UCP Oregon
  • HOME
    • Mission & History
    • UCP'S Leadership >
      • UCP'S Directors
      • UCP'S Board
    • Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • SERVICES
    • Brokerage >
      • Brokerage Services >
        • Brokerage Videos
    • Supported Employment >
      • For Job-Seekers
      • For Employers
      • Be "Ability Aware"
    • Supported Living
    • Children's Services
    • Family Support
    • Bill Porter Memorial Fund: For Applicants
  • CAREERS
    • Why You'll Love UCP
    • Careers FAQ
  • NEWS
  • EVENTS
    • Family Support Workshops
    • Family Support Group
    • Walk, Roll 'n' Run
    • Skate Night
    • Family Conference
  • WAYS TO GIVE
    • Donate
    • Raise Money While Shopping
    • Planned Giving
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Other Ways to Help
    • Give Parents a Break
    • Bill Porter Memorial Fund: For Donors >
      • Bill Porter Honor Roll
    • For Readers of Portland Business Journal >
      • Learn More About Us
  • This is Our Voice
    • Share Your Story
    • Be a Legislative Advocate
    • Formal Complaint
  • Share Your UCP Story

Mental Health Awareness Month 2022

5/17/2022

 
Picture
Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month?
 
The goal is to bring awareness to the importance of mental health and break the stigma.

About 25% of American adults experience a mental health challenge of some kind, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
 
But many people who experience mental health challenges keep their situation and stories to themselves—they’re afraid of being treated differently.
 
But, as Disability Rights California writes, “Especially during this challenging pandemic, it’s even more important to take care of ourselves and not be afraid to ask for help. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and it’s important to remember, we are not alone.”

Here are mental health resources recommended by various UCP employees:

  • https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey
  • https://cascadiabhc.org/services/crisis-intervention/
  • https://www.clackamas.us/behavioralhealth/services.html
  • https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
  • https://folktime.org/
  • https://www.hearing-voices.org/
  • https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/

AN UPDATE ABOUT LINDA

5/16/2022

 
Picture
​Hey, this is really cool!

A former customer of UCP Oregon was one of the consultants for Portland’s new inclusive playground at Gabriel Park.

You might remember Linda from her days as a customer of UCP Oregon's Supported Employment Services.

Linda used our services while she worked as a research assistant in Portland State University’s Universal Design Lab. She was also featured in one of our Annual Reports.

Linda recently served on Portland Parks & Recreation's Gabriel Park Playground Advisory Committee.
 
Linda was born in Portland—a city with numerous beautiful parks—but, as Linda says, when she went to the playground as a kid, “I could not do anything, but I would sit my feet in the wading pool.”

That's why Linda was delighted to serve on the Gabriel Park Playground Advisory Committee. While Linda wishes inclusive playgrounds had existed when she was a kid, late is better late than never!

The new playground officially opened on May 14th.
Picture

Join Us at the Parade!

5/11/2022

 
Picture
Do you love parades?

We're excited to tell you that UCP's Family Support Department will be participating in the 2022 Junior Rose Parade.


And we want EVERYONE who loves UCP Oregon--that's customers, families, friends, and employees--to join us!

The event will be held on June 8, 2022 from 1-3pm in the Hollywood District.
We should have more details soon.

​But if you already know you want to participate, you can sign up by contacting our Family Support Director below.
EMAIL KATHERINE TO LEARN MORE
PS: You can learn more about the Junior Rose Parade here.

AAPI Month, 2022

5/1/2022

 
Picture
 
Did you know that May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month?

​According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 10 Asian American adults have a disability. This can lead to some complicated experiences.

As activist Megan Liang writes, “As an Asian American woman with a visible disability, I have always felt as if all parts of my identity were for the world to see and judge… I felt like I couldn’t ask for help in fear that I would be seen as even smaller and weaker.” 

​That’s why Megan and others like her are hoping to shine a light on the intersection of disability and Asian identity.
 
Learn More:
  • https://assembly.malala.org/stories/fighting-for-visibility-for-asian-americans-with-disabilities 
  • https://www.respectability.org/2021/05/aapi-month-2021/
  • https://asamnews.com/2021/04/20/many-disabled-asian-americans-feel-alienated-in-both-the-asam-and-disabled-communities/

UCP NATIONAL'S 2022 CONFERENCE IS FREE AND ONLINE

4/16/2022

 
Picture
Hey, this is cool.
 
This year’s national UCP conference is virtual, free and open to the public!
 
