News and Updates
Community Pathways
Customer Highlight: Tino's Employment Story
“I took my mom and dad’s word to heart and did it. I’m where I’m at now. I have a driver license, I have a job. I can go where I want—because I’m a grown up.”
Tino wearing his red Lowe’s vest at work, smiling and giving two thumbs up.
Valentino, or Tino for short, sat down with us recently to share his employment story. For the past eight years, Tino has worked at Lowe’s where he currently serves as a full-time Delivery Load Puller and Assistant to the Delivery Driver. But Tino hasn’t always worked full-time at Lowe’s; he worked his way up to his current position over time.
Before he got his start at Lowe’s, Tino shares that he worked as a Busboy at Black Bear Diner for five years. He was motivated to start looking for a new job because, “I was not getting paid enough,” he says. With a goal to find a new job and earn more money, Tino sought out support from a job coach through supported employment services offered by United Cerebral Palsy (UCP). The job coach helped Tino learn how to search, apply, and interview for jobs, “because I didn’t know how,” he says.
With the job coach’s support, Tino began applying for jobs at Walmart. When he didn’t hear back from Walmart, Tino explains, he continued applying for positions online at Home Depot and Lowe’s. “Lowe’s jumped on it real fast and wanted an interview,” Tino says about his online application experience. “I was shocked at how fast it went.”
Tino was initially hired by Lowe’s as a Front End Seasonal Loader, working a few hours per week. After a period of time, with the encouragement of his co-workers, Tino asked his manager if he could work part-time and was soon promoted to a more permanent position. After working part-time for six months, Tino asked to work full-time, “because I wanted to do something more athletic, like lifting appliances.” At first, Tino was told no because there were no available positions at the time. When a Deliver Load Puller position opened up, a manager notified Tino directly. Tino applied that day and was hired for the full-time position he has today.
Promotions did not come immediately to Tino, as his story shows. He emphasizes that it took hard work and dedication to get to where he is today. It also required a willingness to speak up and ask for help in finding and interviewing for jobs, as well as asking for more responsibility on the job.
Portrait of Tino wearing a yellow baseball hat with a Pikachu pattern and a matching yellow t-shirt.
Persistence was key to Tino’s success in securing his first position as a temporary seasonal employee at Lowe’s, and then working his way up to a permanent full-time position. Even when he was not hired or did not get a promotion right away, Tino kept applying for jobs and following up with managers to show his interest in taking on more responsibility at work while still working hard at the job he had. By taking this approach, Tino gained the respect of his co-workers and managers who have become important sources of support to his professional growth and sense of belonging.
Tino notes that he was shy at first but remained persistent because he really wanted to work full-time and was confident in his work ethic. Asking for a promotion can be hard to do, Tino acknowledges. But he was encouraged by his family, friends, and co-workers who said, “You can do it. Go for it.”
Ask what kind of challenges he has experienced in regards to employment, Tino says the main challenge he faces at work is dealing with disgruntled customers--a challenge anyone working in retail and customer service can relate to. “[Customers] can be a little upset because they didn’t get what they wanted,” Tino says about customers who share negative feedback with him. Tino explains that his approach to handling these situations is to acknowledge the customer’s experience and to follow up with his managers so they can take action and make necessary changes.
Asked what job advice he would pass on to other employees, Tino shares that his dad taught him to, “Listen to your elders and have that hard work ethic,” adding that his dad tells him to, “find something to do instead of standing around. If you’re done [with a task] and don’t have something to do, pick up a broom and start sweeping.” Tino notes that he receives praise from his co-workers and managers for his work ethic and feels appreciated for his contributions to the team.
Asked what advice he has for employers, Tino says that it’s important for employers to show appreciation for their employees and to help people with their needs, “like if you say you need a little help or don’t understand something.” He acknowledges that not every single need can be accommodated but within reason Tino believes employers should be willing to train people who are willing to work hard and be a part of a team.
Tino advises employers that ongoing training for employees is important to their continued success at work, like when “you got a routine and something new crops up, and you need a little more training to handle the new situation.” He especially appreciates managers who are polite to their employees.
