Newsletter: Friday, November 6th
New Face Covering Guidelines
The OHA has recently put out new state-wide guidance that masks are now required for people age 5 and older.
Masks, face coverings or face shields are currently required state-wide for:
All private and public workplaces (like banks, classrooms, construction sites, offices and meeting rooms — unless someone is alone in an office or in a private workspace).
Indoor public spaces — (like grocery stores, pharmacies, public transit, personal services providers, restaurants, bars and retail stores).
Public and private colleges and universities, and private career schools.
Indoor and outdoor markets and street fairs.
Outdoor public spaces when physical distancing of at least six feet is not possible.
This guidance also applies to personal support workers and customers while in their private homes, as well as while riding in a car with someone who you do not live with. Riders should sit as far apart as they can.
People with a disability or medical condition may request accommodation from a business or public space if they cannot wear a mask.
OHA does not recommend wearing a plastic face shield alone.
While face shields can be very good at blocking droplets, they are not as good at stopping aerosols that can go around the shield. OHA recommends face shields only be used on a limited basis, for example when talking to someone who is deaf or hard of hearing and needs to read lips to communicate.
Spam Calls - Social security administration
We have heard that recently individuals have received calls from scammers impersonating the SSA (social security administration) saying that their SSN (social security number) has been suspended due to fraud. These are fake calls. The SSA will never call you to give this information - if you ever receive a call like this one, hang up right away. If any customers receive calls like this one, please let your PA know so we can circulate the information.
For more in-depth information on current scams and scammers, please take a look at our September 4 newsletter.
Customer Satisfaction Survey
Back in January of 2020, we sent out a satisfaction survey to all customers. We asked whether customers are getting the supports they need, if they know how to file a complaint, and how happy they are with our services. We also asked what they wanted to see in our newsletter and on our Facebook page, as well as what kind of events they would want to come to. We got 114 surveys back – thank you to all of you who replied! Getting your feedback is so important, because it allows us to hear your concerns and serve you better. We appreciate your input!
Feedback on our Services
We learned that out of those who responded:
95% of customers said that we helped them to meet their needs/achieve their goals
93% of customers told us that their plan said what they wanted it to say
89% of customers were getting the supports and services they needed
57% of customers have been with us for over 5 years
51% of customers filled out the survey themselves
97% of customers were satisfied with the brokerage services we offer
We also learned that:
82% of customers knew what to do to file a complaint
Although this is a high percentage, we wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of our complaint policy! You can find out more about how to file a complaint here. Scroll down to “You Have a Right to File a Grievance or Concern with Community Pathways, Inc”. You can also ask your PA for assistance.
Feedback on Social Media/Newsletter
We found out that a lot of you want to know about upcoming social events and parties! This is great to know – once it is safe to do so, we will begin hosting more social events.
We also saw that you would like to see more photos of activities, customer stories and housing information. We’ve heard you, and will be using your feedback for our upcoming social media posts and newsletters.
If you are interested in sharing a story with us, please do so! We are always thrilled to read these stories and share them in future newsletters.
CPI will be sending out our 2021 customer satisfaction survey in the new year, so make sure to stay on the lookout for it!
Veteran’s Day - Virtual Statewide Celebration
Although the Portland Veteran’s Day parade has been cancelled this year due to COVID-19, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will be holding a virtual celebration with remarks from Governor Brown and ODVA Director Kelly Fitzpatrick.
Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Time: 11:00AM PST
Join here: facebook.com/odvavet
COVID-19 resources are available here for military veterans and their families.
For news about the veteran community in Oregon, visit the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs website.
Sign Up for The Disability NEWS
The Disability News is created and sent out twice per month by the City of Portland’s Disability Program, part of the Office of Community & Civic Life. The NEWS shares events, resources and other information that is relevant for those with disabilities in our communities.
You can subscribe to the Disability News by e-mailing disabilitynews@portlandoregon.gov. You can also check out their Facebook site, or view online (including back issues) here.
TriMet and FACT Oregon want to hear from families experiencing disability
TriMet and FACT Oregon want your feedback to help keep riders safe, including those with disabilities. Take the TriMet Safety Survey today.
TriMet Y FACT Oregon están interesados en recibir sus comentarios para ayudar a mantener seguros a los pasajeros, incluyendo a los pasajeros con discapacidades. ¡Asegúrese de que se escuche su voz! Llene la Encuesta de seguridad de TriMet hoy.
