measles exposure location and are recommending people who believe they were exposed to talk to their health care provider about their risks.

People might have been exposed if they were at the following location at this date and time:

Lark Café, 1980 Willamette Falls Drive #120, West Linn, between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, March 27.

People who were at this location during these dates and time period should immediately contact their health care provider and let them know they may have been exposed to someone who has measles. The health care provider can determine whether you are immune to measles based on your vaccination record, age, or laboratory evidence of prior infection.

Learn more here, including about an additional exposure site in Gresham (Multnomah County) here: https://bit.ly/4c2vMGu

04/02/2026

📣 Big news for our I/DD community: our Listening Sessions are going virtual in 2026!

If you have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and are 18 or older, we want to hear directly from you. What's working for you in Oregon? What isn't? Your lived experience is powerful, and it shapes the work we do every day.

Going virtual means it's easier than ever to join. No travel, no barriers, just your voice and your story.

🔗 Registration links and session dates are coming soon. To make sure you're the first to know, subscribe to our newsletter at droregon.org/subscribe and we'll send the details straight to your inbox.

We can't wait to connect with you! Know someone who should be part of this? Tag them or share this post so no one misses out.

03/31/2026

‼️¡Únete a nosotros hoy mismo!‼️31 DE MARZO, de 12:00 a 13:00 h en Zoom: https://bit.ly/Oregon-DD-Awareness — ¡Para nuestro resumen virtual sobre la concienciación sobre la enfermedad de Huntington y nuestro primer sorteo de tarjetas de regalo!

—
Trae tu almuerzo y únete a nosotros para:
Escuchar resúmenes de todos nuestros eventos del

, incluyendo nuestras dos mesas redondas de autogestores y la sesión en español. 

Ver todas las diferentes formas en que todos ustedes participaron con sus historias bajo el lema "Nada sobre nosotros sin nosotros."

Descubrir cómo puedes mantener este impulso durante el resto del año.

Habrá interpretación al español disponible. Por favor, contáctenos lo antes posible si tiene alguna otra solicitud de interpretación.

—
¡Gracias, Oregon Health Authority (OHA)!

Las tarjetas de regalo de DD Awareness 2026 se financian a través de la subvención del Programa de Colaboración para la Salud Comunitaria de la OHA, concedida para apoyar los eventos de 2026 y la participación en la campaña.

—
¡Sigue participando y compartiendo!

La concienciación sobre la discapacidad intelectual es algo que hacemos todo el año, por lo que continuaremos con nuestra campaña durante el resto del año. Sigue compartiendo por qué el tema de este año es importante para ti y por qué te comprometes con esta causa, utilizando los hashtags:

¡Comparte cómo te comprometes contigo mismo o con los demás y tendrás la oportunidad de ganar una tarjeta de regalo de 50 dólares! Visita nuestra página de concienciación sobre la discapacidad intelectual para obtener más información.
Consigue nuestro kit de herramientas aquí: https://www.ocdd.org/dd-awareness-toolkit/

03/31/2026

Congress is moving forward with legislation that could make it significantly harder for people with disabilities to vote — and we need your help to stop it.

The SAVE Act, SAVE America Act, and related bills would add new proof-of-citizenship and photo ID requirements for voter registration, in-person voting, and mail ballots. For more than 40 million eligible voters with disabilities in this country, these aren't minor inconveniences. They are barriers that could silence their voices entirely.

Voting by mail and accessible voting technology are civil rights — not conveniences. Every eligible voter deserves full, equal access to the ballot.

Tell your senators and representatives to oppose these bills and protect the rights of every voter. Use the link below to send your message today.

🔗 secure.everyaction.com/P7gRaEUbc0ycEEmKANeeAw2

Share this post — the more voices, the stronger the message.

03/28/2026

Your opinion matters. Whether you're rallying for accessible infrastructure, inclusive employment, or basic dignity, you have the constitutional right to make your views heard through peaceful protest.

That said, knowing your rights before you go is just as important as showing up. Law enforcement can place certain narrow restrictions on how and where protests happen, but they cannot silence the message. Understanding those boundaries keeps you safer and makes the disability rights movement stronger.

We've put together a Know Your Rights Guide covering what protections you have, what police are permitted to do, and how to exercise your voice with confidence.

👉🏾 Read our free guide at droregon.org/disability-rights-oregon-resources/attending-a-protest >

Then share this information with others who need it. ✊