Albertina Kerr

04/03/2026

We spent a day at the circus, and yes, the elephants were definitely a highlight. 🐘

People we support and staff enjoyed the show and made the most of the day in their own way.

04/02/2026

Today is 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲! A time to recognize how autistic people experience the world and how society shows up in response.

Autism is a spectrum, meaning there is no single way of communicating, learning, sensing, or interacting. Each person’s experience is different. Too often, gaps in understanding create barriers in healthcare, education, workplaces, and everyday life.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. It means advocating for neuroinclusive policies and environments. That includes health systems that listen, schools that adapt, workplaces that value different ways of thinking, and public spaces that are welcoming and accessible.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬.

For those interested in learning more, especially around common myths, check out this article: https://ow.ly/BiMQ50YCyoA

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition affecting communication and behaviour, impacting about 1 in 68 children in India. Experts stress it is widely misunderstood, with myths around vaccines, parenting, and “cures” lacking a scientific basis. Early signs like delayed...

03/31/2026

As March comes to a close, a reminder that 𝗗𝗗 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 is not limited to just one month. It continues all year.

Our Self-Advocacy Coordinators at Albertina Kerr say it best:

“𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘝𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘗𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘚𝘌𝘓𝘍-𝘈𝘋𝘝𝘖𝘊𝘈𝘊𝘠!”

03/29/2026

People supported in one of Kerr’s group homes recently spent time at Bauman’s Farm & Garden, meeting local deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and exploring the vehicles up close.

Staff and those they support enjoyed the outing together, taking it in at their own pace.

Being part of the community means having opportunities to show up, take part, and experience everyday life.

03/27/2026

8,435 apples. 3,136 pears. 🍎🍐

That’s what a group from Kerr’s Inclusive Day Services repacked during a recent volunteer shift at the Oregon Food Bank.

At our Powell location, participants chose to spend the day volunteering—bagging 9,643 pounds of food alongside other community members and helping provide 357 meals per volunteer for individuals and families across Oregon. 🙌

03/24/2026

There’s something special about simple moments.🌱

One of the individuals in Kerr’s residential program enjoys visiting and feeding the chickens. It’s a chance to slow down, spend time outside, and connect with something they enjoy.

That’s what person-centered support is all about—paying attention to what matters to each individual. And sometimes, it’s a handful of feed and a flock of curious chickens.

During Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, it’s a good reminder that inclusion is about making space for everyday experiences, preferences, and passions. Everyone deserves opportunities to do what they enjoy and feel a sense of belonging.

03/22/2026

Use your Oregon tax refund to bring hope to young people in crisis.

If you’re getting an Oregon tax refund this year, there’s an easy way to make a meaningful difference. You can donate all or part of your refund to 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬’ 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 through the 𝐎𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐟𝐟 — and help provide life‑saving support for youth across the state.

Last year, 213 young people received life-saving support through Kerr’s Crisis Psychiatric Care program. More than 90% were able to return home or move to a lower level of care.

Every donation — big or small — helps make this possible.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧:
1️⃣ On 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐎𝐑‑𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐄, find “Albertina Kerr Kids’ Crisis Care” on line 16 (charity code 26)
2️⃣ Enter the amount you want to contribute
3️⃣ Transfer that total to your main tax form:
• OR‑40, line 49
• OR‑40‑N, line 74
• OR‑40‑P, line 73

👉 Download Schedule OR-DONATE here:

Your Oregon state income tax refund can make a significant impact for youth in crisis. If you are receiving a refund this year, please consider donating all or part of it to Albertina Kerr Kids’ Crisis Care through Oregon’s Charitable Checkoff. Kerr’s Crisis Psychiatric Care program supports y...

03/21/2026

𝟕 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲.

That’s how much more often people with 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 (𝐈/𝐃𝐃) experience loneliness compared to the general public. Their families can feel lonely too, often cut off from support.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲, we’re talking about it.

This year’s theme — 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 — reminds us that loneliness is more than a sad feeling. It affects health, happiness, and overall well‑being, increasing anxiety, depression, and physical health risks.

𝐓𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬:
• 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: To be truly included in schools, jobs, and community life. Not just “being there,” but taking part.
• 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬: To feel welcome and valued, to be invited to join in, and to be safe from stigma.
• 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬: To have strong, supportive relationships with friends, family, and partners.

At 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐫, we see every day how person‑centered moments build connection and belonging.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐥𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦.

03/20/2026

Every month at Kerr’s Inclusive Day Services, the rhythm of the day shifts when a cart of instruments rolls in and Lauren C***s from Ethos Music Center arrives. 🎶

Music becomes connection, expression, and joy, with each person taking part in the way that feels right to them.

During Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, moments like these show why choice, opportunity, and meaningful participation matter.

👉 Read more: https://ow.ly/4jSm50YwXie

Every month at Kerr’s Inclusive Day Services, the rhythm of the day shifts when a cart of instruments rolls in and Lauren C***s, Program Director from Ethos Music Center, arrives. Across the Oatfield, Powell, and Beaverton sites, participants gather for a class focused on exploring music through m...

03/18/2026

Irish soda bread, shamrock stew, and plenty of hands-on learning made for a fun St. Patrick’s Day in Upskills, one of the programs within Kerr’s Inclusive Day Services. ☘️🍞🥣

Participants spent time in the kitchen practicing cooking skills, trying new recipes, and sharing the experience together.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and opportunities like this mean building skills, making choices, and taking part in everyday experiences that matter.

03/16/2026

Read the latest update from Kerr CEO Allison Stark.

From advocacy at the Oregon State Capitol to a recent Governing Board retreat focused on Kerr’s future, this update highlights recent progress and looks ahead to what’s next.

It also includes an upcoming event on neurodiversity and mental health, along with community partnerships that continue to shape our work.

👉 Click to read more: https://www.albertinakerr.org/notes-from-kerrs-ceo-39/

Dear Friend of Kerr, March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month—a time to uplift the voices, rights, and contributions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. While this month brings attention to inclusion, at Kerr it reflects a year‑round commitment: everyone deserv...

03/14/2026

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month — and at our Inclusive Day Services (Powell location) we’re highlighting everyday moments where people choose how they want to learn, connect, and spend their time.

This week, Upskills participants chose to build their keyboard skills — practical tech practice that supports the goals that matter to them.

And a group of participants went to Clackamas Town Center for an afternoon of board games and coloring — simple, social activities that offer choice, community, and a break from the routine.

This is what inclusion looks like — people directing their own days.