Programs

  • Empowering Families of Children with Disabilities

    FACT OREGON AND ITS MISSION AND HISTORYTHE MISSION OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY TOGETHER (DBA FACT OREGON) IS TO EMPOWER OREGON FAMILIES EXPERIENCING DISABILITY IN PURSUIT OF WHOLE LIVES. WE SUPPORT FAMILIES TO HOLD HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND SET A POSITIVE TRAJECTORY, TO NAVIGATE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND DISABILITY SYSTEMS AND SERVICES WITH A WHOLE LIFE IN MIND, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THE SUPPORTS THEIR CHILDREN NEED TO THRIVE AT HOME, IN SCHOOL, AND IN COMMUNITY, GROWING IN SELF-ADVOCACY AND SELF-DETERMINATION. FOUNDED IN 2002, FACT OREGON FIRST SERVED THE DEVELOPMENTAL AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY COMMUNITY IN THE PORTLAND METRO AREA. WE QUICKLY BECAME CROSS-DISABILITY AND GREW OUR REACH REGIONALLY. SINCE 2012, WE HAVE SERVED THE ENTIRE STATE (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AS OREGON'S PARENT TRAINING & INFORMATION CENTER, WITH CONTRACTS FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OREGON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. FACT OREGON STAFF, BOARD, AND VOLUNTEERS SERVE ON NUMEROUS STATEWIDE COMMITTEES AND PARTNER COALITIONS. A FEW INCLUDE THE STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE STATE INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL, THE STATE REHABILITATION COUNCIL, THE OREGON CONSORTIUM OF FAMILY NETWORKS, THE OREGON DD COALITION, AND THE OREGON PARTNERS FOR EDUCATION JUSTICE. IN 2019, FACT OREGON UNDERTOOK SIGNIFICANT WORK IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, LEADING TO AN EQUITY STATEMENT APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN 2020 WHICH CONTINUES TO GUIDE AND DIRECT OUR WORK. IN 2021, FACT OREGON REBRANDED WITH THE TAGLINE EMPOWERING FAMILIES |TRANSFORMING DISABILITY AND DEVELOPED AND ADOPTED A STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES WHICH LAYS OUT CORE VALUES AND BELIEFS.OREGONIANS WITH DISABILITIES ROUTINELY EXPERIENCE SEGREGATION AND DISCRIMINATION, WITH INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, COMMUNITY, EMPLOYMENT, AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING. THIS LEADS TO LIVES OF LIMITED GROWTH, SOCIAL ISOLATION, LONELINESS, POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO BE SEGREGATED FROM THEIR PEERS IN SCHOOL, HELD TO LOW ACADEMIC STANDARDS, AND DISPROPORTIONATELY DISCIPLINED WITHOUT SUFFICIENT BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS. THIS LEADS DIRECTLY TO SOME OF THE WORST BASIC PROFICIENCY SCORES IN READING AND MATH, A LACK OF SOCIAL COMMUNITY, AND THE WORST GRADUATION RATE IN THE STATE. IT SETS UP YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES FOR LIVES AS ADULTS WHO ARE SEGREGATED IN EVERY WAY AND UNDER SUPPORTED TO HAVE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, FURTHER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, WORK ALIGNED WITH THEIR INTERESTS AND SKILLS, AND HOUSING OF THEIR CHOOSING. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED FAMILIES WITH DISABILITY, DISRUPTING EFFORTS TO PRACTICE WHOLE LIFE PLANNING, YOUTH SELF-DETERMINATION, AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORTS. 45-50% OF CALLS TO OUR SUPPORT LINE IN 2021-22 RELATED TO BEHAVIOR COMPARED TO 25-30% PRE-PANDEMIC.FAMILIES ARE HUNGRY FOR SUPPORT, RESOURCES, AND ACTION TO CHANGE THESE OUTCOMES. FAMILIES AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES NEED EARLY, ACCURATE, AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO DEVELOP A VISION OF A WHOLE, FULL LIFE, TO ACCESS AND NAVIGATE DISABILITY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND SYSTEMS, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE THAT WILL MAKE OREGON COMMUNITIES MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.FACT OREGON STRIVES TO INTERRUPT THE CYCLE OF SEGREGATION AND POOR OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY HELPING FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND PROFESSIONALS WHO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND YOUTH, TO HOLD HIGH EXPECTATIONS, HAVE A SHARED VISION OF A WHOLE, FULL LIFE, AND TAKE STEPS TO MAKE THAT VISION POSSIBLE. OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES:DISRUPT ABLEISM AND