Tino wearing a yellow baseball hat and a yellow t-shirt with a red and white Pokemon ball logo.
Being a part of a supportive work team has been an important part of Tino’s employment experience. “We’re a solid team [at Lowe’s],” he says, adding that he appreciates the support and encouragement he receives from his co-workers, many of whom he counts as friends. The need for support is mutual. Tino shares how he supports his co-workers by offering a listening ear and words of encouragement when they face their own challenges.
“Lowe’s is like a big ol’ family,” Tino says. “If I’m not okay, they’ll see what’s going on. They love me a lot and want me to be a front end loader again because I work so hard,” he adds, chuckling. “But I’m not going back to that,” he says with a grin.
Asked who supports him in his employment pursuits, Tino notes his first manager at Lowe’s was an important support because they helped train him as a seasonal employee. The manager eventually put in a good word for Tino with the other managers to be hired part-time. Tino gives the main credit to his parents (who are his foster mom and dad, he explains) for the support and encouragement they’ve provided him in working toward his goals. “I took my mom and dad’s word to heart and did it. I’m where I’m at now. I have a driver license, I have a job. I can go where I want—because I’m a grown up.”
Asked what’s ahead for him, Tino shares that he recently won a BBQ grill from entering a raffle prize at work. “I won the large prize,” he says, smiling. Now he’s looking forward to firing up the new grill once the weather gets nicer.
Congratulations, Tino! Keep up the good work.
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April Newsletter - Autism Acceptance
“On World Autism Awareness Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to promote the full participation of all people with autism, and ensure they have the necessary support to be able to exercise their rights and fundamental freedoms.”
World Autism Awareness and Acceptance
Did you know April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day? And April is World Autism Awareness Month! Help us spread the word not simply about autism awareness but ACCEPTANCE this month by using #AutismAwareness19 #AutismAcceptance
Join DD Advocacy on April 30th
Join the upcoming GO! Project DD Advocacy Day at the Oregon State Capitol on April 30th. Members of Community Pathways’ team, Build A Movement participants, and advocates will be going. The GO! Project Advocacy Team will be available at the Capitol to give you information, training, and support before talking with legislators. Come be an advocate!
Learn more about the GO! Project and DD advocacy at www.oregoniddcoalition.org
Legislator Lookup - Find your legislators (State Senator and House Representative).
Three women standing together for a photo at the DD Advocacy Day at the Capitol building in Salem. The woman in the middle holds a sign with the words, “Support DD Services.” Photo taken by Oregon DD Coalition staff member.
General Resource Guide
Find Direct Support (and clients)
Oregon Home Care Commission's (OHCC) Registry and Referral System - Find a provider to deliver direct support, or connect with an individual seeking direct support.
Food and Shelter
211 Info - Find information on food shelters, warming/cooling centers, and shelters.
Oregon Food Bank's Food Finder - Find a food bank near you.
Portland Farmers Market - many of the markets accept SNAP benefits.
Health and Safety
Additional Needs Registry - Program for individuals in Portland and Multnomah county to share additional needs with 9-1-1 police and fire responders in case of emergencies.
Mental Health Crisis Lines
Clackamas County Crisis Line: (503) 655-8401
Multnomah County Crisis Line: (503) 988-4888
Washington County Crisis Line: (503) 291-9111
Arts and Culture
Art Gallery at Seven Corners (2475 SE Ladd Avenue) is currently featuring works by artist Catherine Hill. Please check out the window gallery facing SE Division Street.
Public Annex - accessible urban farming and arts programming.
PHAME Academy - a school of the arts and performance serving adults with disabilities.
Social Events and Outdoor Activities
Off the Couch Events - socialization and educational program for differently-abled adults.
Adventure Without Limits - provides access to outdoor adventure to all people regardless of abilities, socio-economic gender, gender, ethnicity, or age.
Portland Parks and Recreation’s Adaptive & Inclusive Recreation - A program that offers, “community-based recreation activities and leisure services specially designed for children, teens, and adults who have a disability and/or special needs.”
