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April 24, 2024
A Guide for Achieving Full Community Inclusion
We open our discussion about full community inclusion with powerful words from Sara Minkara, Special Advisor on International Disability Rights. “Making this world – the system, society – accessible for persons with disability is not an add-on, and
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April 23, 2024
What Disability Support Services Does ALSO Offer?
ALSO has been transforming the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1997. We are a nonprofit disability support services provider operating in many Oregon counties, including Portland Metro area, Deschutes, Klamath, Umatilla, Josephine, Jackson, and Harney.
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April 03, 2024
Respecting Autonomy in Relationships and Bodily Autonomy (Part 3)
Respecting Autonomy in Relationships and Bodily Autonomy It’s no secret: Positive social relationships foster health and happiness. But many people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) lack autonomy in relationships, which limits their opportunities to make friends. In fact, individuals with I/DD have an average
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March 28, 2024
The Importance of National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM). This annual celebration is led by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners.[1] The theme for 2024 is, “A World of Opportunities.” During this month,
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March 28, 2024
How People Supported Make a House a Home
It’s a great feeling after spending all day at work, or an evening with friends, when we walk through our door and say, “Ah, it’s good to be home!” ALSO is dedicated to delivering person-centered support services
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March 11, 2024
Respecting Autonomy in Healthcare and Finance (Part 2)
Remember when you bought that expensive year-long gym membership and used it for two months? Or that expensive toy, gadget, or outfit that spent most of the time in your toybox, drawer, or closet? Have you ever
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February 28, 2024
How Do Disabilities Impact Daily Life and Activities?
Do you ever go to bed at night thinking about the many things you’ve done during the day? That morning, you pulled yourself out of your slumber, then went to work or school. Maybe later you made
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February 27, 2024
How Can I Support a Family Member or Friend with a Disability?
It wouldn’t be surprising if you were a friend or family member of someone with a disability. About 1 in 6 children and teenagers are living with a developmental delay, disorder, or disability.
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February 12, 2024
Respecting Autonomy for People with I/DD (Part 1)
You probably believe that adults should be able to stay up late. To decide what they want for dinner. To choose their friends, or their spouses. So why do we deny those rights to people with Intellectual
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February 01, 2024
5 Common Misconceptions About People with Disabilities
“There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more.” Robert M. Hensel, Poet-Writer We all know the problem of assigning stereotypes to community members with disabilities. Still, the general public continues
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January 31, 2024
How to Be More Inclusive of People with Disabilities in My Community
Let’s say a TV reporter stopped you on the street, at a concert, or at the local coffee shop, and asked the following question: “Are you in favor of including people with disabilities
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December 21, 2023
“Management Actually Cares”: Long-Term Disability Advocates on Why They Stay at ALSO
Long-time disability advocate Mary Ricker has worked in residential services for ALSO for over twenty-one years, first as a direct support professional, and now as a manager in residential services. She credits her
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December 21, 2023
The Positive Impact of People with Disabilities on Communities
Eleanor Roosevelt, a prominent civic leader and the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was once asked why her husband did so much for his country and for the world, despite his disability. Her response was
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December 20, 2023
5 Ways People with Disabilities Overcome Social Barriers
Are you living with a disability? Are you someone who advocates for equal opportunity and full disability inclusion in our schools, public services, workplaces, and communities? If you answered ‘yes’ to either of these questions, you’ve probably seen
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December 15, 2023
“It’s All About Relationships”: Long-Term Disability Advocates on Why They Stay at ALSO
We all have a need to belong, to build lasting relationships. These relationships (or the lack of them) can impact our mental, physical, and emotional health, especially at work, where we spend
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December 15, 2023
“It's Just Awesome Watching Them Grow”: Long-Term Disability Advocates on Why They Stay at ALSO
In the U.S., 100,000-120,000 employees leave their jobs every day. Worker retention continues to be a big issue, even as the employment rate rebounds from the pandemic. According to the U.S.