CHANGE HOW PEOPLE THINK ABOUT DISABILITY.HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-DETERMINATION AND WHOLE LIVES.HELP FAMILIES SUPPORT CHILDREN'S GROWTH AND WELL-BEING IN SCHOOL, AT HOME, AND IN COMMUNITY.FACT OREGON HOLDS CONTRACTS AS OREGON'S PARENT & TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ASSIST FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION RELATED CONCERNS. IN ADDITION, FACT OREGON PROVIDES SUPPORT AND TRAININGS COVERING A RANGE OF OTHER ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR FAMILIES, INCLUDING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, INCLUSIVE RECREATION, DISABILITY AWARENESS, SERVICE SYSTEM NAVIGATION, PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING, TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD, AND MORE. COMMUNITY-BUILDING INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE ALL ABILITY TRI4YOUTH, FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS, AND DISABILITY AWARENESS PROGRAMS FURTHER OUR GOAL TO HELP FAMILIES PURSUE WHOLE LIVES IN THEIR NATURAL COMMUNITIES. FACT OREGON CURRENTLY ENGAGES WITH OVER 13,000 FAMILIES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE STATE. OUR FAMILIES REPRESENT A WIDE RANGE OF DISABILITIES INCLUDING COGNITIVE, DEVELOPMENTAL, BEHAVIORAL, PHYSICAL, NEUROLOGICAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES. 31% OF FAMILIES REPORTING RELEVANT DEMOGRAPHICS ARE FROM COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WITH 18% IDENTIFYING AS HISPANIC/LATINO. 68% HAVE SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN; 23% HAVE YOUNG ADULTS 18-26; 9% HAVE KIDS FIVE AND UNDER. 31% OF FAMILIES ARE LOW-INCOME. 10% REQUIRE SUPPORT IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH. FACT OREGON PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT IN SPANISH AND COLLABORATES WITH A LANGUAGE LINE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES SPEAKING OTHER LANGUAGES. 2021-22 WAS A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, WITH FOCUS ON PROCESSES, EFFICIENCIES, STAFF ONBOARDING, AND DIRECT AND RESPONSIVE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES. IN SEPTEMBER 2021, ROBERTA DUNN ANNOUNCED HER RESIGNATION, AND THE BOARD HIRED A NONPROFIT CONSULTANT TO HELP IDENTIFY ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHS AND NEEDS AND GUIDE US THROUGH A SEARCH PROCESS AND ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURE. IN JANUARY 2022, FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR CHRISTY REESE WAS OFFICIALLY NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND SEVERAL STAFF WERE PROMOTED TO LEADERSHIP TEAM LEVEL. ADDITIONALLY, OVER 1/3 OF OUR STAFF WAS HIRED AND ONBOARDED IN 2021-22. UNDER OUR NEW LEADERSHIP, FACT OREGON HAS REIMAGINED OUR SUPPORT LINE AND INVESTED IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES INTERNALLY TO HELP US MANAGE PROJECTS, PROVIDE TRAININGS, PROMOTE STAFF AND COALITION COLLABORATION, AND PROVIDE SEAMLESS AND RESPONSIVE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES. OUR DATA CAPTURE AND REPORTING CAPACITY HAS GREATLY IMPROVED, AND FAMILIES OVERWHELMINGLY REPORT THAT THE SUPPORT WE GIVE THEM IS HELPFUL, EMPATHETIC, EASY TO UNDERSTAND, GROWS THEIR KNOWLEDGE, AND PROVIDES THEM WITH IDEAS FOR CLEAR NEXT STEPS TO TAKE IN THEIR ADVOCACY. ALSO, DURING THE 2021-22 FISCAL YEAR, WE LAUNCHED OUR ACTIVATE YOUR ADVOCACY PARENT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. OVER THE COURSE OF TWO SEPARATE COHORTS, WE TRAINED 55 EMERGING PARENT LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE. 68-75% OF EACH COHORT WERE PARENTS OF YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES WHO ALSO INTERSECTED WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BASED ON RACE/ETHNICITY, LANGUAGE, RURAL GEOGRAPHY, AND/OR THEIR OWN DISABILITY.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $720.9K

  • Program 1 [2025]