Tech and Gaming
Guardian Games event calendar - Community calendar of gaming events.
Free Geek - provides volunteer opportunities and classes to enable digital access and education to create community that empowers people to realize their potential.
Fidgetech - A community for young adults on the autism spectrum to learn technologies, uncover interests and talents, develop skills, and achieve goals.
Do you have a resource you would like us to share? Email Kristine at kolson@communitypath.org or contact a personal agent. Thanks!
Spring Photo Gallery - Share your photos with us!
The CPI Team is so excited that it's finally Spring. April brings longer days, bluer skies, more frequent "sun breaks", and much needed doses of Vitamin D—and more time spent outside! To celebrate the coming of Spring, members of the CPI team are sharing their favorite Spring-time photos with us all. We hope these beautiful images inspire people to spend time outside and share their photos with us!
Want to share your own Spring photos with the community? Please do!
How to Submit Photos to the Community Pathways Newsletter:
Send photos as .PNG or .JPEG file attachments to kolson@communitypath.org (Subject: Spring Photos for Newsletter).
Please include a title or brief description of each photo, such as “Mt Hood View” or “St Johns Bridge”.
Sign up to get the Community Pathways Newsletter here. Thank you!
Read the latest newsletters below by clicking “Read More”. Want to share your story and be featured in the newsletter or in a blog post on our website? Let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
March Newsletter
News Topics
DD Awareness Month #DDAwareness19
Individual & Provider Highlight
DD Advocacy Days in Salem
Build A Movement on March 8th
Customer Survey on Gaming Events
Resources for Individuals & Providers
March is DD Awareness Month!
Help us spread awareness about developmental disabilities this month and every month. Follow along with us on Facebook to help us support, advocate for, and empower individuals and families experiencing developmental disabilities in Oregon and beyond. Please use #DDAwareness19 and #support #advocate #empower in your own social media posts.
In honor of DD Awareness Month, we’re excited to be sharing the story of Chris and William, an individual and a provider team who volunteer together to collect and give hygiene products (toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, etc.) to people experiencing houselessness in Portland. Learn more about their community service by reading their story below.
Thanks for reading! Questions or comments? Let us know. Email Kristine at kolson@communitypath.org or call (503) 935-5243 ext. 228. We value your feedback.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
-Team Community Pathways
Image of artwork by Gary Murrel including the words #DDawareness19 and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Image Source: https://nacdd.org/ddam/
Feature Story: Individual and Provider Volunteer to Give Hygiene Products to Portland’s Houseless
Chris and William recently met with our staff to share their experiences as an individual-customer and support provider volunteering together to collect and give hygiene products to people experiencing houselessness in Portland.
William, who works as a direct support provider, explains that he started serving people living without a house in Portland by using his own money to buy hot meals for people who might not be able to afford one. With time, his attention shifted to hygiene products because he wanted to provide longer-lasting support to people. By providing people with hygiene products they are able to stay more clean and healthy despite not having direct access to basic amenities.
Chris, who is involved in many service projects through his church, quickly joined William's efforts when he learned about them. The volunteer duo share that with the support of Chris’ church congregation they were able to collect enough hygiene products to fill over 100 small backpacks to create what Chris refers to as “hygiene packs.” Targeting areas around the Burnside Bridge and Pioneer Square, Chris says they were able to give most of the hygiene packs away in a short span of time. The pair note the high demand for hygiene products among people living without a house in Portland highlights the larger housing crisis the City is experiencing.
Asked if they are still collecting products, or interested in continuing this project together, Chris and William both say yes. They would like to continue providing support to their community in this way, and welcome donations and support in their efforts.
Asked if he’s working on other service projects, as well, Chris shares that he regularly volunteers with his church. Primarily, he helps sew and assemble sanitary pads that are donated by the church to an organization in Africa that provides support to women in need. As an aside, William points out that it would be helpful to include disposable sanitary pads in the hygiene packs they make for people living in Portland.
