Newsletter: Friday, October 2nd
Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Appreciation Week - provider spotlight
DSP Appreciation week took place September 13-19, 2020. DSPs are people who provide in home, community, and employment supports. DSPs may seem similar to Personal Support Workers (PSWs) but there are some differences.
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) work with people with disabilities to help them lead a more self-directed life by participating in their community. This includes helping connect the person with employment, education or other community opportunities. A DSP also acts as an advocate, in communicating the person’s needs, self-expression and goals if required.
A personal support worker (PSW) can be a family member, friend, or a trained worker from the community. Duties can be very different for each PSW, though they can include general housekeeping, personal hygiene assistance, bedside care, dispersion of medication, and transportation. PSWs can work directly with the individual who needs services, or can be hired through a provider organization.
Provider Spotlight: Tara Aas, Director of Employment Services, Amie's Community Care, LLC
In recognition of DSP Appreciation week, CPI spoke to one of the awesome Provider Organizations who employ DSPs. We talked with Tara Aas, who works as a DSP and is the Director of Employment Services at Amie’s Community Care, LLC, and asked about her take on the pandemic and how being in this field has changed her life.
Tell me a little bit about yourself, and how you got into this field.
Some of Tara’s travel photos
I was born in Oregon and have a lot of family in the Portland-Metro area that I'm very close to and keep me grounded here (though I love to travel when I can!).
I knew I wanted to be a teacher from a young age, and I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in teaching at Western Oregon University. My first job was as a substitute teacher in Salem-Keizer School District, then Beaverton and Hillsboro School Districts before finally landing a job as a third grade teacher at a school in Beaverton School District where I taught for two years. I remember that often there were teachers who constantly complained about and refused to support those students who were misunderstood, and thus exhibited difficult behaviors or challenges. I told my principal to put all those students in my classroom – I knew they would be in a safe space with a teacher who valued them as individuals and fought for their education and well-being. Unfortunately, I lost my job due to budget cuts at the end of that school year. There was little to no hope of getting a job the next year.
At that time, I was the Kids Ministry Administrator at a church in Hillsboro where both Amie Scott and Shannon McCurry were heavily involved, as well. When they heard about my career struggles, they strongly requested that I join their team at Amie's Community Care. I knew that it was the right decision to join the team, as I strongly believed in everything they fought and stood for.
In August of 2017, I started at Amie’s Community Care as a DSP, and would also build their DSA program that fall. I then took on a position as Regional Coordinator overseeing multiple departments and developing our systems to make our agency more efficient. Months later, we decided to move our company into employment services – it has been such a challenging and rewarding experience that has allowed me to use a vast array of the skills and knowledge I've acquired over the years!
What are your favorite things about your job?
Goodness, where to begin! Some of my favorite things about this job are being able to have a direct impact in bettering individuals lives, especially those who often don't get the support and care they truly need and deserve. In employment especially, I love those exciting moments when we help our customers hone in on what they really want to do, or when they finally find a job! You can't help but be over the moon excited with them! I've been very fortunate enough to work with a really cool team of diverse people, but also have had opportunities to wear multiple hats and take on new projects or challenges. My job is never boring!
How have things changed for your work since the pandemic started?
At first, almost all employment shut down, but because of my experience in other areas of the company, I was able to fill our customers’ needs. By April, almost all managers were back in the field. Since this summer, I've been able to slowly build our employment department back up and take on new clients, while others are still waiting to see what happens with COVID. We've even been partnering with other VR agencies to help develop hybrid virtual opportunities to meet the needs of customers in very remote areas outside of our service area. I am temporarily overseeing all incoming customers for any services they need, as well as promoting our services to help as many people as we can!
What are your silver linings for the pandemic?
The nature of our job is to be out helping people, even as a manager, and I've barely been at home. It's been a stressful year, and this pandemic has brought on new challenges, both personally and professionally.
