Oregon Employment First

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.

12/29/2025

We’re happy to announce that we have two strong finalists in our search for the next permanent director of the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS). We invite you to meet them at a public town at 2 p.m. Jan. 9. The event is free and on Zoom. To sign up, read the full announcement:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odhs-2025-12-29-odds-director-finalists-en.pdf

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Nos complace anunciar que contamos con dos finalistas fuertemente calificados en nuestra búsqueda del próximo director permanente del Programa para Discapacidades Intelectuales y del Desarrollo (Office of Developmental Disabilities Services, ODDS). Le invitamos a que los conozca en una asamblea pública que tendrá lugar el 9 de enero a las 2 p. m. El evento será gratuito y se realizará por Zoom. Para inscribirse, lea el anuncio completo:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odhs-2025-12-29-odds-director-finalists-es.pdf

11/24/2025

Oregon’s new Employment First law, Senate Bill 810, took effect last month. It requires Oregon to keep an ongoing Employment First Strategic Plan to guide our work. For the next step, we need your input. We invite you to complete the Employment First strategic plan survey (English and Spanish) to share your thoughts on priorities and strategies for the next plan: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=6GOOZTmNnEmPSBOtyUUvTH3n3HPjnlhAtRpteoUurWFUOFdRV0tOOFBJN0VXVFJZWE45VlNTUVZUMy4u&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&route=shorturl

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La nueva ley de Employment First de Oregon, el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 810, entró en vigencia el mes pasado. Requiere que Oregon mantenga un Plan Estratégico de Employment First continuo para guiar nuestro trabajo. Para el próximo paso, necesitamos sus opiniones. Los invitamos a completar la encuesta del Plan Estratégico de Employment First (en inglés y español) para compartir sus opiniones sobre las prioridades y las estrategias para el próximo plan: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=6GOOZTmNnEmPSBOtyUUvTH3n3HPjnlhAtRpteoUurWFUOFdRV0tOOFBJN0VXVFJZWE45VlNTUVZUMy4u&route=shorturl

11/20/2025

Congratulations to Ashley Heberholz on winning the 2025 Ross Ryan Self-Advocacy Award! Ashley, a Lake Oswego resident, received the award at the Employment First Summit on Oct. 2 in Portland.

Ashley’s employment path hasn’t been easy. She’s had to fight for the accommodations she needs. But thanks to her determination and the people supporting her, she’s faced every challenge with courage and strength.

“I’m here to pave the way for others. People with disabilities deserve to be treated with respect and to have jobs in the community.” – Ashley Herberholz

Read more about Ashley, her award, and her employment successes here: https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/ODHS/Posts/Post/blog-blazing-a-trail-ashley-herberholz-carries-forward-ross-ryan-legacy-of-advocacy

11/13/2025

The federal government shutdown has ended. SNAP is working normally again in Oregon!

Here’s what you need to know:

- If you were approved for SNAP on or after Nov. 7, your benefits will be on your EBT card by tomorrow morning - Friday, Nov. 14, 2025.

- December SNAP benefits will go out on the regular schedule, during the first nine days of the month.

- Benefits loaded on Nov. 7 are still on your EBT card and can be used as normal.

You can check your EBT balance at https://ebtEDGE.com, through the ebtEDGE mobile app, or by calling 888-997-4447. ODHS does not endorse any other EBT management websites or apps.

Please note - the shutdown did not change the new federal SNAP rules that Congress passed in July 2025. These rules are still taking effect, and some people may have seen changes to their benefits because of them. You can learn more at: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pages/federal-updates.aspx

If you think your benefit amount is wrong, call the ONE Customer Service Center at 800-699-9075.

There has also been an increase in electronic theft of EBT benefits nationwide. Learn how to protect your card: https://bit.ly/protectEBTbenefits

We know the last few weeks have been stressful. We appreciate all of you who stepped up for your family, friends and neighbors in need or sent words of encouragement as we navigated this situation!

11/10/2025

🚨 Attention Oregon EBT cardholders! We're seeing reports that some people’s November SNAP benefits are being stolen from their EBT cards. Electronic theft of benefits is a serious problem and is on the rise. Criminals are using methods like skimming devices, social media scams, phishing texts and more to steal card numbers and PINs. Once they have your information, they can steal your food and cash benefits. Learn how to take action and keep your benefits safe: https://bit.ly/protectEBTbenefits

If your benefits were stolen, please call 855-328-6715 immediately to cancel your Oregon EBT card and request a new one. Federal funding to replace SNAP benefits stolen by electronic theft ended last year, so we are unable to replace your benefits. If you need food help, visit https://needfood.oregon.gov to find free food markets, food banks, meal programs and more.

11/07/2025

November SNAP benefits are here in Oregon! The federal government remains shut down, but ODHS was able to issue full November SNAP benefits with federal approval. We know how important these benefits are, so we worked quickly to begin issuing benefits last night. Everyone should have full November SNAP benefits on their EBT cards this morning, Nov. 7, 2025 - even if you normally receive SNAP later in the month.

Before shopping, check your EBT card balance to make sure their benefits have been issued. There are several ways to check your balance:

- Call ebtEDGE customer service toll-free at 888-997-4447
- Visit https://ebtEDGE.com
- Use the ebtEDGE mobile app

ODHS does not recommend any other EBT management websites or apps.

While the release of SNAP benefits is not a scam – we want everyone to remain aware of potential scammers who could be trying to take advantage of the confusion in this situation. Do not click any suspicious links in emails, texts or social media posts, and only trust ODHS for information about Oregon benefits. You can find tips to protect yourself from electronic theft here: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/benefits/Pages/protect.aspx

11/04/2025

ODDS is doing two satisfaction surveys in 2026. The surveys help us know if we’re meeting the needs of people we serve. These are annual surveys. Here’s what to expect:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odds-2025-11-04-director-nci-adult-survey-en.pdf

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La ODDS realizará dos encuestas de satisfacción en 2026. Las encuestas nos ayudan a saber si cubrimos las necesidades de las personas a quienes prestamos servicios. Son encuestas anuales. Esto es lo que tiene que saber:https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/directors-messages/odds-2025-11-04-director-nci-adult-survey-es.pdf