What products do Chris and William currently collect for the hygiene packs? In travel sizes, they collect: tooth brushes, tooth paste, mouth wash, floss, shampoo, soap, razors, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, bottles of water, and snacks. Q-tips, toilet paper, nail clippers and disposable sanitary pads are also appreciated. They are also open to suggestions.
If you would like to learn more about Chris’ and William’s service project(s), or would like to donate toward their cause, please let us know. Contact Kristine at kolson@communitypath.org or (503) 935-5243 ext. 228.
DD Advocacy Days in Salem
Image description: A group of advocates sitting around a conference room listening to a presentation on legislative advocacy at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem in February 2019./Oregon DD Coaltion at https://www.facebook.com/ORDDCoalition/photos
Join us at the next DD Advocacy Day in Salem on Tuesday, March 5th (10am - 2pm). Community Pathways is joining the Oregon Developmental Disability Coalition's GO! Project Advocacy Team and self-advocates to help support DD rights and services during the 2019 Legislative Session. Come learn about legislative advocacy and how you can make your voice heard!
Sign up to get the GO! Project Bulletin (newsletter) for the latest advocacy updates. Visit https://orddcoalition.org/go-project/
Upcoming Event: Build A Movement Meeting
Image description: Build A Movement event flyer.
Community Pathways is proud to help sponsor and support the next Build A Movement (BAM) meeting of self-advocates on March 8th. BAM participants are self-advocates living in the Portland area who work together to address issues related to DD Services, Housing, and Healthcare. To learn more about BAM and how to get involved, contact Jennifer Knapp at knapp@cvision.org or (971) 347-7825.
Customer Survey on Gaming Events
Do you like playing board games, video games, Virtual reality, etc.? Let us know by taking a short survey on gaming events.
Community Pathways invites individuals-customers to take a short 5 question, confidential survey to let us know if you’re interested in joining a gaming event or group. Our team would love to host a game night or gaming event here at Community Pathways. But, first, we need your feedback!
The survey asks 5 questions and takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. You can take the survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FPWPD9Z
Request a paper copy to be mailed to you, with a stamped return envelope, by emailing Kristine at kolson@communitypath.org or calling (503) 935-5243 ext. 228. You may also contact your PA who can request the survey be mailed to you.
Deadline: April 15, 2019
We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!
Resources for Individuals and Providers
Please let us know if you have additional recommendations for resources Community Pathways can share with individuals-customers and providers online. Thank you! Call (503) 935-5243
Find a Provider (or individual to support)
OHCC Registry and Referral System: https://or-hcc.org/Welcome/Login?serviceGroupId=2
Food and Shelter
211 Info: http://211info.org/
Oregon Food Bank: https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/
Health and Safety
Additional Needs Registry: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/586275
Arts and Culture
The Gallery at Seven Corners Collaborative (2475 SE Ladd Ave, Portland, OR 97214)
Public Annex: http://www.publicannex.org/
PHAME Academy: https://www.phamepdx.org/
Activity Groups and Recreation
Off the Couch Activities: http://www.offthecouchevents.org/
Adventure Without Limits: https://www.awloutdoors.org/tripcalendar
Adaptive & Inclusive Recreation (City of Portland): https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/39830
Tech and Gaming
Guardian Games: http://www.ggportland.com/calendar/
Free Geek: https://www.freegeek.org/
Fidgetech: http://fidgetech.org/
Do you have more resource recommendations? Please help us share them with the community.
Contact Kristine at kolson@communitypath.org or (503) 935-5243 ext. 228. Thank you!
February 2019 Newsletter
February 2019
With the rain pelting down in true Oregon fashion, we hope you're all staying dry and warm. A friendly reminder that our office will be closed this coming Monday, 2/18, in observance of Presidents' Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, 2/19, at 9 AM.
Continue reading for our latest news and updates. Have a wonderful weekend!
-The CPI Team
Questions or comments about the newsletter? Call Kristine at (503) 935-5243 ext. 228
Topics Inside
DD Advocacy
Art Around Town
Calling All Gamers - Take Our Survey
Food & Shelter Resources
NWDSA’s DS + Autism Workshop
Survey on Case Management
Group image of self-advocates, support providers, advocates, and legislators at a Build A Movement (BAM) event in Portland. Courtesy of Jennifer Knapp.