All of that being said, the greatest silver lining was being pulled to work with a wonderful woman who was new to our agency at the beginning of this pandemic. She came to us at first simply needing indirect supports. After delivering groceries to her a couple of times, I soon realized that she needed much more. We discovered that she was stuck in a domestic abuse situation that she was having trouble getting out of. I was the right person to help at the right time and was able to build a beautiful relationship with her and help get her to safety. Our team and her Personal Agent came together to make this happen, and I'm so blessed to have had an amazing PA to partner with in helping her!
We were able to get her out of an incredibly toxic and abusive living situation and she is now in a home which is safe, clean and beautiful! With the transition, we were no longer able to continue providing services for her. I still talk to her often to check in and make sure she's happy, cared for, and ultimately doing well. Her spirit and fight touched my heart so deeply, and I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of her journey.
What are three fun facts about you?
Tara’s wedding
1) I got married this summer for the first time (yes--during a pandemic!) to an incredible man who was born in Oregon but grew up in Norway; who not only served as a Marine, but fought for our freedom in Afghanistan, and, like me, dedicates his life to wanting to help others, especially veterans and military connected families. I'm quite proud of him!
Tara’s blended cat family
2) We have a blended cat family - my sweet and sassy tortoise shell kitty, lil Miss Dudley, and my husband's two cute and spunky adopted brothers, Holmes and Watson. We hope to one day have a small farm and would love more animals! Dogs, chickens, goats, horses, and maybe even a pig, though if you ask my husband, he for some reason or another wants an owl or a turkey!
3) Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed or like the world just isn't making sense anymore, I go for a hike, usually Saddle Mountain, as a way to simply reset and gain a new perspective. Something about a challenging hike, especially one on my own, helps to remind and encourage me that if I can do this, I can deal with whatever stress is weighing me down or ahead.
*some of these responses have been edited for brevity and clarity
Voter Registration – General Election Nov 3, 2020
The General Election is coming up (Tuesday, November 3, 2020)! Now is the time to make sure you are registered to vote. In Oregon, voting is done by mail. If you are registered, you will receive your ballot in the mail, and you can either return it by mail, or put it in a ballot drop box. Make sure to vote early, especially if you are planning to mail in your ballot– do not leave this task to the last minute! Ballots received after November 3rd are not counted, even if the postmark is prior to this date. Voting is your constitutional right and every vote counts.
To vote in Oregon you must:
Be a citizen of the United States
Be a resident of Oregon
Be at least 16 years old to register, and 18 years old by election day to vote
How do I register to vote in Oregon?
You may register to vote online in Oregon, or register by mail by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and sending it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person at your local election office if you prefer.
What is the registration deadline?
The deadline to register online or in-person is Tuesday, October 13th, 2020. If you choose to register by mail, your form must be postmarked by October 13th.
I think I may already be registered. How do I check to make sure?
You can check to see if you are registered to vote here. You will need to put in your first name, last name and date of birth to search. Voter registration information is updated daily.
How do I find my local election office?
You may search for your elections office here by county.
What documents will I need to register online?
You will need a driver’s license, driver’s permit, or ID card number issued by the Oregon DMV.
If you do not have any of these, you can still use the online form. You will need to enter some personal information (including the last 4 digits of your social security number). The information will display on a voter registration card (PDF document) that you will need to print, sign and deliver to your elections office to complete your registration.
Does Oregon have early voting?
Yes, Oregon does have early voting. You may fill out your ballot when you receive it in the mail, and drop it in a ballot box up to 18-20 days before Election Day, depending on your area. You may find a ballot drop box by visiting the Drop Box Locator. You may also contact your County Elections Official for more information.
Note: The drop box locator will not be updated until 20 days prior to the election.
What is the deadline to vote by ballot drop box or mail?
The deadline is Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 to take advantage of early voting by ballot drop box. Your ballot must be postmarked by October 28th, 2020 if it is sent in the mail.
What if I have been evacuated because of the Wildfires? How will I get my ballot?
