Disability Rights Oregon

01/23/2026

❄️ WINTER PREPAREDNESS: Are You Ready for Oregon's Unpredictable Weather?

This winter started warm and rainy, but recent storms brought fresh snow to the Cascades—and more Pacific storms are definitely on the way before spring! ⛈️

For people with disabilities, winter readiness takes extra planning. Ask yourself:

❓ What if an ice storm causes a long power outage?
❓ How will you stay connected during an emergency?
❓ Can you get where you need to go if roads are icy?
❓ Do you have a backup plan for life-sustaining equipment?

👉 Our Winter Preparedness Guide has EVERYTHING you need: droregon.org/advocacy/winter-preparedness-guide

Don't wait for the next storm. Take a few minutes TODAY to review our checklist and protect yourself and your loved ones. ❤️

Our Winter Preparedness Guide has everything you need—from dressing for Oregon’s changing weather to signing up for county emergency alerts, planning for medical equipment backup, and finding accessible evacuation routes.

01/22/2026

🏛️ The Oregon Legislature convenes in DAYS! Are you ready?

The 2026 legislative session is about to begin, and we're gearing up for critical battles ahead. We'll be fighting to pass legislation that makes Oregon a better place for people with disabilities to live, work, and play—and we'll be opposing any bills that would set our state back. 💪

ISSUES WE'RE WATCHING:

✅ Accessible housing
✅ Medicaid cuts
✅ Oregon's Stabilization and Crisis Unit
✅ And much more!

👉 WE NEED YOU! Sign our petitions TODAY so you're ready to take action in the coming weeks when it counts most: droregon.org/take-action

You have power. The Legislature needs to hear from people with disabilities and those who support them. Together, we can create real change!

🔗 Sign up now: droregon.org/take-action

Take Action and Stay Updated There are lots of ways you can take action. Share why an issue is important to you, follow us, sign petitions and ask your legislator to support the rights of people with disabilities, and subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay informed. Advocate for Accessible Hous...

01/20/2026

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS! Portland Metro IDD Listening Sessions happening THIS WEEK!

Are you 18+ with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities? We want to hear from YOU!

📅 TUESDAY, JANUARY 21:
10:30am-12pm - Hillsboro Brookwood Library
3-4:30pm - Beaverton City Library

📅 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22:
10:30am-12pm - Gresham Library
1:30-3pm - Oak Lodge Library

Share what's working in Oregon and what needs to change. Your experiences and insights are invaluable to our community.

➡️ More sessions coming to Roseburg and beyond: droregon.org/idd-listening-sessions >

❓ Questions? Email: ciacangelo@droregon.org

01/19/2026

Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy and the strategies he pioneered that shaped our own movement.

While people with disabilities were not included in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, disability advocates learned from Dr. King's example. We adopted nonviolent protest and strategic use of media to advocate for our community—tactics that led to landmark achievements like Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The 1977 Section 504 sit-in, where disabled advocates occupied federal buildings, drew directly from civil rights movement tactics. We learned the power of peaceful demonstration and telling our own stories.

Today, we honor Dr. King by carrying forward the methods he taught us as we continue working to make Oregon a place where people with disabilities can live, work, and play.

01/17/2026

📣 THANK YOU to everyone who has already shared how Medicaid cuts will impact you and your families! Your opinions are being heard.

If you haven't had a chance yet, there's still time to make sure decision-makers understand what Medicaid services mean to our community. It takes just 5-10 minutes.

Your stories aren't just statistics—they're lives, families, and futures. Whether you're a person with a disability, a family caregiver, a direct support professional, or an advocate, your perspective matters.

👉 Share your story: tinyurl.com/bdhke6hv

Let's make sure Oregon's disability community isn't left out of these critical conversations!

01/15/2026

🩹 Flu season is hitting hard. This map shows influenza activity across the U.S. for the week ending January 3, 2026 — and most of the country is experiencing HIGH to VERY HIGH levels of flu activity.

For people with disabilities, the flu can pose serious health risks and lead to complications. But there's good news: it's not too late to get your flu vaccine!

The flu vaccine is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your community. If you have questions about accessibility at vaccination sites or need accommodations, don't hesitate to ask your healthcare provider.

❤️ Getting vaccinated protects you AND the people around you, including those who may be immunocompromised or unable to get vaccinated.

Find a vaccination location near you: vaccinefinder.org/

01/14/2026

This week in Portland! Your lived experience and advocacy expertise can help ensure police responses to people experiencing mental health crises are compassionate, effective, and rights focused.

Portland’s Behavioral Health Unit Advisory Committee (BHUAC) reviews policies, trainings, and response strategies that directly impact our community's safety and wellbeing.

Attend the next quarterly Community Engagement Meeting to share your perspective and learn more about committee members and their work. There will be time for questions, and ASL interpretation will be provided.

👉🏼 Next meeting: Thursday, January 15, 6:00-7:00 pm
👉🏾 Attend online: tinyurl.com/yvbsd9uc >

01/14/2026

Email from Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities Acompáñenos el VIERNES 16 DE ENERO A MEDIODÍA para un almuerzo y aprendizaje: Horario de oficina: ¡comparta sus inquietudes u obtenga apoyo para

01/13/2026

💐 Sometimes the smallest gestures mean the most.

Our legal director received this heartfelt thank-you card from young clients she's been working with. They drew flowers and wrote: "Thanks for being so awesome and caring. You made a big difference for us."

Moments like these remind our team why advocacy work matters so much. Behind every case is a real person, a real family, and real lives that can be changed when someone shows up and fights for what's right.

To all the people with disabilities we serve: thank you for trusting us. ❤️

01/10/2026

NEXT WEEK: Help Improve Oregon's Foster Care System

As part of enforcing the Wyatt B. v. Kotek settlement—our class-action case to transform Oregon's foster care system for thousands of children and teens—we're hosting in-person listening sessions this year. Participating foster youth will receive a $50 gift card and food will be provided.

Two Looking Glass campuses in Eugene are first, and more locations will be announced soon. Please choose one session below to attend, and RSVP by emailing welcome@droregon.org:

📅 January 14, 2026: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Looking Glass RCC West, 550 River Road, Eugene

📅 January 14, 2026: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Looking Glass RCC East, 2655 MLK Jr. Blvd., Eugene

Your lived experience matters. Help us create lasting change for Oregon's foster youth.

01/08/2026

We love this, Apple! Thank you :)

https://youtu.be/KmFPWxjmnqE?si=_0k1hVvBOxaAd8ue

Apple products are designed for every student. Accessibility features like Magnifier on Mac, Accessibility Reader, Braille Access, VoiceOver, Sound & Name Re...

01/06/2026

Start the New Year with a New Job! Join DRO's team working to make Oregon more welcoming for people with disabilities.

If you meet key qualifications—or are interested but unsure—we encourage you to apply and fight for independence and opportunity.

👉

Employment Opportunities Imagine for a moment, a world where every person feels equal to another and a sense of belonging in their communities and places of work. At Disability Rights Oregon, this is more than just a dream. This is our life’s work. We envision a world in which people with disabili...