DD Advocacy
DD Advocacy Days in Salem: This past week, members of our team joined the Oregon Developmental Disability Coalition's GO! Project Advocacy Team at the State Capitol in Salem to participate in the DD Advocacy Day on 2/12 and show support to people testifying on behalf of DD services at the Ways and Means public hearing on 2/13. We invite you to join in advocacy during the 2019 Legislative Session to share your story and help support funding for DD services in Oregon. Your voice and story matter to legislators!
Legislator Lookup - Find Your Legislators (Senator and House Rep)
Sign Up for the GO! Project Bulletin - Get critical advocacy updates
Save the Date! Build A Movement (BAM), an advocacy initiative organized by Self-Advocates Taking Action, will be holding an event and training on March 8th. Self-advocates, support providers, and advocates are all welcome to join. Please stay tuned for full event details. We'll post them on our website and Facebook page soon. Questions? Contact Jennifer Knapp at jknapp@cvision.org. C
Acrylic painting on canvas hanging in the reception area of Community Pathways’ office. Courtesy of CPI.
Art Around Town
See the Field of View 2018 Residency Exhibit at Wollf Gallery before it closes on February 24th. The exhibit is a collaboration between Wollf Gallery and Public Annex. It features works by Alma Bate, Job Erickson, John Griffiths, and Michael Sherman. Free and open to the public. All are welcome!
You're invited to Multnomah County I/DD's Art Show and Reception on February 26th from 1to 4 PM. It will be held in the Pine Room of the 5 Oak Building at 209 SW 4th Avenue in Portland. Free and open to the public, the art show and reception will feature works and performances by developmentally diverse artists and musicians.
White Sony Ps4 dualshock on wood table. Stock image from Pexels.
Gaming Opportunities in Portland Metro area
Calling all gamers! At Community Pathways, we know many people who share a passion for games, whether they play board games, video games, or virtual reality games.
We’re curious to know if the individuals we serve and their support networks would be interested in attending game events at Community Pathways. Let us know by taking this online survey.
If you would like the survey emailed to you, or a printed copy mailed to you, please call Kristine at (503) 935-5243 ext. 228. Thank you!
We recommend checking out Guardian Games’ Calendar for upcoming gaming events in Portland.
Food & Shelter Resources
A reminder that February SNAP benefits were allocated in January and participants, including customers of Community Pathways, are being advised to carefully budget their benefits for the rest of this month. We recommend visiting www.211info.org or calling 2-1-1 and using the Oregon Food Bank's Food Finder to locate food pantries and shelters during these cold winter months. Check out our Facebook page for regular resource updates.
Volunteers preparing to deliver food boxes to individuals in need of assistance. Courtesy of CPI.
NWDSA’s “We All Belong: Dual Diagnosis Down Syndrome/Autism” workshop on February 21st
The Northwest Down Syndrome Association (NWDSA) is holding a We All Belong: Dual Diagnosis Down Syndrome/Autism workshop on Thursday, February 21st from 6 to 8:30 PM. The workshop will be held in the Multnomah Education Service District’s Auditorium at 11611 Northeast Ainsworth Circle in Portland. This event is aimed at individuals and families experiencing Down syndrome and Autism, as well as professionals who support individuals with a dual diagnosis. The workshop provides, “community, research, tools and tips to support families and help build life-long learners.”
Registration is required. Families, please register using this link. Professionals, please register using this webpage. Both links provide access to registration information in English and Español.
Oregon Survey on I/DD Case Management - Your Feedback Matters!
Individuals and their families are encouraged to take the Oregon Survey on I/DD Case Management Roles and Responsibilities.The survey is confidential and takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. Take the survey online at https://healthmanagement.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cNhb2rfSnFNeJwh
See the original message from Lilia Teninty, Director, Office of Developmental Disabilities Services on Oregon DHS' website. The DHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services is, "seeking participants in a voluntary, confidential survey about the functions of I/DD case management--what is working well, and what could be better."
