Disability Rights Oregon

03/12/2026

36 years ago today, 60 people with disabilities abandoned their wheelchairs and other mobility devices and crawled up the U.S. Capitol steps to demand the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) be signed. It worked. 💪

We've fought this hard before and we'll do it again.

👉🏾 Share this post and let people know: disability rights are human rights, and our community is not going anywhere!

📸 Photo courtesy Tom Olin

03/11/2026

Uber is rolling out new features aimed at making it easier for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to get from one place to another more independently.

👉 Get the story from Disability Scoop >

Uber is rolling out new features aimed at making it easier for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to get from one place to another more independently.

03/08/2026

Big news out of Oregon's legislative session — and it matters for thousands of people across our state! ❤️

After 35 days, lawmakers protected Medicaid services — also known as the Oregon Health Plan — for thousands of Oregonians with disabilities, saved the Parental Income Disregard program that helps families avoid impossible choices, and passed SB 1576, a landmark law requiring all state-funded housing to meet federal accessibility standards.

These aren't just policy wins. They're real protections for our neighbors, parents, and kids who depend on these services every day.

Thank you to everyone who shared their opinion with lawmakers and helped spread the word! 💪

03/06/2026

🎉 BIG WIN FOR ACCESSIBLE HOUSING! Senate Bill 1576 has passed, and Oregon's housing future just got more accessible for everyone!!

Whether you testified in person, showed up on screen, or helped spread the word, your action sent a clear message to lawmakers: people with disabilities belong in every conversation about Oregon's housing future. That message landed.

Here's what SB 1576 will do:

✅ Help more people with disabilities find livable homes
✅ Ensure state-funded development projects include accessible units

Big housing developers fought hard against this bill. They had lobbyists, money, and influence. You had the power to act — and your willingness to use it made all the difference.

Thank you. ❤️

03/05/2026

A new $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education is set to expand the University of Oregon’s work helping students with disabilities transition from high school into jobs and independent living.
https://nbc16.com/news/local/uo-receives-20-million-education-department-grant-to-serve-youth-with-disabilities

03/05/2026

Lawmakers passed a bill updating the state’s Foster Children’s Bill of Rights.

03/04/2026

📢 Please note that Disability Rights Oregon's office and phone lines will be temporarily closed this Thursday and Friday. We'll be back on Monday, March 9 at 9:00 AM.

Thank you for your patience. We look forward to connecting with you soon!

03/04/2026

🙌 YOU made this happen, Oregon!

The short legislative session is almost over — and thanks to everyone in our community who emailed, testified, and spread the word, TWO dangerous bills have already been defeated:

❌ HB 4003 would have used a discriminatory "prioritized list" to decide whose care the Oregon Health Plan covers.
❌ HB 4106 would have allowed law enforcement to use force against people in mental health crises — without accountability.

Both defeated because of YOU. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts — keep sharing, keep speaking up, and keep showing up!

03/03/2026

Always will be.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and this year's theme is "We’re Here: Then, Now, Always." The theme highlights the fact that people with developmental disabilities have always been - and always will be - part of our communities.

This month, we'll share resources people with developmental disabilities can use to stay in control of their lives and be part of their communities.

03/03/2026

🌟 March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! 🌟

Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities, Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition, and The Arc Oregon are leading Oregon's celebration with events kicking off today at noon! Check these links for the full schedule:

🔗 English: https://tinyurl.com/4rrvjp22
🔗 Espanol: https://tinyurl.com/yx6vznsk

We're sharing this because DD awareness matters, and not just in March. It matters every single day. We work on developmental disabilities issues all year long, including monitoring living conditions at facilities to make sure people are safe and their rights are upheld.

One month isn't enough. Let's commit to showing up for this community always. ❤️

03/02/2026

📣𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵📣 Introducing Oregon's 2026 DD awareness poster & theme: “𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗨𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗨𝘀.” Join us! —We're kicking off our yearlong campaign with a virtual session tomorrow March 3rd and an in-person celebration in Salem on March 10. Get all the details here: https://www.ocdd.org/dd-awareness/

Share how you show up for yourself, or others have a chance to win a $50 gift card! Join us for our virtual kickoff tomorrow, March 3rd, 12-1 PM and learn how to use our toolkit to tell your story: https://bit.ly/Oregon-DD-Awareness



Join us for all our March events:

Virtual Kick Off Event:
Tues, March 3, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Join us for a reading of the 2026 Developmental Disability Awareness Month Proclamation by OCDD Chair Kelly McCauley and a sneak peek at the 2026 poster.
Get access our campaign toolkit and shareable templates to add your own brand and photos!

Main Event—In-Person DD Awareness Celebration:
Tues, March 10, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Lobby Area, Barbara Roberts Human Services Building Salem, OR 📍 500 Summer St. NE, Salem 97301​
Join us in celebrating with special guest speakers, unveiling the 2026 poster, cake and refreshments

Virtual Self-Advocate Panel Discussions (2 Options):
Tues, March 17, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM, or
Tues, March 24, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Discussions will center around "Nothing About Us Without Us," highlighting advocacy and meaningful representation by people with IDD in all spaces where decisions are made, and address barriers.

Virtual Spanish Language Discussion:
Thursday, March 19, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
This session will be facilitated in Spanish. Registration Required.

Get event details & links here: https://www.ocdd.org/dd-awareness/

03/01/2026

When the System Cuts Care, We Fight Back 💪

When the Oregon Needs Assessment (ONA) slashed Erin’s home care hours by nearly 40 percent, her family faced an impossible choice—until Pat, Erin’s mom and caregiver—called Disability Rights Oregon. Their story shows why having the right support through the ONA process can make all the difference.

👉🏼 Read Erin's Story & Learn Your ONA Rights: droregon.org/advocacy/finding-hope-in-the-fight-for-care-one-familys-story

When the Oregon Needs Assessment slashed home care hours by nearly 40 percent, one family faced an impossible choice. Here's how advocacy made all the difference.