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December 04, 2023
How Housing Affects Disability Support Services
“There is a myth that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can never live on their own and that’s something that is not true. We’ve had family members being introduced to our organization that have said ‘there’s no way
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November 29, 2023
From Direct Support Professional to Area Relief Specialist: “The Best 18 Years of my Work Life”
People looking for Direct Support Professional (DSP) jobs may be considering the usual criteria: wages, hours, and benefits. They may be looking for career advancement and/or fulfillment from helping
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November 21, 2023
Five Ways to Maximize Your Giving to ALSO
Every season of giving, donors seek ways to maximize the impact of their charitable contributions. Whether you’re already a supporter of ALSO, our nonprofit, or considering making a donation, we want to share five effective strategies to
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November 20, 2023
5 Ways You Can Make Your Holiday Get-Togethers More Accessible
Are you a friend or loved one of someone who’s living with a disability? Are you hosting a get-together that guests with disabilities might be attending? Whether hosting an event at home, or another location,
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November 17, 2023
“We Crush Myths Every Day”: Long-Term Disability Advocates on Why They Stay at ALSO
It’s not often you find people who rave about their job. Who can’t say enough good things about their team. Who say they go home fulfilled at the end of every
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November 03, 2023
How Family Preservation Services Help Children with Disabilities
The purpose, function and characteristics of family preservations is integral to understanding the importance of children’s services at ALSO. ALSO is a support services provider to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our team serves the Portland
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October 25, 2023
Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2023: A Triumph for the Community
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year’s theme is Advancing Access and Equity. 2023 is particularly exciting because it also commemorates 50 years since the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. What
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September 22, 2023
Top Skills You Can Learn by Becoming a DSP
Have you ever considered starting a career as a direct support professional? Are you interested in supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities? Did you know that in addition to making a real impact on the
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September 22, 2023
Why is Self-Advocacy Important for People with Disabilities?
Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to practice self-advocacy on a daily basis without even knowing it. We make our own choices about: How we spend our time, and who with What we do
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September 05, 2023
How to Save Money While on Disability: Open an Oregon ABLE Account!
Can you save money while on disability? If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), federal rules dictate that you can’t have resources (including savings accounts) that are
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August 31, 2023
10 Reasons We Are Grateful for our DSPs
Celebrating DSP Recognition Week 2023 Direct support professionals (DSPs) are the backbone of our work with individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. The expertise, advocacy, and care they bring to our work at ALSO is irreplaceable.
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August 23, 2023
What are the Responsibilities of a Direct Support Professional?
What is a Direct Support Professional (DSP)? At first glance, a direct support professional looks a lot like primarily a caregiver for someone with a disability— assisting with personal care, household chores, or other daily tasks.
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July 28, 2023
What is ADA Compliance?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990. Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it heralded sweeping regulations supporting the rights of people with disabilities. Although this law greatly expands the rights of individuals with
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July 27, 2023
What Life Can Be with Supported Living Services: The Deinstitutionalization of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Pt. 2
Joe arrives at our interview on his electric bicycle, having cycled to the coffee shop from his home in Tualatin. The thirty-six-year-old lives in his one-bedroom
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July 26, 2023
The Benefits of Hiring People with Disabilities
For some employers, hiring someone with a disability may initially feel a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, many employers, including small business owners, have discovered several advantages of embracing disability inclusion practices. What are the Benefits of Hiring People with Disabilities? In
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July 25, 2023
Supporting Students with Disabilities with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)
Individualized education plans (also known as IEPs) are a necessary step in ensuring that students with disabilities receive a high-quality education that supports opportunities for reaching their full potential as fully included and productive members of
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June 29, 2023
Assistive Technology in the Workplace for People with Disabilities
Are you a person with an intellectual and/or developmental disability? Are you a member of this person’s support system (e.g., parent, relative, or friend)? If so, you know that rewarding and enjoyable employment opportunities are critical
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May 25, 2023
Benefits of Sensory Play for Children with Disabilities
We all love to play, right? But did you know that play is so important to the development of a young child that many experts consider it the real work of childhood? In this article, the team
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May 25, 2023
The Importance of Life Skills for Young Adults with Disabilities
In this blog post, the service providers at ALSO shine a bright light on the importance of life skills for young adults with disabilities. The achievement of these essential skills is a key factor in
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April 27, 2023
Oregon Disability Rights: Everything You Need to Know
Are you interested in learning important facts about disability rights in the State of Oregon? Whether you are living with an intellectual or developmental disability, are a family member or friend of people with disabilities, or if
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April 18, 2023
From “Hell” to Independence For Some: The Deinstitutionalization of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Imagine, as an adult, living with 30 other people, people you did not choose to live with. Being instructed when to get up, when to go to bed, and when
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April 04, 2023
The Impact of Gardening for People with Disabilities
Gardening, whether it’s working with a vertical garden or a large plot, is a wonderful way to get in touch with nature. For people living with intellectual or developmental disabilities, gardening (or horticultural therapy) can be a
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March 31, 2023
Important Characteristics of a Direct Support Professional
The most rewarding jobs are often the most challenging. That’s definitely the case when it comes to a career as a direct support professional (DSP). At ALSO (Advocates for Life Skills and Opportunity), we can say for certain
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March 20, 2023
5 Tips for Reasonable Accommodation Requests
At ALSO, we believe that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve the opportunity for full inclusion in their community. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual is considered as having a disability if they have a
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March 03, 2023
6 Famous People with Disabilities to Celebrate During Developmental Disability Awareness Month
Yes, people with developmental disabilities (DD) make history. Some are rightfully famous worldwide. Others are only well known in the disability community. All of them have changed our world for the better. Join
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February 09, 2023
Benefits of Independent Living for People with Disabilities
The ability to live independently is something most of us take for granted. Within the limits of things such as income and the location of our job, we get to choose the home, career, recreational activities, and
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January 31, 2023
What to Know About Home Accessibility Grants
What is a Home Accessibility Grant? A home accessibility grant is a sum of money or services provided to an individual or an organization for the purpose of making the home environment safer and more accessible. Grants are
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December 16, 2022
Benefits of Assistive Technology for Students With Disabilities
What is Assistive Technology? In a very broad sense, most of us have used some kind of assistive technology (AT) during our lives. Consider eye glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids. Wheelchairs and grab bars, a must
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December 13, 2022
Celebrating ALSO's 25th Anniversary
Celebrate ALSO’s 25th Anniversary with Us! Back in 1997, ALSO began its mission to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Oregon. Since then, we have grown at a rate that we could have only dreamed of all those years ago. This year marks
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December 05, 2022
IADLs vs ADLs: What is the Difference?
