This week is Direct Support Professional (DSP) Week, a time when we recognize the work incredible work our staff does every day to ensure people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are living full and meaningful lives in their communities. 

Read Oregon Governor Kate Brown's Proclamation for Oregon's Direct Support Professional Week, where she recognizes the important work DSPs do, the critical workforce shortage and Oregon's commitment to improve DSP wages, benefits and advancement opportunities. Also, read The Arc's position on the DSP Workforce Crisis.

"Our direct support professionals make a difference by empowering people of different abilities to live, work and thrive in our community" says Pam Ring, executive director of The Arc Lane County. "DSPs are a critical part of the workforce and they deserve to be recognized for their hard work, passion, advocacy and unwavering support."

The Arc Lane County will honor its DSP workforce with a special gift at the end of the month.

Angela Phinney, the assistant executive director for The Arc Lane County, is leaving the agency to assume the executive director position at A Family for Every Child.

Phinney has been instrumental in securing grants to help The Arc move forward in its mission of supporting children, youth and adults with disabilities to live full lives in their community. She has also spearheaded The Arc's capital campaign to build the Arc Park, an accessible and inclusive play space that is under construction now in Springfield. 

The Arc thanks Phinney for her years of service to The Arc Lane County and the disability community, and we wish her all the best in her new position. 

Devin Duerst, the director of The Arc's employment programs, and Laura Dahill, The Arc's director of marketing and communications, will assume Phinney's responsibilities.

The Springfield Block Party, held on September 9, delivered in bringing the community together for a spectacular evening.

The block party featured live entertainment, food and drink and fun, and The Arc Lane County was thrilled to be a part of it. 

The Arc hosted an inflatable bounce house at its A Street office location, and sold popcorn, lemonade and sno-cones as a benefit for its Community Inclusion program.

"The Block Party was a wonderful venue to bring the community together, and we were thrilled to be a part of it," says Pam Ring, executive director at The Arc Lane County."

Thanks to the community's generous response to a School Supply Drive held by Escudo Latino, an organization that provides resources and information to the Latinx community living in Lane County, The Arc was able to delver backpacks and supplies to students in need.

Specifically, The Arc's Familias en Conexión family network delivered 22 backpacks to students in Springfield and Junction City and another 25 backpacks to students in Cottage Grove. The backpacks and supplies will help set students up for a successful school year ahead.  

Escudo Latino is collecting school supplies throughout the month of September. If you can help, please email Mariela or call 541-321-8034. 

The Arc Lane County has launched a new program called, On Track, to provide financial services, rent/utility assistance and help locating housing to people who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As part of this program, The Arc is providing wraparound services to help with basic needs and budgeting.

In the future, The Arc will lead classes to teach people skills, such as being a good neighbor, renters education and cooking.

To qualify for the On Track program, someone in the immediate family has to experience a disability, there has to be a risk of homelessness and the individual has to be able to maintain the housing on her/her own after The Arc provides the wraparound assistance. For more information, email Trisha.

The Arc Park received $29K in grants from the Oregon Community Foundation. 

Specifically, the Emil W. and Lois E. Brammert Fund and the Verda M. Giustina Fund, both of the Oregon Community Foundation, awarded $29K and $5K, respectively.

The funds will be used for the installation of the family restrooms, which will feature changing tables for older people with disabilities. Our heartfelt appreciation to the Mr. and Mrs. Brammert and Ms. Giustina for their generosity.

Exciting update: the rock construction of the sensory wall is now complete! Greg Kovach with Artistic Concrete Sculpting did an amazing job bringing our concept for the sensory wall to life in a few short weeks. 

Next up: different sensory mechanisms will be added to the wall, and a talking tube will be installed. Check out the progress on the sensory wall here. 

You are also invited to see the sensory wall in person by attending a hard hat tour. Email Jo Ann or call 541-521-9304 to schedule a tour.

The November election is eight weeks away. Disability Rights Oregon will once again publish an Easy Voting Guide to help people with disabilities exercise their right to vote. 

To request a free copy of the Easy Voting Guide, order online by September 22. The print version of the Easy Voting Guide will be mailed on Friday, October 14.

Questions? Email Disability Rights Oregon or call 800-452-1694. 

The Arc Lane County continues to host Sensory-Friendly Vaccine Clinics to help vaccinate people in the community. 

The sensory-friendly clinics are open to anyone in the community. Extra accommodations are available to anyone who may need them. 

The next clinics are scheduled for September 23 and October 14. These clinics are open to people of all ages living in Lane County. Preregistration for the vaccine clinic is required. Register online.

Exciting things are happening at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum! With help from a grant from the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund, the Arboretum plans to improve some trails to provide universal and barrier free access for park visitors. 

The Arboretum would like to hear directly from people who experience disabilities and their families on how to improve the trails to make them more accessible for everyone. Enjoy a day walking the trails (pictured at left), and then share your recommendations for trail improvements. Email Mt. Pisgah Arboretum for more information or to relay any suggestions you may have.

The Arc Lane County has received a grant through the Early Learning Division of the Oregon Department of Education to create a Preschool Promise classroom within its JumpStart Preschool. 

Preschool Promise provides a free, high-quality, full-time preschool program for children ages three and four years who are living at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty.

The Arc will start its Preschool Program in October, and it will run through June 2023. For more information, email Annie or call 541-914-4232.