Independence Northwest is a support service brokerage serving nearly 600 Oregonians with developmental disabilities in the Portland tri-county area.
02/18/2026
Such a sweet story about the bond between siblings and that spoken words are not the only way to communicate.
Twins Kenzie and Wally spent their first night in separate rooms, and their sweet morning reunion shows how strong their bond remains.
02/17/2026
Random Acts of Kindness Day is a day dedicated to promoting kindness and goodwill. It encourages individuals to perform simple, unexpected acts of kindness to brighten someone’s day and create a ripple effect of positivity. It’s a day to celebrate the power of kindness and compassion. Practice Random Acts of Kindness TODAY!
02/16/2026
Our office will be closed today in honor of the holiday.
02/13/2026
02/12/2026
We have posted about this podcast before but the last few episodes have been inspiring! Check them out:
What is Tourette Syndrome really like? It's often misrepresented in the media with people simply shouting bad words, but the neurological disorder can include involuntary physical movements, vocal tics, chronic pain, and awkward social interactions. But comedian Pamela Rae Schuller sees the humor in...
02/11/2026
Mid Week pick me up - what a wonderful story about the longevity of employment, the importance of employment, and impact adults with IDD have on our communities. Congratulations Jamie!
Jamie Walton, one of the longest-tenured employees at Safeway on 4th Street, has retired. Walton was hired in 1992, celebrated his 65th birthday on Jan. 19, and never imagined he’d work there for half his lifetime.
02/10/2026
The countdown has begun!
Welcome to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics Games website. Follow the world's top athletes as they go for gold in Italy (Mar 6 - 15, 2026).
02/09/2026
Just a reminder that all are invited to 2026 Oregon Legislative Session community updates on Zoom. ODDS will discuss news related to intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) services. These online meetings are public and free. The first one is this Wednesday Feb 11.
Here are the details:
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Dates: 11 and 25, March 25
To attend: Register in advance. Use this link or the QR code below.
After you register, Zoom will send you an email. It will have directions to join the meetings.
02/06/2026
A little fun for your Friday: For fans of Born This Way check out the video about where the cast is now!
Steven from Born this Way chats with Sean about what he has going on 10 years after Born this Way's first season aired. Moving to Iowa and more!
02/05/2026
There is still time to sign up for the GO! Project legislative advocacy training this Friday Feb 12. You can attend in person at the State Capital OR join remotely on zoom. Details on the flyer.
02/04/2026
To: I/DD Community Members and ODDS Staff
From: Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS)
Subject: ODDS legislative session updates
The 2026 Oregon Legislative Session is Feb. 2 through March 8. We invite you to our community updates on Zoom. We’ll discuss news related to intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) services. After the session, we’ll host a meeting to talk about the results. These online meetings are public and free.
Here are the details:
Time: Noon–1 p.m.
Dates: 11 and 25, March 25
To attend: Register in advance. Use the QR code below.
After you register, Zoom will send you an email. It will have directions to join the meetings.
We want everyone to feel welcome and safe. We’ll offer free support, including:
American Sign Language
Spanish interpreter
Live captioning
For other languages or supports, call ODDS at 503-945-5811 or email DD.DirectorsOffice@odhsoha.oregon.gov. Please ask at least three business days before the meeting.
02/03/2026
Congratulations Acacia! Our new director of Oregon Developmental Disabilities Services!
ODHS update: ODDS director selected Oregon Department of Human Services sent this bulletin at 01/29/2026 10:07 AM PST Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. This message is posted online in اللغة العربية, English, Русский, Soomaali, Español, 简体中文 and Ti...
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Since 2007, Independence Northwest has been serving the Oregon I/DD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) community as a support services brokerage. We provide case management, resource navigation, and connections to home and community-based supports to over 500 adults in the Portland tri-county area (Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties.) We’re a nonprofit governed by a board of directors comprised almost entirely of people with disabilities and their family members.
If you’re 18 or older, have been diagnosed with an intellectual and/or developmental disability, and you live independently or with your family in the community, you’re most likely eligible for our services. Once enrolled in services, you can choose whichever brokerage(s) serve(s) your county. Here in the Portland metro area, you have up to six different choices including Independence Northwest. Once you choose your brokerage, you then have the option to choose your own Personal Agent. If you’d like to learn more about INW’s Personal Agents, click here.
Your Personal Agent works with somewhere around 45 brokerage customers. If at any time, you’re interested in working with someone else, just let us know and we’ll help you find the right fit. When you first begin services, an assessor is responsible for reviewing your support needs and determining what state and federally-funded resources may be available for you. Once you know your benefit level, your PA will then help you find professionals to help you meet your goals. You can choose from Domestic Employees or Provider Organizations. Domestic Employees are Personal Support Workers whose rates are determined by agreement between the SEIU (union) and the state; Provider Organization rates are determined by the state. Each year, you will develop an Individual Support Plan (ISP.) Our job is to help you meet your goals – your plan says what YOU want it to say.
Brokerage services in Oregon are amongst the most progressive in the United States.
If you have questions about who we are and what we do, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are honored to serve nearly 500 customers and their families throughout the tri-county region.