December 2018 Newsletter - Happy Holidays!
As December comes quickly to an end, we are reminded to take a moment to reflect on the past year as we think ahead to the new year to come. 2018 was a special year for Community Pathways, highlighted by several milestones and important changes:
We moved to the Seven Corners Collaborative in June.
We launched a new website.
We celebrated CPI’s 10th anniversary as a support services brokerage in July.
The Grand Opening of The Seven Corners Collaborative in September was a hit.
Info fairs and self-advocacy events helped us to connect with more people and resources in the community and share what Community Pathways does as a support services brokerage.
Several new staff members were added to our growing team.
The introduction of the Oregon Needs Assessment (ONA) led to the creation of three new ONA Assessor positions on our team. We are grateful that two of these positions were able to be filled by existing staff members.
Over the course of the past year, we’ve gained over 60 new followers on Facebook, helping us to connect with more people and to make more resources accessible online.
Our capacity has grown from serving 450 to 475 individuals.
Thank you to everyone who has helped make 2018 an extra special year for Community Pathways. We are grateful for the individuals and community we serve and look forward to connecting with more of you in 2019.
Happy Holidays!
-The CPI Team
2018 News Recap
website launch & online resources
Earlier this year, Community Pathways redesigned and launched a new website to help us make the information and resources we connect people with more accessible online. We are also excited to be connecting with more individuals, families and providers through our website and Facebook page. The update was guided by feedback from individuals, providers, and members of our staff and board. This feedback also informs our use of Facebook, which has helped us gain over 60 new followers this year! Please, leave a comment or review to share your experience of us and help more people get to know us better. Thank you!
We Moved!
Visit us at the Seven Corners Collaborative
Come visit us at our new location in the Seven Corners Collaborative in southeast Portland. We moved to this new building in June. It is designed to be universally accessible. We are grateful to be sharing this building with our partners Community Vision, FACT Oregon, and the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities. Visitors are welcome to tour the Assistive Technology Lab and test out the accessible kitchen. Just ask!
Our new location and address:
2475 SE Ladd Avenue, Suite 220, Portland, OR 97214
10th anniversary celebration
Community Pathways' celebrated its 10th anniversary as a support services brokerage in July. We hosted a party and invited the individuals we serve, their families and providers, our staff members, board members, and partner organizations to celebrate with us. It was a fun and meaningful opportunity for the community to gather and create fun memories together. We are grateful for the individuals and community we serve. Thank you to New Seasons-Seven Corners for donating food toward the event. We are glad to have neighbors that want to partner with us and support our mission of assisting people with disabilities to live empowered, self-determined lives through community connections. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this celebration!
Grand Opening of Seven Corners Collaborative
The Grand Opening of the Seven Corners Collaborative building in September was a success. Over 200 people attended the opening, including some of the individuals we serve, their families and providers. We’re grateful to Teote for generously donating delicious food toward the event. The Grand Opening was a wonderful opportunity to get to know our neighbors, community partners, and the individuals and families we all serve. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Changes to our staff - New Hires & New Roles
Admin Staff:
This fall, Olivia joined our team as the full-time Administrative Assistant. She is the first person many people connect with when they contact and visit our office. Kaaren, who was recently named Self Advocate of the Year by OSAC, just started her position as Front Desk Support and helps greet people and answer calls when Olivia is away from the front desk. Tracy has returned to our team after living abroad for a year. She provides much appreciated help with filing. Meet our team.
ONA Assessors:
The introduction of the Oregon Needs Assessment (ONA) this year led to the creation of three ONA Assessor positions on our team. We are glad to have filled two of the three roles with existing staff members. All three ONA Assessors bring diverse experience and compassion to their positions. More information about the ONA will be provided in 2019. Meet our ONA Assessors. If you have questions, ask a PA or contact us.
Info Fairs & Outreach
Community Pathways attended several info fairs and advocacy events this year and looks forward to connecting with more individuals and community partners this coming year. Our goal is to educate more people about support services brokerages, the process of entering into brokerage services, person-centered approaches to support services, the principles of self-determination, and self-advocacy.