Make sure your voice is heard! Help TriMet reinvent the future of public safety.
Recipe: Wild Mushroom Stuffing
Source: What’s Gaby Cooking
Do you love the food at Thanksgiving, but are tired of the plain old stuffing that you usually make? Try out this recipe for Wild Mushroom Stuffing!
Ingredients:
1 loaf of French bread cut into cubes
10 tablespoons butter
1 pound wild mushrooms (regular is fine)
2 shallots and two bunches of green onions (thinly sliced)
2 stalks of celery (chopped)
3/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley (or ¼ cup dried)
2 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1 tbsp dried oregano)
2 tablespoon chopped fresh sage (or 1 tbsp dried sage)
2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme (or 1 tbsp dried thyme)
3 large garlic cloves (minced)
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 large eggs
2 cups chicken broth or vegetable stock if you want to keep it vegetarian
4 ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Spread the cubed bread on a large rimmed baking sheet and transfer into the oven. Bake until bread is dry, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and shallots and cook until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Add the celery, green onions, herbs, garlic, salt and pepper and sauté for 3-4 minutes more.
Generously grease a large baking dish.
Place the bread cubes in large bowl. Add the warm vegetable mixture; toss to combine.
Whisk the eggs, parmesan and 3/4 cup broth in medium bowl - add egg mixture to stuffing and toss to coat.
Add more broth (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup) to stuffing if it still looks and feels dry. Transfer to baking dish.
Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Take out the baking dish and remove foil; return the dish to the oven and bake until golden brown, about 30 more minutes.
Thanksgiving Craft – Construction Paper Turkey
Source: Twitchetts.com
A great craft for adults and kids alike! Hang this paper turkey or use as a table centerpiece. You can view the craft here.
Materials:
· Construction paper – 1 sheet each of red, orange, yellow and brown
· White glue
· Googly eyes
· Scissors or paper cutter
· Stapler and staples
· Clothespin
Directions:
Source: Twitchett’s
1. Cut your red, orange and yellow construction paper into 1-inch strips.
2. Put the strips into 5 groups of 5, and stack the different colors on top of one another (ex. red, orange, yellow, orange red). Stagger the ends of the paper strips about an inch for each color. Cut the ends of the paper stack evenly.
3. Bring all of the ends together in a teardrop shape and staple them together.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 above four more times, making 5 teardrop-shaped “feathers”.
5. Put a dot of white glue between each “feather” teardrop and staple them all together from both sides.
6. Close your feather tail together with a clothespin until dry.
7. While your turkey feathers are drying, take a piece of brown construction paper and draw a turkey body (like a peanut) and cut it out.
8. Glue two googly eyes onto the body.
9. Cut out a small triangle (the beak) out of your scrap piece of orange paper and a small peanut shape (the turkey waddle) out of your scrap piece of red paper. Glue your beak and waddle to the turkey body.
10. Once the tail is dry, attach your body to it with glue! Enjoy your cute paper turkey!
Upcoming Events
Guided Meditation & Healing with Dr. Neera Malhotra
All Born In (ABI) is hosting free 30 minute Zoom meditation workshops every other Wednesday through the end of December with Dr. Neera Malhotra. Meditation is a great way to ease stress, focus on the present and reduce negative emotions! We can all use a bit of calm during these times.
Date(s): November 18, December 2nd and December 16th, 2020
Time: 1:00-1:30PM, PST
You can register here. If you have any issues, please e-mail: info@nwdsa.org, or call 503-238-0522.
FREE Virtual Conference - Disability in Emergency Preparedness Conference
Join a free, virtual conference November 17-18, 2020 about emergency preparedness. It will be facilitated by the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies.
Date/Times: Tuesday, Nov 17: 8:30 am-4:30 pm and Wednesday, Nov 18: 8:30 am-12:00 pm
As We Are: Disability Justice and Community Care Conference (webinar)
Sign up for a FREE online conference about disability justice and community care.
Date: December 5th & 6th, 2020
Time: 10:30 am-3 pm PST
November Office Closures
Veteran’s Day
Community Pathways honors and thanks our Nation’s military veterans, both past and present, for their sacrifice and service. Our offices will be closed on Wednesday, November 11th in observance.
Thanksgiving
Our offices will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 for Thanksgiving.
We wish you and yours a very happy and safe holiday!
