The Arc Oregon

11/27/2025

On November 29, 1975, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was signed into law. This law made sure that students with disabilities would have access to a “free, appropriate public education” in the United States for the very first time.

This Saturday, November 29, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of the IDEA. We are grateful for everyone fighting to protect the IDEA and the rights of students with disabilities, especially after recent changes in the US Department of Education. Your voices matter now more than ever.

11/26/2025

11/24/2025

Share your story. Make sure legislators know what matters to you and how Medicaid supports you to live your life. ACT NOW!

11/24/2025

See this announcement from OSAC regarding SNAP benefit work requirements.

There are new work requirements for SNAP benefits starting 12/01/2025. If you receive I/DD services/ disability benefits, you DO NOT need to meet the new work requirements to keep receiving SNAP benefits (this means you are exempt).

You need to call or email ODHS now to tell them that you are exempt to keep your
SNAP benefits the same.

Call them at 833-947-1694 or email them at snap.abawdteam@odhsoha.oregon.gov and tell them your contact information and the exemption you are eligible for, “I receive disability benefits”.

You can ask people in your life to support you with calling and emailing ODHS.

11/21/2025

Congratulations on winning the Ross Ryan Self-Advocacy Award, Ashley! The work you have done to advocate for yourself and your coworkers with disabilities shows how powerful one person's voice can be.

11/19/2025

Wong envisioned a world where disabled people, particularly those from multiple marginalized backgrounds, could live freely and with full autonomy.

11/06/2025

Buy One, Get One FREE! Register for Emotional Regulation for Kids (Friday, Nov 7, 9-11 AM, $65) and receive a second registration free! Perfect for teams or caregiver pairs. Register here: https://thearcoregon.org/event/emotional-regulations-for-kids/

After you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with a special discount code to share with a friend. Have them register separately using that code to claim their free spot.

11/05/2025

INFO SESSION TOMORROW: Open a new Oregon ABLE Savings Plan and get a $100 starting deposit! Learn more and sign up here: https://oregonsnt.org/able/

11/03/2025

Federal judges ruled that the Trump Administration must at least partially fund SNAP during the federal government shutdown.

What you need to know:

- November SNAP benefits have not been issued yet. The federal government has not released the funds to the states yet.

- You may not get your full November benefits right away. The Trump Administration is only partially funding November SNAP benefits for now. We hope that we will still be able to issue full November SNAP benefits when the federal government shutdown ends, but we will need direct federal approval.

- SNAP benefits have never been paused before. Some states and vendors, including Oregon and our EBT vendor, don’t currently have systems that can send partial benefits. We are already working on updates so we can send the partial benefits when we get them.

- Watch out for scams! We heard that, since the court rulings on Friday, some people have been seeing text, email, and social media posts telling them to click a link to get their SNAP benefits. Do NOT do this. It is a scam. Only trust information about your benefits from official ODHS sources. Learn more about protecting yourself from benefits theft: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/benefits/Pages/protect.aspx

We know this situation is stressful. We are working to get answers and will share information as quickly as we can.

If you need food now, visit https://needfood.oregon.gov to find free food markets, food banks, meal programs and more.

11/03/2025

If you need emergency food assistance during this SNAP interruption, 211info is here to help. They have the latest information about food resources available in your community! Call 2-1-1, text 898211 and enter your ZIP code, or visit: https://www.211info.org/

10/31/2025

The Arc of the United States, along with several other disability advocacy organizations, are hosting a VIRTUAL TOWN HALL next Tuesday at 4pm EST (1pm PST). This event is open to ALL chapters and advocates. The Arc’s Robyn Linscott is one of several speakers who will provide the latest information on activities at the US Department of Education, and what these activities mean for students with disabilities. Register for the town hall below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ROjpXDrPS76Hm2y3udCXbg #/registration