Developmental Disabilities Links

The Arc of Oregon

• Advocates for the rights and full community participation of all children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Autism Society of Oregon (ASO)

• ASO's mission is to empower individuals with Autism, their families and their service providers to improve the quality of their lives through support and information.

Autism Speaks

• Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.

Disability Compass

• Disability Compass is a web-based resource for people with disabilities, their families, and their supporters.  The site provides access to thousands of disability-related organizations, services, programs, and products and features a community calendar, a tool called My Compass that allows individuals to store frequently used searches as well as lists of personal resources and a registry of individuals and organizations that provide respite and other individualized care for people with disabilities.

Disability Scoop

• Disability Scoop is the first nationally focused online news organization serving the developmental disability community including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fragile X and mental retardation, among others.  Sourcing information from top media outlets, Disability Scoop sifts through the clutter to provide a central, reliable source of information and resources. Plus, Disability Scoop is the only place to find original content and series like “Scoop Essentials” that take an in-depth look at what lies beyond the day’s headlines.  Launched in 2008, Disability Scoop is the premier source for developmental disability news.

GEM Children’s Foundation

• The GEM Children’s Foundation is a non-profit corporation 501(3)c in Salem, OR that serves children with special needs, their families, and the community organizations that help them.

Northwest Autism Foundation (NWAF)

• The Northwest Autism Foundation is a non-profit organization whose goal is to provide education and information for free or at a nominal cost to families, caregivers and professionals of autistic children.

Northwest Down Syndrome Association

• The NWDSA's mission is to create and nurture a loving and inclusive community celebrating every person with Down syndrome.

 Oregon Developmental Disabilities Coalition

• The DD Coalition's mission is to promote quality service and supports which respectfully further the rights, equality, justice, and inclusion for all Oregonians with developmental disabilities and their families.

Oregon Technical Assistance Corporation (OTAC)

• OTAC is a nonprofit that promotes full participation in community life for individuals with disabilities, seniors and their families through the delivery of training, technical assistance and related services.  OTAC is committed to assisting in the development of supports and associated systems that enable individuals with long-term care needs to live life to the fullest.

PHAME Academy

• The purpose of PHAME Academy is to make available to mid-teens and adults with developmental disabilities and special needs in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington metro-areas the chance to participate in the fine and performing arts and to be encouraged and allowed to express themselves creatively - thus supporting the development of their self-esteem and self-worth.

Project Grow

• Project Grow, located in Portland, OR, is dedicated to enriching the lives of adults with developmental disabilities through art, farming, music, and yoga by creating community awareness about the value of arts, relationship with one’s food source, and promoting integration.

Self-Advocates As Leaders (SAAL)

• SAAL is an organization of people with developmental disabilities interested in becoming strong leaders, training and developing leadership skills, and becoming equal partners in policy and legislation that affects their lives, and committed to making life better for people with disabilities all over Oregon.

Shangri-La Corporation

• Every year, thousands of Oregon's most vulnerable citizens benefit from Shangri-La's services and programs.  People with disabilities or disadvantages are helped with living, working, and special needs.  Shangri-La has over 80 service locations throughout eight Oregon counties.

Special Olympics

• Dignity, acceptance, and a chance to reach one’s potential – these are human rights worth promoting for everyone.  Since 1968, Special Olympics has been bringing one message to the world: people with intellectual disabilities can and will succeed if given the opportunity.

Spread the Word to End the Word

• Our language frames how we think about others.  Help eliminate the use of the R-word in everyday speech.