After couch surfing at a relative's home with 11 other people, Tammy, her mother Brenda, and her two teens, are thrilled to have the keys to their own home, thanks to assistance from The Arc's On Track program.

The On Track program helps people who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities and their immediate family members with rental assistance, and it provides other wraparound services, such as budgeting and rent and utility assistance.

Read about the freedoms Tammy and her family are enjoying thanks to their hard work and determination and help from The Arc's On Track program.

International Paper donated $15K this year and committed to giving another $15K next year at an Arc Park Breakfast Event on July 31. 

While at the event, visitors saw the progress that has been made on the park and heard about the next steps in the park construction timeline.

Special thanks to Jesus Padilla, John Schmidt, Len Fransen and Dustin McClusky for presenting, and to the band Amor Fati for treating donors, businesses and families to wonderful music as they mingled throughout the park.

Nearly 400 people packed Amazon Pool to celebrate disability pride at the Strength in Neurodiversity Summer Festival & Pool Party last month.

Special thanks to the amazing community partners who helped make this a terrific evening for everyone who attended, including:

• Eugene Adaptive Rec
• Resource Connections of Oregon
• Pearl Buck Center
• Lane County Developmental Disabilities Services
• Lane Independent Living Alliance (LILA)
• KindTree-Autism Rocks
• Direction Service
• North Star Pathways
• Full Access
• University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Community Advocacy Council
• Circle of Friends
• The Arc Lane County
• Families Connected & Familias en Conexión

See some of the fun Festival snapshots here.

The Women's Service Circle at Hope Lutheran Church delivered a $2,200 check to The Arc Lane County on Monday, July 29. The funds were raised at a three-day garage sale the Women's Service Circle hosted in July to benefit the park. 

We are grateful for the Women's Service Circle for their time and effort in organizing a successful garage sale to benefit the ongoing construction of the accessible Arc Park.

Disability Rights Oregon is now accepting appllications for Oregon Partners in Policymaking, an eight-week leadership program starting in September.

Partners in Policymaking is designed for parents raising children with an intellectual or developmental disability, as well as adults experiencing a developmental disability.

Participants will learn leadership skills and how to develop positive partnerships and working relationships with elected officials and policymakers to affect positive change across local, state and federal systems.

Interested? Apply online now.

Families Connected and Familias en Conexión invites parents to a Get Organized Event before the start of a new school year.

Parents should bring their student's important documents. Think individualized education program (IEPs), report cards, behavior plans, one-page profiles, safety plans, individualized support plans (ISPs) and eligibility assessments.

Families Connected and Familias en Conexión will provide notebooks, dividers, dinner, childcare, conversation & camaradarie. Parents will leave with their paperwork organized and feel empowered for the school year ahead. 

Please register in advance so we can make sure we have enough notebooks, dividers and food on hand. Email Kristi by August 19 to RSVP. Spanish-speaking families should email Mariela.

Next Friday morning, the Arc will host a Sirens and Safety event inside the Arc Park.

Children and youth will be able to meet firefighters, police officers and members of the sheriff's office in a relaxed environment, and they'll be able to learn about their cars, trucks and other equipment!

Coming soon! Full Access will host its annual Sprout Film Festival inside the Arc Park on Friday, September 13 at 6 p.m. (See the Sprout Film Festival in Spanish.)

The Sprout Film Festival features movies created by and starring individuals with disabilities. Admission to this fun event is free. Make plans to meet your friends and enjoy some fantastic movies under the rising stars.

Mark your calendar now and make plans to attend The Arc Lane County Carnival on Saturday, September 14.

There will be free food, entertainment, games, prizes and lots of fun for the entire family.