Join ODDS leadership on Zoom to share your feedback. All are welcome to attend these virtual meetings. Each month will have a different topic or focus. They meet every first Wednesday of the month from noon to 1 p.m. No registration required. Date: May 7 Time: noon to 1 p.m. How to attend: Use this link to open the Zoom meeting. May 7th's meeting will introduce the new Partnership and Accessibility Resource Unit. The staff on this team will help ODDS improve how ODDS engages with self-advocates, partners and the community. This team will start leading the monthly listening sessions. They also invite you to send your questions or feedback ahead of time using the feedback form. You can fill it out in Arabic, English, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese. Deadline: Please send your questions by 8 a.m. on the Monday before the meeting. You don’t have to submit a question to attend the meeting. You can also ask new questions during the meeting. If they can’t answer your question during the meeting, a staff member will get back to you via email. If you want privacy, you can also ask us to respond by email.  

ISN will be participating in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk! The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading event in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). You can view our team page here!

Free Monthly Cooking Classes for Columbia County DD Community Provided by Columbia Pacific Food Bank and ISN Cooking Instructor: Corey Englehardt When: Second Tuesday of each month 5-7 pm Where: 1421 Columbia Blvd, St. Helens What you will learn:  How to follow recipes  Food safety How to use cooking utensils How to use cooking equipment How to store food properly Cultural cuisine Contact ISN PA Pepsi at placamp@goisn.org to RSVP!

The 2025 Oregon Legislative Session is January 21 through June 29. ODHS (Oregon Department of Human Services) will host regular meetings to update the I/DD community. Dates: January 22, February 12, February 26, March 12, March 26, April 9, April 23, May 14, May 28, June 11 and June 25 Time: Noon to 1 p.m. To attend: Register in advance using this link. After you register, Zoom will send you a confirmation email. It will have directions to join the meetings. ODHS wants everyone to feel welcome and safe. They will provide free support for you to participate. This includes American Sign Language, Spanish interpreter and live captioning. For other languages or supports, call 503-945-5811 or email dd.directorsoffice@odhs.oregon.gov. Please submit your request 48 hours before the meeting you will attend.

This event will include prizes, resource tables, arts and crafts, lunch, games, and workshops about a variety of topics.

Join Columbia County Mental Health (CCMH) and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for a walk to promote open discussions and support for mental health. There will be a number of advocates, professionals, and other agency booths at the event to help you learn more about resources in your area. There will also be face painting, henna, a petting zoo, and a costume contest! If you're interested in participating in the walk, register here: https://www.namiwalks.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=1818

Columbia County SPARC is hosting "Profile Power", an event to support creating your own one-page profile and goals. This focused session helps individuals with IDD develop essential planning tools: a One-page profile summarizing who you are and what's important to you, and a Goal Sheet outlining your dreams. The Profile Power event is not just about creating documents; it is about building a foundation for effective communication and personal growth. Participants will be guided through each step of the process, with support from trained facilitators who understand the unique challenges faced by individuals with IDD. The collaborative environment encourages sharing and learning from one another, fostering a sense of community and mutual support. Learn more and RSVP at https://www.ccadvocacycommunity.org/event-details/sparc-profile-power

Join Sammy's Place for the NEW Coastal Self-Advocacy zoom meeting! This meeting is every 3rd Tuesday from 4:40-5:30 pm, first time visitors need to register: https://forms.gle/FqSUreWVuD1mwBst5. This meeting is for individuals and families with IDD.

Join us in person for this quarter's policy oversight group meeting! Contact your personal agent by May 20th to order your lunch if you plan to join us! There will be a virtual option for those who cannot attend in person. All ISN individuals, their families, and their supports are welcome to attend, whether this is your first time, or you join us every time! For more information about the POG, visit the POG link on our website here.

The Oregon Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee (ODHHS) serve and act as a voice for the various Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities in Oregon. They provide feedback to ODHS. The Committee wants to hear more about the community’s needs — and how they can better support you and invite you to their Virtual Town Hall. This is your chance to:  Learn about the committee’s mission  Share your experiences and insights  Help shape future services  Get tips and resources ASL interpretation and CART captioning will be provided. Thursday, May 22nd | 6:00–7:30 PM Register here https://tinyurl.com/ODHHS-TownHall

Autism Society of Oregon (ASO) is holding their third annual autism walk in Salem. This will be a family-friendly, Autism-friendly event celebrating Autistic people and the Autism community, with proceeds to benefit ASO’s programs in the Salem Area! There will be a number of resource tables, including ISN, and opportunities to connect with others in the community. Registration this year is free! To register visit https://charity.pledgeit.org/c/8B5AxxOuTF Registration includes: the Autism Walk; 25+ Resource Tables; Costume Booth; Face Painter; Art Activities; and more! The Walk is a 1/2 mile loop, accessible to all. Fun Starts 10am ~ Walk at 11am ~ Carousel opens at 11am