Oregon Employment First

03/17/2026

Today is World Social Work Day! In celebration of today and the broader National Social Work Month, we’d like to recognize the care, commitment, and heart that social workers bring to their work every day. To say thank you, ODHS leaders Sherrelle Jackson and Seth Lyon (both of whom have Master’s degrees in Social Work) recorded a short message of appreciation for all the social workers who help build well-being for everyone in Oregon.

03/16/2026

Celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! You can create a poster for social media and share your story. You can also attend self-advocate discussion panels March 17 and 24. There’s a Spanish-language session on March 19. Learn more and sign up on the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities website: https://www.ocdd.org/dd-awareness/

Celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! You can create a poster for social media and share your story. You can also attend self-advocate discussion panels March 17 and 24. There’s a Spanish-language session on March 19. Learn more and sign up on the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities website: https://www.ocdd.org/dd-awareness/

03/10/2026

Not every employee with a disability needs an accommodation. But when they're needed, accommodations don't have to be complicated or costly. In fact, most cost nothing at all! ODHS Vocational Rehabilitation can answer your questions and introduce you to resources like the Job Accommodation Network. Email us at vr.employmentteam@odhsoha.oregon.gov to learn how we can help.

03/05/2026

If you're in or near Linn County Developmental Disabilities, check out their DD Awareness Resource Fair on March 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Linn County Fairgrounds.

03/04/2026

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Check out this proclamation from Governor Tina Kotek. This year’s theme is “Nothing About Us Without Us.” It reminds us that every decision about policies, services and supports must start with the voices and meaningful participation of self-advocates.

Want to get involved? We’re partnering with the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities, Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition, and The Arc Oregon to host an in-person celebration in Salem on March 10. Get the details and learn about other ways to participate at https://www.ocdd.org/dd-awareness/

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Full text of the proclamation:

State of Oregon
Proclamation
Office of the Governor

Whereas: Nationwide over 5.2 million people have developmental disabilities; and

Whereas: Nearly 67,000 adults and children in Oregon have developmental disabilities; and

Whereas: Oregonians with and without disabilities from all racial and cultural backgrounds live and work side by side across Oregon to form strong communities; and

Whereas: Differences are celebrated and every person belongs, has valuable strengths, infinite capacity to thrive, and the potential to make important contributions to their communities; and

Whereas: People with developmental disabilities in Oregon share, with the state’s 4.2 million residents, a vision to live full lives that include opportunities for competitive, integrated employment, safe and accessible housing, meaningful relationships and access to physical and mental health care, and the many wonderful resources we all share; and

Whereas: Families of people with developmental disabilities deserve recognition for their commitment to helping their family member achieve that vision for a full life as an independent and contributing member of their community; and

Whereas: “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” is an appropriate time to recognize Oregon’s public policy accomplishments on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities and also to identify and make needed changes to public policy to fully include all Oregonians in sustaining and creating community, opportunity, and progress in this beautiful state we all call home; and

Whereas: Oregonians with developmental disabilities are present in all spaces where decisions are made that impact them, reinforcing a core value of the intellectual and developmental disability community: “Nothing About Us Without Us.”

Now therefore: I, Tina Kotek, Governor of the State of Oregon, hereby proclaim March 2026 to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Oregon and encourage all Oregonians to join in this observance.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and cause the Great Seal of the State of Oregon to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Salem in the State of Oregon on this day February 26, 2026.

Signed Tina Kotek, Governor, and Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read

03/04/2026

Here’s some important news about the ODDS leadership team. Policy and Program Administrator Darlene O’Keeffe has asked to do other work in the Oregon Department of Human Services. Darlene won’t leave ODDS right way. She’ll stay to help Director Acacia McGuire Anderson and the managers through the current leadership transition. This includes a new member of our leadership team.

We’re excited to welcome Jeromy Buchanan as the new ODDS policy and program administrator. Some of you may know him from the recent search for a new ODDS director. He was a finalist in that national search. Read the full announcement:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odds-2026-03-03-director-policy-program-administrator-en.pdf

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A continuación, les presentamos algunas noticias importantes sobre el equipo directivo de ODDS. La administradora de políticas y programas, Darlene O'Keeffe, ha solicitado realizar otras funciones en el Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Oregon. Darlene no dejará ODDS de inmediato. Se quedará para ayudarnos a Directora Acacia McGuire Anderson y a los gerentes durante la transición de la directiva actual. Esto incluye a un nuevo miembro de nuestro equipo directivo.

