Welcome to March at FACT Oregon!
 
We’re marching into spring by welcoming a second cohort of emerging parent leaders to our Activate Your Advocacy: Parent Leadership Training! 
In This Edition:

  • Parent Leadership: Apply Today!
  • Community Spotlight!
  • Join our Policy and Advocacy News
This 12-session training series seeks to elevate family voice and support more families experiencing disability to be involved in decisions and policies that impact them. Come learn with us and activate your advocacy by putting what you learn into practice. Applications are due by Monday, March 7th. Don’t wait. Apply TODAY!
 
We are also excited to welcome parents of little ones to our Transition to Kindergarten webinar on March 5th. This training educates families on the differences between IFSPs and IEPs and helps lay the foundation for families to support their children experiencing disability as they launch their school careers! 
 
Finally, enjoy a new newsletter segment: the Community Spotlight! In this section, we will introduce partner organizations across Oregon dedicated to supporting families and individuals who experience disability! Check out our first partner, Bridging Communities, below!
 
Thank you for being in community with us at FACT Oregon.
Christy Reese, Executive Director
Coming Up at FACT Oregon

Activate Your Advocacy Parent Leadership is back!


This 6 week learning series supports families to have a stronger voice, not only in their child’s education and future planning, but in systems change work that will help disrupt ableism and center equity for all children experiencing disability. 
Activate Your Advocacy parent leader’s will learn, explore, and take action on the following topics: 
  • The Disability Rights Movement
  • Ableism, Identity, and Intersectionality 
  • Self-Determination, Person Centered Planning, and Whole Lives 
  • Educational Services and the laws that govern them including IDEA and more
  • The IEP process
  • Decision-making and Funding in Oregon Impacting youth with Disabilities
  • Current policy and advocacy initiatives that impact youth with disabilities
  • How to take action and advocate for systems change at local and state levels.

To alleviate some barriers, all participants will be eligible to receive a $500 stipend upon the successful completion of the training series. Interpretation and translation will be available. Sessions take place Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00pm-9:00pm starting April 4th ending May 11th. Email parentleadership@factoregon.org for more information or check out our website to see what our first cohort of Parent Leaders are saying since session one!
There is still time to register!

Transition to Kindergarten!
March 5th
9 to 11


Kindergarten means your child changes from having an Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP) to an Individualized Education
Program (IEP)! Join us to learn more about the transition process!
In this training participants will learn:
  • The difference between the IFSP/IEP
  • The importance of setting trajectory
  • Your role on the IEP
  • The transition to kindergarten process
  • Preparing for your first IEP meeting
Policy and Advocacy
Learn more about the policy and legislative work we are doing to address inequities in our education system and to improve the lives of those experiencing disability along with their families and communities.
Stay up to date on Policy and Advocacy news by joining the mailing list!
Community Spotlight

Bridging Communities is a family-led initiative that is responsive to the needs of families in Southern Oregon with children experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Bridging Communities offers support to families through their Facebook page where parents and caregivers can access a safe space to ask questions, build community and receive support.
They offer a bi-monthly training presented in Spanish, and though they are located in Southern Oregon, these virtual trainings are available to anyone. Visit their Facebook page to learn more about joining a parent support group or attending a training and sign up for their newsletter to stay up to date on the important work they are doing.
FACT Families
Stories from FACT Families from the FACT Oregon Blog
Parenting, Advocacy, and Experiencing Disability
by Tina Noon

In this blog Tina Noon shares about Parent Leadership, leading an activated life, and inspiring her family and community to do the same. Be sure to complete your Parent Leadership application today!
Up For Discussion!
Articles, videos, and podcasts to spark conversations with your friends and family!
Inclusive Classrooms: Getting Started
By Reading Rockets

We are gearing up for our transition to Kindergarten virtual training and you can too when you check out this great resource from Reading Rockets! If you're supporting a little one - don't forget to register today!
Disability Visibility
#98 - Disabled Students
With Alice Wong

In this episode, Alice Wong meets with Alena Morales, a queer disabled advocate of color who is a student at UC Berkley. In this episode Alena shares about developing her disability identity, finding community, and getting involved in community organizing at school. Interested in activating your advocacy? Apply for Parent Leadership today!
Connect with FACT Oregon
Support families
experiencing disability!
Share Your Story!

Share your family's story! Tell us what you've learned along the way and how the support, trainings, or resources FACT Oregon may have provided have helped!

What interesting conversations did this month's content spark with your family?

What would you like to see next month?