In health support services, terms are used to help evaluate a person’s ability to perform tasks related to everyday life. Two of the most common terms are IADL and ADL. When you hear these terms, this is what
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November 23, 2022
Why Donate to ALSO?
Would you like to make a positive impact on the lives of our community members with intellectual and developmental disabilities? How about sharing in the dream-come-true of helping someone to get their first real paycheck? What about the excitement of helping a
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November 11, 2022
Bring Heart Work Into Your Life as a Part-Time Direct Support Professional
The decision to become a part of something that’s bigger than yourself doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds. In fact, with as little as 3 to 4 hours per week, you
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November 11, 2022
How to Promote Community Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities
Our discussion on community inclusion (also known as community integration) for people with disabilities begins with some important statements: “Every person with disability is an individual.” -Itzhak Perlman “Accessibility allows us to tap into everyone’s potential.”
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October 28, 2022
Helping Your Family Thrive: Resources and Services for Children with Disabilities in Oregon
“It takes a village to raise a child.” You’ve heard that saying dozens of times. Why? Because it’s true. And it’s especially true for families of children with developmental or intellectual disabilities,
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October 28, 2022
A History of ALSO
The history of ALSO is best described as an amazing journey. How did we get here? What made us national thought leaders in community living and support services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities? It all started with our impactful mission.
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October 28, 2022
DSP Recognition Week 2022
What is DSP Recognition Week? Direct Support Professional Recognition Week is a national celebration of the dedication, hard work, and passion that DSPs devote to supporting people with disabilities to live the most independent and high-quality life possible. It’s a time for all human services
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October 28, 2022
Benefits of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
Whether a small business or large corporation, companies are finally learning to appreciate the many benefits of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In addition, potential employees are actively seeking out organizations that have these wonderful attributes deep-rooted in
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October 28, 2022
Best Resources to Find Fulfilling Jobs as Direct Support Professionals
What is a Direct Support Professional? A DSP is someone who assists individuals who are living with physical, neurological, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Those who perform direct support professional work are critical in helping the people
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October 28, 2022
Honor Disability Pride Month
July is Disability Pride Month! The month of July is quite a momentous occasion for the disability community. On July 26th, 1990, lawmakers and disability activists came together to enact the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It welcomed a new era in the disability rights movement. Since then, people with
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October 28, 2022
What are Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities?