Ballots will start being mailed on October 14, 2020. If you know where you will be after that date, you can ask for your ballot to be sent to a temporary mailing address here. If you would rather us a paper form to provide a temporary address, you must fill out the absentee ballot request form here. You do not need to re-register to vote from this temporary address.
Please note:
Your ballot will NOT be forwarded if you submitted a change of permanent address through the post office (USPS) – it is a security measure to avoid voter fraud.
If your mailbox or home was damaged in the wildfires, you can also pick up your mail (including your ballot) at your local post office, or contact your county election office (after October 1, 2020) for more options. Find your election office here.
ODHS Data Breach
You may have received a letter recently from the ODHS (Oregon Department of Human Services) about a data breach in March of 2020. Some individuals’ personal information may have been exposed but ODHS aren’t sure exactly who was affected.
The ODHS was the target of a phishing scam on March 6, 2020 (you can learn more about phishing in our September 4th newsletter), that caused sensitive information including names, dates of birth and social security numbers of individuals to be leaked and possibly misused. The State is offering free identity protection services through ID Experts for those whose personal information was exposed to scammers. If you received a letter from ODHS about this breach, we recommend that you sign up for their service package as soon as possible.
To sign up, call 833-755-1023 or visit http://ide.myidcare.com/oregon. Use the enrollment code on the letter that you received from ODHS. The deadline to sign up for these services is December 22nd, 2020. The letter will have more detailed information on what to do once you enroll.
Please Note: there is no concrete evidence that your information was used improperly, but signing up for these services makes sure that your personal information will be protected.
Advocacy
PBOT ADA Plan – Share your Input!
PBOT (Portland Bureau of Transportation) is inviting Portlanders to share their thoughts on the newly released ADA plan ("ADA Title II Public Right of Way Transition Plan"). This plan will be reviewed early next year. The deadline to submit comments is November 20, 2020.
The key pieces of the plan are to:
Identify curb ramps, pedestrian signals, and sidewalks that do not comply with ADA requirements;
Make all of PBOT's programs, policies, and procedures available to the public;
Create an accessibility complaint process for PBOT; and,
Identify the person who will be in charge of this process.
Where can I view the plan?
The draft plan is available in 11 languages. You can view the plan here.
How can I share my thoughts?
There are three ways to share your feedback:
Fill out the online survey. If you need an email, mail or phone survey, you may email Lisa Strader (ADA Coordinator) at: ADATransitionPlan@portlandoregon.gov.
Attend a virtual open house via Zoom. The next open houses will happen:
October 3 from 10:30 a.m. – NOON
October 21 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
November 6 from 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m
Invite PBOT to attend a community meeting. You can do this by contacting Lisa Strader, ADA Coordinator, ADATransitionPlan@portlandoregon.gov.
Learn more about how you can share your feedback with PBOT on their website.
OHA “Own Voices” Video Project - Share Your Story!
OHA (Oregon Health Authority) is creating a short video to help raise awareness of the experiences of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. By telling your story, you can help others learn how their choices affect you. What do you want people in Oregon to know about your COVID-19 experience? You might want to choose one of the questions below to answer in your short video, or you might want to share your own message:
Why is it important for everyone to wear a mask and keep their distance from others?
What harm does it do when someone falsely claims to have a disability?
How are people in your community helping each other during the pandemic?
Submit Your Video
Feel free to use a cell phone to take a video of yourself to tell your story. Here are some tips to make a great video:
Keep it short, about 15 to 20 seconds.
Film in landscape (horizontal) mode and HD if possible.
Pay attention to any surrounding sounds – a noisy background will make it harder for your voice to be heard.
Avoid brightly lit backgrounds such as a window or doorway. If possible, place a light in front of you to light your face, which will make you stand out from your background.
You can email your video to sarah.kelber@dhsoha.state.or.us.
Washington County Self-Advocacy Group – Eddie Plourde
Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition (OSAC) Board member, Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) Council Member and long-time self- advocate Eddie Plourde is working to get an advocacy group started in Washington County! The first meeting will take place in mid-October. It will be centered around self-advocacy in Washington County and Oregon. There will also be a brief overview of OSAC and a meet and greet portion.