    FACT OREGON: MISSION AND HISTORY FACT OREGON PROVIDES FREE, PEER-DELIVERED SERVICES TO FAMILIES, INCLUDING A SUPPORT LINE, TRAININGS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY. IN OCTOBER 2025, THE ORGANIZATION UPDATED ITS MISSION AND VISION TO BETTER REFLECT ITS WORK: MISSION: FACT OREGON EMPOWERS FAMILIES, YOUTH, AND COMMUNITIES TO NAVIGATE DISABILITY SYSTEMS, ADVOCATING TOGETHER FOR DISABILITY JUSTICE AND POLICY CHANGE SO THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE AT HOME, IN SCHOOL, AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)VISION: WE WORK TOWARD A FUTURE IN WHICH COMMUNITIES ARE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE, AND WHERE THE SELF-DETERMINATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS ASSURED. FOUNDED IN 2002, FACT OREGON BEGAN BY SERVING THE INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY COMMUNITY IN THE PORTLAND METRO AREA. THE ORGANIZATION QUICKLY BECAME CROSS-DISABILITY AND EXPANDED ITS REACH STATEWIDE. SINCE 2012, FACT OREGON HAS SERVED AS OREGON'S PARENT TRAINING & INFORMATION CENTER UNDER CONTRACTS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, AND VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE TO NUMEROUS STATEWIDE COMMITTEES AND COALITIONS, INCLUDING THE STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON SPECIAL EDUCATION, STATE INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL, STATE REHABILITATION COUNCIL, OREGON CONSORTIUM OF FAMILY NETWORKS, OREGON DD COALITION, AND OREGON PARTNERS FOR EDUCATION JUSTICE. THE NEED IN OREGON, APPROXIMATELY 80,000 YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. THEY FACE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH RATES OF SEGREGATION AND DISCIPLINE, LOW READING AND MATH PROFICIENCY, AND SOME OF THE STATE'S LOWEST GRADUATION RATESFACTORS THAT LIMIT ADULT OPPORTUNITIES. FAMILIES OFTEN STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC MAGNIFIED THESE CHALLENGES, DISRUPTING WHOLE-LIFE PLANNING, YOUTH SELF-DETERMINATION, AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORTS. SINCE THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR, BEHAVIOR-RELATED SUPPORT REQUESTS HAVE REMAINED ELEVATED. FAMILIES URGENTLY NEED EARLY, ACCURATE, AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE TO ENVISION FULL, INCLUSIVE LIVES FOR THEIR CHILDREN, NAVIGATE COMPLEX SYSTEMS, AND ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE THAT CREATES ACCESSIBLE, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. OUR WORK IN FY24-25, FACT OREGON DELIVERED IMPACTFUL SUPPORT, TRAINING, AND ADVOCACY FOR FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. FEEDBACK DEMONSTRATES STRONG SATISFACTION AND EFFECTIVENESS: SUPPORT LINE: 96-97% OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS REPORTED THE INFORMATION PROVIDED WAS USEFUL, RELEVANT, UNDERSTANDABLE, INCREASED THEIR KNOWLEDGE, AND/OR HELPED THEM IDENTIFY NEXT STEPS. TRAININGS: 95-97% OF PARTICIPANTS SAID SESSIONS WERE HIGH QUALITY, CLEAR, RELEVANT, AND HELPED THEM BETTER SUPPORT THEIR CHILD. PARENT LEADERSHIP (ACTIVATE YOUR ADVOCACY): 100% OF SURVEYED GRADUATES REPORTED CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION AND DISABILITY EQUITY WORK. KEY FY24-25 HIGHLIGHTS: PROVIDED 1:1 SUPPORT TO 1,855 UNDUPLICATED FAMILIES AND SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES VIA INTERPRETERS, GENERATING 32,322 CONTACTS (AVERAGING 13 PER REQUEST). DELIVERED OVER 100 TRAININGS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SESSIONS TO 1,019 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS (TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 2,610). PARTICIPATED IN STATEWIDE POLICY AND ADVISORY GROUPS, INCLUDING THE CHILDREN'S AGENDA STEERING COMMITTEE, OREGON PARTNERS FOR EDUCATION JUSTICE, SACSE, SICC, STATEWIDE CTE ADVISORY COUNCIL, OREGON HEALTHY SCHOOLS ADVISORY GROUP, CADRE DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, AND MANY MORE. EXPANDED OUTREACH VIA E-NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, RESOURCE FAIRS, LISTSERVS, AND THE WEBSITE, RESULTING IN: 77,000 WEBSITE VISITS (15% INCREASE FROM PRIOR YEAR) 61,000 UNIQUE VISITORS (17% INCREASE) 135,000 PAGE VIEWS LAUNCHED NEW RESOURCES, INCLUDING: SELF-PACED TRAININGS: UNDERSTANDING SPECIAL EDUCATION: INTRODUCING THE SIX CORE PRINCIPLES OF IDEA (335 UNIQUE VIEWERS SINCE JAN 1, 2025) OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES IN OREGON (141 UNIQUE VIEWERS SINCE APR 1, 2025) GET READY STORYBOOKS TO HELP YOUTH PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES: EARTHQUAKE, FIRE, FLOOD CONTINUED WORK TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES THROUGH UPGRADES TO PROGRAM PLATFORMS AND PROCESSES.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $917.1K