The info fairs and events we attended in 2018 include:
Multnomah County Information Fair for I/DD on May 1, 2018 was well attended by families and individuals experiencing I/DD who live in Multnomah County. Learn more about Multnomah County DD services.
Clackamas County Support Services Info Nights provide an opportunity for ‘transition age’ individuals to learn about adult support services that will become available to them when they turn 18. We also welcome individuals who are 18 years of age and older who want to learn more about brokerage support services. Info nights are held at Clackamas Education Service District.
OHSU’s 5th Annual DD Transition Fair: A Passport to a Healthy Future. The event was organized by The Institute on Developmental Disability (IDD) at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and held at Mount Hood Community College. The event, “emphasized a holistic approach to adolescent transition for young people (ages 12-26) who experience disability.”
2018 Division/Clinton Street Fair and Parade. Community Pathways helped sponsor this event and partnered with the Oregon Council on Developmental Disability to staff a booth. We enjoyed connecting with our new neighborhood in southeast Portland, sharing about available support services and self-advocacy opportunities. 8,000 visitors attended this event. Join the fun next summer at the 2019 Division/Clinton Street Fair and Parade!
We look forward to participating in these events and more in 2019. Questions? Call Kristine at (503) 935-5243 ext. 228 or email us.
Advocacy & volunteer service
Throughout the year, members of our team volunteer with different organizations that advocate for and assist individuals with a developmental disability to live full lives in the community. Among the organizations and events that our staff members volunteer for are:
Build A Movement is an initiative led by Self-Advocates Taking Action and supported by Community Vision and support services brokerage staff. BAM helps self-advocates organize, focus on key topics, and prepare to speak with legislators about issues addressed in their planning meetings. To get involved, please email Jennifer Knapp at jknapp@cvision.org
2018 All Ability Tri4Youth organized by FACT Oregon was a major success. Two members of our staff volunteered and had a great time cheering on kids of all abilities in their events. Save the date for the event on August 10, 2019 at the Tualatin Hills Athletic Center in Beaverton. SAVE THE DATE for the 2019 All Ability Tri4Youth will be held on August 10, 2019.
2018 TASH Conference. Community Pathways, FACT Oregon, Community Vision, and OCDD helped serve on the Local Host Committee for the 2018 TASH Conference held in Portland in November. Community Pathways sponsored two advocates (one self-advocate and one parent of an individual with a developmental disability) to attend the three-day conference.
DDAC Holiday Food and Toy Box Delivery. For the past four years, staff members have volunteered to help IDDAC (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee), Sunshine Division (Portland Police Bureau) and Toy and Joy Makers (Portland Fire and Rescue) deliver food and toy boxes to individuals we serve.
Want to get involved? Call Kristine at (503) 935-5243 ext 228 or email us.
2019
Upcoming Advocacy Events
Build A Movement
Join self-advocates in building a movement to address issues faced by adults with developmental disabilities living in the Portland Metro area, including housing, health care, and DD services. Questions? Email Jennifer Knapp at jknapp@cvision.org
DD Advocacy Days
Join the Oregon Developmental Disability Coalition's GO! Project Advocacy Team and join in advocacy during the 2019 Legislative Session, starting January 22nd. 2019 GO! Project Schedule
We want to hear from you - share your story
We want to hear from you. Please consider sharing your story to help others live a more empowered, self-determined life in the community.
Please take a few minutes to leave a comment or review about Community Pathways on our Facebook page. Your reviews and comments help people visiting our page learn about who we are and what we do as a support services brokerage to assist individuals with disabilities to live empowered, self-determined lives through community connections.
Please remember: Community Pathways is a case management entity (CME) and support services brokerage. We are neither a provider agency nor the employer of direct support providers, such as personal support workers. We do assist individuals to enroll the direct support providers they choose to help them meet their needs and goals.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your PA or call our executive director Jennifer Santiago at (503) 935-5243 ext. 244. We appreciate your feedback!
Happy Holidays!
-The CPI Team