People with disabilities use Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to help them access housing, health care, and home and community-based services.

Many people with disabilities are not able to marry because they risk losing their SSI benefits. Read Tyson's story to see how he has struggled since marrying the love of his life.

Social security program rules have not been updated for more than 40 years. It is time to advocate for change so people like Tyson can marry without losing their benefits.

It is time to speak out in support of marriage equality, disability rights and the importance of SSI. Share your SSI story with members of Congress now.

In addition to advocating at the federal level, we also need voices to champion the legislative prioriries for the developmental disability (DD) community in the Oregon Legislature.

The priorities include:

1. Establing a wage standard for direct support professionals
2. Fully funding DD case management
3. Supporting the Regional Family Networks to become part of the formal DD service system
4. Supporting Healther Oregon, which would allow DD services for everyone who meets the disability criteria, regardless of immigration status.

Read the latest GO! Bulletin to learn how you can help move these legislative priorities forward.

Also, join us at the next DD Advocacy Day and Legislator Reception on April 27.

The thought of living in a car while her daughter battles a brain tumor was all consuming for Amber, a single parent to two daughters who was at risk of being evicted.

With Amber unable to work due to her daughter's medical needs, she quickly depleted her savings and was overwhelmingly stressed about a looming eviction.

After days of researching local resources, Amber was referred to The Arc's On Track program. Read Amber's story to learn how On Track helped keep Amber and her children in their home.

Great news! The City of Eugene Downtown Cultural Services has awarded The Arc Lane County a grant to host the Neurodiversity Festival this summer at the Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza. See the 2023 Downtown Program Fund Awardees.

The Eugene 4J School District's Neurodiversity Festival held on March 15 was a resounding success. The Arc is looking forward to hosting the event again this summer in collaboration with many community partners. Our appreciation to everyone who attended the Neurodiversity Festival on March 15, and to our community partners for their participation in this amazing event.

"Like" the Strength in Neurodiversity page on Facebook to stay abreast of the date for the summer Neurodiversity Festival!

The Public Health Emergency will end on May 11, which means that parents who were paid to provide support to their children during the pandemic will now need to find alternate support workers for their children.

Parents may contact the Employer Resource Connection for tools to effectively find and manage support workers. Alternately, The Arc's Community Connectors program can match parents with a qualified direct support professional to work with their child.

FOOD for Lane County presented The Arc Lane County with a Certificate of Excellence for its operation of the CARES Center, a food pantry serving the Springfield community.

In other news, the CARES Center has started assembling and distributing ready to eat snack bags to 15th Night and A Family for Every Child to help feed unhoused youth.

The CARES Center is open from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4181 E Street.

People with mobility challenges will soon be able to access all-terrrain track chairs to help them easily access and see the Oregon coast.

Oregon Parks Forever and David's Chair Outdoor Mobility Systems have secured grants that helped them purchase the track chairs for the cities of Manzanita, Pacific City and Seaside.

Read Rolling Out All-Terrain Track Chairs at the Coast to learn more.

Do you have a gift of music, acting, singing, dancing, writing or set designing? Join the University of Oregon's Story Circle Theater and share your talent!

The Story Circle Theater brings together UofO students with performers from the disability community to create a musical that will be performed in June.

This opportunity is FREE and open to anyone 18 years and older who experiences neurodiversity, deafness, chronic illness or any disability.

April 18 is the last day to file your 2022 tax return.

Free tax preparation services are available. See the list of Lane County Tax Aide Sites open now through April 18.

Lastly, The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has published a web-based Guide to Filing Your Taxes for the 2022 Tax Year.