Nos complace dar la bienvenida a Jeromy Buchanan como nuevo administrador de políticas y programas de ODDS. Algunos de ustedes quizá lo conozcan por la reciente búsqueda de un nuevo director para ODDS. Jeromy fue finalista en esa búsqueda a nivel nacional. Lea el anuncio completo:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odds-2026-03-03-director-policy-program-administrator-es.pdf

02/25/2026

March is Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month! The Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities (OCDD), the Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition (OSAC) and The Arc Oregon are leading the state’s celebration. They’re hosting several events starting on March 3. Join us and help promote DD awareness. Read this message for the full schedule and resources:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odds-2026-02-24-director-dd-awareness-month-en.pdf

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¡Marzo es el Mes de Concientización de Discapacidades del Desarrollo (DD)! El Consejo de Discapacidades del Desarrollo de Oregon (OCDD), la Coalición de Autodefensa de Oregon (OSAC) y The Arc Oregon están dirigiendo la celebración del estado. Han programado varios eventos que inician el 3 de marzo. Únase a nosotros y ayude a promover la concientización de discapacidades del desarrollo (DD). Lea este mensaje para el horario y los recursos completos:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odds-2026-02-24-director-dd-awareness-month-es.pdf

02/19/2026

Congratulations!

Congratulations to this year's recipients of the Oregon State Rehabilitation Council's Partner Awards! These awards recognize businesses that have gone above and beyond in recruiting, hiring, retaining and promoting individuals with disabilities.

Aisling Truck Academy: “They go above and beyond to offer tailored training when needed to ensure the clients who go through their school get the support they need to get their Commercial Driver’s License and be successful in the workplace."

One Fair World: "Kim and Desta kindly and patiently provide vocational training and mentoring. This allows the students to gain employable skills and prepare them for the workplace."

Safeway: "Safeway has become an unexpected source of positive, long-term employment outcomes for our clients, helping them build their confidence in their ability to sustain employment and helping them strive toward larger, long-term goals."

The Bridge Law Firm: "The firm has given clients long-term employment opportunities, including advancement and prep for positions with greater responsibility. The Bridge Law Firm has made a commitment to providing opportunities to VR clients and has consistently backed that commitment up by hiring clients.”

Read more about these awesome businesses in this blog post: https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/ODHS/Posts/Post/blog-four-oregon-businesses-recognized-for-helping-promote-employment-opportunities-for-people-with-disabilities

01/29/2026

We’ve seen some people are concerned about food benefits if the federal government enters another partial shutdown. We want you to know – your ODHS benefits, services and supports, including SNAP, will not be impacted in February 2026.

SNAP is currently funded through September 2026. February 2026 SNAP benefits will go out like normal in Oregon.

01/29/2026

We’re happy to announce Acacia McGuire Anderson is the new director of our Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS)! Acacia’s lifelong work has been in disability services. She brings a vast knowledge of and deep passion for Oregon’s intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community. Please join us in congratulating Acacia and welcoming her back to ODDS!

Check out this message from ODHS Director Liesl Wendt to learn more:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odhs-2026-01-29-odds-director-announcement-community-en.pdf

01/15/2026

We asked some of our Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) employees to give a shoutout to businesses and partners who go above and beyond to ensure people with disabilities are successful in the workplace. Tamara Kuehn, Administrative Specialist, wanted to recognize Steven Kappler and Brandon Neff with Sodexo at the Oregon Institute of Technology:

Sodexo provides Oregon Tech's dining programs across its Klamath Falls campus. The dining team “is made up of people who are proud to serve you every day and want to ensure you have an exceptional experience whenever you dine with us.” Sodexo has partnered with us to provide opportunities to and accommodate VR clients. We’ve also worked with them to offer job coaching services, help with training, and support open communication between VR clients and other Sodexo employees.

"They have hired individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and those with mental health conditions as well. They accommodate the need for job coaching and have switched employees from one position to another if the original position was not a good fit for the individual.” – Tamara Kuehn

Thank you, Oregon Tech Dining, for all you do as an ODHS VR partner!

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Are you a business owner or hiring manager? We'd like to partner with you! ODHS VR can help you fill vacancies with skilled candidates who just happen to have disabilities. All VR services – from recruiting, to training, to retention – come at no cost to your business. Email us at vr.employmentteam@odhsoha.oregon.gov to learn more and get started.

01/12/2026

Happy New Year from all of us at ODDS! Here are some highlights from our work in 2025 and some ways to be involved in 2026:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odds-2026-01-08-director-year-in-review-en.pdf

Note: This message was sent last week and includes information about the Town Hall to meet the ODDS Director position finalists that happened on Jan. 9.

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¡Feliz Año Nuevo de parte de todos los miembros de ODDS! Estos son algunos de los logros más significativos de nuestro trabajo en 2025 y algunas formas de participar en 2026:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odds-2026-01-08-director-year-in-review-es.pdf

Nota: Este mensaje se envió la semana pasada e incluye información sobre la Reunión Comunitaria que se llevó a cabo el 9 de enero para conocer a los finalistas del puesto de Director/a de ODDS.