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In This Edition:

• Regional Learning Summits
• On-Demand Trainings
• Legislative Advocacy Recap
• Discover and Discuss
• Year in Review
• Legislative Advocacy
• Just For Youth
• Summer Fun with the Thorns and Timbers
• Tri Together Pedal Run Dip
• Donate

Families, Friends, Allies, and Partners, 

Happy August! We hope you're enjoying your summer. In July, our staff held a planning retreat, and this month our board follows suit, to prepare for a busy school year. We're excited to return to more in-person Regional Learning Summits, trainings, and partner events, and we’re kicking it off with an Eastern Oregon Regional Learning Summit.



The whirlwind 2023 legislative session ended with some significant bills passed that impact the disability community, including SB 819, which limits abbreviated school days for students with disabilities. We'll be supporting families to understand these changes and know how to exercise their rights and options. Read on...

Christy Reese, Executive Director

Regional Learning Summits: Dive Into Special Education 

Exciting news! We’re hitting the road with IN-PERSON Regional Learning Summits. Together, we will explore special education and the IEP, share strategies to communicate with your child’s school, and talk about how to resolve disagreements. And, you’ll have the chance to put what you learn into action by preparing your parent input, reviewing your child’s IEP, or developing a one-page profile. You won’t want to miss these full-day, interactive sessions.

FACT Oregon offers several on-demand trainings on popular topics. Sit back with some coffee, and watch and learn from home.

ABCs for Little Ones in EI/ECSE

English (caption language options)

Transition to Kindergarten

English | Spanish

The IEP: What You Need to Know

English | Spanish

Behaviors at School: Supports, Strategies, Success

English (caption language options)



The IEP: Middle/High School Years

English (caption language options)

The 2023 legislative session proved to be quite eventful. We're excited to share some noteworthy achievements, especially the passage of SB 819. This bill was signed into law to introduce safeguards limiting the use of abbreviated school days. We stand behind the rights of students with disabilities to access a full school day and applaud the families who came forward to share their stories with our legislators.

Discover and Discuss: Healthier Together Oregon

Healthier Together Oregon (HTO) is the State Health Improvement Plan, a transformative initiative that envisions a healthier and more equitable Oregon where every resident can thrive. HTO has clear strategies and goals to address health disparities, foster collaboration, and achieve health equity throughout the state.

A key HTO strategy is to promote community-led initiatives. At FACT Oregon, we are deeply committed to promoting health equity, dismantling ableism, and creating an inclusive environment for all. Our goal is to empower families and individuals with disabilities and provide resources, support, and advocacy so people with disabilities thrive at home, in school, and in community.

Learn more about how our work aligns with HTO!

In 2022-23, FACT Oregon achieved remarkable milestones:



Our Support Line staff navigated a 30% call volume increase, assisting 1,621 unique individuals from 32 counties. 73% were first-time users, and 48% faced additional biases or barriers beyond a child’s disability.

About 2,000 unique people attended FACT Oregon trainings (or partner events with sessions led by FACT Oregon). Attendees made significant knowledge and confidence gains in key concepts like self-determination, trajectory, meaningful participation, and in the specific training topic area.

We graduated a third cohort from Activate Your Advocacy. Since this parent leadership program launched in 2021, several graduates have joined local, state, and national advisory boards. Others testified on education and disability-related bills, and five have joined FACT Oregon's board/staff. We are so proud of these leaders who are helping to build equity in our schools and community.

Attend a home game in July or August, and Portland Thorns and Timbers FC will kick back $5 for every ticket purchased to FACT Oregon!

Tickets are already discounted! We ALL can win when we come together! Use the link below to order tickets:

Did you and your family love the All Ability Tri4Youth? We’re THRILLED to share that THPRD has taken the inclusive model we built together and combined it with an existing Family Triathlon to create a NEW inclusive event - The Tri Together Pedal Run Dip! Sign up today for what we hope becomes an annual, sustainable, community-driven, and inclusive event for families and individual athletes young and old(er). FACT Oregon will be there on the day with resources and to support the event, and we hope to see you there! 

Summer is a great time to give!

Your gift helps families get the support, trainings, and resources they need to navigate disability and special education services.