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In this Edition:

• Apply for Activate Your Advocacy (AYA) Parent Leadership Program
• SB 819 Virtual Trainings
• Regional Learning Summits
• On-Demand Trainings 
• Discover and Discuss: FACT Oregon’s Support Line
• Back to School Resources
• Just For Youth! Applying for a Job: The Young Adult’s Guide

Families, Friends, and Partners, 

Well, it’s here – the start of a new school year! For me, the start of school signals fall sports (or football at my house), leaves changing and this year a job (fingers crossed) for my 19-year-old son! For FACT Oregon, it means coming off the busiest summer we’ve ever had supporting families, getting back into a full training calendar with lots of learning opportunities, both in-person and virtual!

Speaking of trainings…

• We are partnering with ODE and CODSN to host two more trainings on guidance about the new law [Senate Bill 819] that limits placement of students with disabilities on short school days.
• We’ll be traveling to Eastern and Southern Oregon for full-day Regional Learning Summits on special education.
• We invite you to apply to the fall cohort of our Activate Your Advocacy Parent Leadership training.
• We’re bringing back in-person and virtual IEP Clinics to walk you through your child’s IEP! Be on the lookout for dates and get your highlighters ready!

It’s been a busy summer and we’re gearing up for an even busier fall. But hey, maybe we’ll get a moment to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte between trainings and support calls. It may still be iced if it doesn’t cool down soon!

Here’s to community and the work ahead!

Christy Reese, Executive Director



Activate Your Advocacy (AYA) Parent Leadership Program 

Oregon parents and primary caregivers of a youth with a disability:

Do you want to help make big changes for families like yours? Are there specific things you worry about or that you want to change to help people with disabilities? If yes, "Activate Your Advocacy" (AYA) is for you!

Meetings are over Zoom on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-9 pm. October 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, and 25. You must be able to attend all 6 sessions.

Applications due by September 15, 2023.

A stipend of $250 will be sent to participants who complete all six sessions.

Understanding SB 819 (Abbreviated School Days)

FACT Oregon, Oregon Department of Education, and Central Oregon Disability Support Network are coming together to help families learn more about changes to abbreviated school day (shortened school day) policies in Oregon. Join us for one of three virtual training sessions!

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Saturday, September 30, 2023

10:00 – 11:00 am

Learn More about SB 819

Regional Learning Summits: Dive Into Special Education 

Join us as we explore special education and the IEP, share strategies to communicate with your child’s school, and talk about how to resolve disagreements. And, you’ll have the chance to put what you learn into action by preparing your parent input, reviewing your child’s IEP, or developing a one-page profile. You won’t want to miss these full-day, interactive sessions.

Thank you to The Ford Family Foundation and Wildhorse Foundation for their support of our Learning Summits.

On-Demand Trainings

Discover and Discuss: FACT Oregon's Support Line

FACT Oregon is dedicated to empowering families and individuals navigating disability, reshaping perceptions of disability, and advocating for a society in which all people can thrive. Our Support Line provides a lifeline to families navigating the complex worlds of special education, disability services, and future planning. We seek to provide a safe space for families to ask questions and discover practical solutions or next steps they can take. We are proud that this service is an essential resource for families across the state and are privileged to receive positive feedback about the impact we have on the lives of the families we support.



Read more on the blog.

Back-to-School Checklist

As we step into the new school year, our Back-to-School Checklist provides essential tools to kick off the new year with confidence! Download the checklist here!

• Review FACT Oregon’s Special Education Toolkit.
• Create or update a One Page Profile for your child. Remember to get their input!
• Review your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Program).
• Meet your child’s teacher/s and support team (Bring your One Page Profile!)
• Familiarize your child with the building and their schedule.
• Establish a communication plan with your IEP team. Hint: Put it in writing.
• Check out our Training Calendar and On-Demand Trainings.
• Need additional help? Contact our Support Line! [email protected] / 503-786-6082 / 541-695-5416.

School Supplies Resources

Find resources for free school supplies in this guide from Oregon Kinship Navigator.



It's always a great time to give!

Your gift helps families get the support, trainings, and resources they need to navigate disability and special education services.