Although the terms intellectual disability and developmental disability have certain similarities, they have several distinct differences. Since 1997, we at ALSO have been paving the way for the highest standard in serving people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We
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June 29, 2022
8 Ways to Advocate for People with Disabilities
As fully committed Advocates of Life Skills and Opportunity (ALSO), we’re dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As friends, family, and co-workers, you also have an important role to play. We invite you to
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June 14, 2022
Disability Art Shows Us “What’s Beneath the Surface”
Mike Marble at his home studio. “A lot of times, at a restaurant or a store, people just look at the wheelchair and don’t get to know the person behind the disability,” says Mike Marble. “Oftentimes the
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May 25, 2022
Home Accessibility Solutions for People with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities
Want to make home more livable for someone experiencing intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD)? When it comes to providing home improvements for accessibility, most of the information you’ll find refers to obvious solutions, like wheelchair ramps*. But there are
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May 20, 2022
The Importance of "Person-Centered" Language
The way we communicate with others, about others, and for others, says a lot about who we are. This is why, at ALSO, we always use person-centered and identity-first language when we speak about and work with the people that we
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May 04, 2022
An Intimate Conversation with the Heart Workers at ALSO
At ALSO, our mission is this: To promote the full inclusion of people experiencing disabilities in the life of their community. A relatively short sentence… but it packs a lot of punch. First of all, when
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April 21, 2022
How to Apply for Social Security (SS) Disability Benefits (And Who to Trust to Help You)
Applying for Social Security (SS) disability benefits can feel like taking a test you weren’t sure how to study for. The information online can be confusing, asking you for
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April 21, 2022
Housing Crisis 2022: Its Outsized Impact on People with Disabilities
U.S. housing prices shot up 18.8% in 2021, the highest calendar year increase in 34 years of data. Residential rents typically follow home prices, and this past year was no exception. This January’s average rents
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April 11, 2022
From Sheltered Workshops to Individual Empowerment
The History of Disability Employment in Oregon Not so long ago, people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) were considered “unemployable.” Most lived with families or in institutions: not working, not earning money for themselves, not out in the community. When they were employed, it was in
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March 24, 2022
Jackie Armbruster | Supported Living Manager
It’s staff like Jackie Armbruster who put the heart in Heart Work. When she joined the team in 2018 as a Direct Support Pro, she quickly took advantage of opportunities to advance into a path of leadership with Advocates
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March 14, 2022
What is a Direct Support Professional?
Every person with an intellectual or developmental disability deserves the chance to live as independent a life as possible. He or she should be able to go to church, go to work, shop in the grocery store and have
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March 09, 2022
“To be in the community and live like anybody else”
Spotlight on ALSO External Affairs Committee Member Kaaren Londahl Kaaren Londahl gives the word “active” a whole new meaning. Besides working as a greeter at Community Pathways, she takes classes at PHAME, a fine and performing arts academy, and volunteers there as Facilities Assistant. She served
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February 17, 2022
The Impact of Supported Employment Services
What Are Supported Employment Services? “Supported Employment Services” refers to helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities obtain and maintain competitive employment. This employment in a business workplace is expected to pay wages and benefits. In the U.S., companies such as Meta (formerly Facebook) and
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February 16, 2022
Cutting Through the Confusion: How to Get Disability Services in Oregon
If you Google “disability services in Oregon,” you’ll retrieve a variety of websites, everything from government websites to companies offering to help you qualify for Social Security Disability. While government websites contain the information
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April 12, 2024
OHCS Awards More than $40 Million to Build and Preserve Over 400 Affordable Homes
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announces funding awards of more than $40 million in grants and tax credits to build and preserve 417 homes. The resources come from the
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April 11, 2024
Gresham’s ALSO Apartments Gets $4.8 Million to Build Affordable Units
A future Gresham apartment building has received a portion of a $40 million investment to construct new affordable units. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced the funding awards utilizing the federal 9% Low-Income Housing
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March 28, 2024
Kosmo Barnes and Life as a Direct Support Pro
Meet one of Direct Service Professionals (DSP) working for Advocates for Life Skills and Opportunity or ALSO, Kosmo Barnes. As a DSP, Kosmo’s job impacts the people ALSO supports by providing individual-focused services for people with
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March 07, 2024
ALSO’s Supported Living Program Makes a Difference in the Lives of Supported People
Advocates for Life Skills and Opportunity, or ALSO, supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with their Supported Living Program. The program assists the supported person to choose where and how they
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February 20, 2024
ALSO Assists Oregonians with Intellectual and Development Disabilities Find Employment
Advocates for Life Skills and Opportunity, (ALSO) is a nonprofit service provider to people experiencing disabilities in communities across Oregon. Founded in 1997, their mission is to promote the full inclusion of people experiencing disabilities
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November 10, 2023
Marcella Vail Hired at Advocates For Life Skills And Opportunities - ALSO
ALSO welcomes Marcella Vail as Chief Operating Officer. A visionary leader, Marcella brings expertise from her role as VP of People and Culture at Ruby. Committed to the full inclusion of people with
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June 05, 2023
Klamath County DDS Transitions to New Provider
On September 1, a new administrator will take over programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Klamath County, following the abrupt departure of Mentor Oregon. In June, the Mentor Network — a Massachusetts-based corporation that administers
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June 05, 2023
Sisters Living Facility Changes Hands
A new agency is taking over the reins at A Home To Share (AHTS), a local coop residence that was established about three years ago to offer accommodations for Sisters residents with developmental disabilities. The new nonprofit organization, Advocates for
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