If you or any other self-advocates you know within Washington county would like to be involved, please contact Eddie directly at: coacheddie1972@hotmail.com or 971-330-4084.
Meeting Information
Date: Tuesday, October 20th
Time: 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Join Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86353755247pwd=WHhJTi9SN0NNcERXZVdxRm1keE9iZz09
Phone: 1-253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 863 5375 5247
Passcode: 674621
Halloween Craft – Pumpkin Decorating
If you don’t like making a huge mess, or the feeling of squishy pumpkin guts, check out these different ways of decorating pumpkins!
Source: Good Housekeeping
Glitter Stem Pumpkins
Give your doorstep a little glitz and glam!
Materials:
One pumpkin
Paintbrush
Glitter craft paint
Directions:
Give the stem of your pumpkin a few coats of the glitter paint, and you’re done!
Source: Good Housekeeping
Crayon Drip Pumpkins
Use up those old crayons you have lying around the house into a fun and unique decoration.
Materials:
One pumpkin
Old crayons
Hairdryer
Directions:
Remove the paper wrappers from your crayons, and break them into small pieces
Put the crayon pieces near the pumpkin stem one by one
Point the hairdryer at each piece of crayon to melt them down the side of your pumpkin (use low heat)
As the crayons melt, be careful not to touch the hot wax.
Repeat around the whole pumpkin and let dry before displaying!
Source: Good Housekeeping
Balloon pumpkins
A burst of color that would impress any birthday clown!
Materials:
One pumpkin
Craft paint
Paintbrush
Balloon
Scissors
Directions:
Give your pumpkin one or two coats of a solid color paint, such as white or gold. Make sure the paint has dried completely before moving on to the next step.
Cut off the end of your balloon (where you blow the air in)
Stretch the balloon around the bottom of your pumpkin
Paint the top of your pumpkin in a different color than you used for your base color (don’t forget the stem!)
Once the last layer of paint has dried, take off the balloon, and display!
For more pumpkin painting and other Halloween themed crafts, visit Good Housekeeping’s website.
Halloween & COVID Safety
As we’re getting into the Halloween spirit, we might be putting a costume together or planning a social event. We also need to think about how COVID-19 will impact our activities. The CDC does not recommend traditional trick-or-treating this year. But there are many ways to join in that are safer!
Instead of completely missing out on the fun, try a low-risk activity such as:
Carving pumpkins and decorating your living space
Having a Halloween movie night
Hosting a virtual costume contest with friends or family
You can also try a medium-risk activity, while practicing social distancing and wearing a protective mask, such as:
An outdoor costume party or parade with a small group
An outdoor haunted corn maze
Visiting a pumpkin patch or apple orchard (make sure to use hand sanitizer)
Costume masks are not a substitute for a face mask. However, costume masks should not be worn on top of a face covering as it might be dangerous. You might consider wearing a Halloween-themed cloth mask instead!
Of course, if yourself, or someone you live with has been sick, it’s best not to take part in any social events. For more information on safely participating in this fun holiday, visit the CDC’s website.
Upcoming Events
OHSU Friendships and Dating Class
The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) is excited to announce that a new online class for adults 18 and over with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Want to learn more about healthy relationships and sexual health? Then sign up for this FREE class!
Friendships & Dating is to help people learn and practice skills so they can feel more comfortable making friends and dating. Class members will learn about:
· How to express feelings and recognize feelings in others
· How to talk to friends and people they want date
· Talking about boundaries and communication
· Healthy relationships and sexual health
When does the class start and end? October 12th, 2020 to December 16th, 2020.
When are the classes? Every Monday and Wednesday for 10 weeks.
What time are the classes? 4 PM - 5:30 PM Pacific Time
How do I sign up? You can complete the form here.
I have questions. Who do I contact? You can contact Erin Taylor at tayerin@ohsu.edu or Lindsay Sauve at sauv@ohsu.edu.