Attendees will learn about:
  • recent research and innovative treatments for cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders,
  • accessibility and innovation in the transportation industry,
  • workforce challenges for direct support professionals,
  • and the most recent federal public policy affecting people with disabilities.
 
The conference will be held May 3–4, noon to 3:30 pm EST.
 
Register today!
LEARN MORE

IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES

4/8/2022

 
Picture
Happy Friday!
 
Would you like a job where you get a long weekend EVERY SINGLE WEEK?

It sounds like a dream, right?
 
Well, it’s not! We’re hiring for a 30-hour a week Admin/HR position where you get a three-day weekend, every single week (you get your choice of Mondays or Fridays off).
 
Imagine the possibilities!

Learn More

Autism Acceptance Month 2o22

4/5/2022

 
Picture

Hello! It’s April, and you know what that means… Autism Awareness Month. Or does it?
 
Last year, the largest grassroots autism organization in America (The Autism Society of America) decided to rename their celebration as Autism Acceptance Month (AAM). Other groups have been using the new name for longer, but, in any case, the new name is really taking off!
 
As Christopher Banks (the president and CEO of The Autism Society of America), says, "Awareness is knowing that somebody has autism. Acceptance is when you include (a person with autism) in your activities." [emphasis ours]
 
World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd) has not been renamed, but its focus has changed.
 
Originally, its focus was on “autistic children and finding a cure," as Ludmila Praslova, a professor and director of graduate programs who also experiences autism, explained. She says that many folks now focus on "acceptance and inclusion rather than a cure…” and celebrating “diversity and completeness."

​Sounds good to us!


Learn More:
  • https://www.autismempowermentpodcast.org/ep-15-autism-acceptance-month-2021-with-autism-empowerment-centering-autistic-voices/
  • https://sites.uab.edu/humanrights/2021/04/02/the-shift-from-autism-awareness-month-to-autism-acceptance-month/
  • https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/04/02/autism-acceptance-month-name-change/7243001001/

Yay, Advocates!

3/25/2022

 
Picture
Today is National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day 2022!
 
What are you doing to celebrate?
 
This week, a group of parent and adult advocates, clinicians and researchers celebrated CP Awareness Day by travelling to Washington DC, to give a briefing to Congress about CP!
 
The trip was organized by the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (which is not part of UCP), and was supported by Senator Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire) and Congressman Steve Cohen (Tennessee).
 
Way to go, advocates!

And, speaking of advocates, did you know that National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day in the United States was created by two moms? They felt it was vital to increase awareness of cerebral palsy, and to improve quality of care and research across the lifespan.                 

2022 World Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day

3/25/2022

 
Picture
Today is March 25th, and you know what that means!

It’s World Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day—an event that is celebrated around the world.
In some places, entire buildings are lit up with green to celebrate. Even Niagara Falls has “gone green” to celebrate Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day!

In honor of the day, you can:
  • Share your cerebral palsy related photos or story with the world. (Use this link.)
  • Join a disability-related advocacy group.
  • Use the #GoGreen4CP hashtag on social media.
  • Wear the color green.

HAPPY 6 MONTH BIRTHDAY TO UCP MENTORS!

3/17/2022

 
Picture
Hi, everyone! We just wanted to say… “Happy 6-month anniversary to UCP Mentors!”
 
As you probably know, UCP Oregon launched UCP Mentors (our second brokerage) on September 1, 2021.
 
Six months later, UCP Mentors is going strong… and so is our original brokerage (UCP Connections).
 
Here are some interesting facts about UCP Mentors:

  1. Current number of employees: 24.
  2. Current number of customers served: more than 530.
  3. Brokerage Director Sasha Vidales worked previously at The Mentor Network as a Personal Agent and Quality Coordinator.
  4. Some customers currently supported by UCP Mentors were originally enrolled with The Mentor Network when they opened in 2001.
  5. UCP Mentors recently added a Personal Agent who is bilingual in English and Spanish to support our Spanish-speaking community.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BROKERAGE SERVICES
<<Previous

    NEWS Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    July 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    August 2015
    November 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All
    AbilityAware
    Advocacy
    Bill Porter
    Board
    Brokerage
    Building Blocks
    CAREERS
    Children's Services
    Choices
    Community Inclusion
    Conference
    COVID19
    Customers
    Customer Survey
    Donations
    Employees
    Employment Solutions
    Events
    Family Support
    Fierce Love
    Foundations
    Friends Breakfast
    Fundraisers
    Helpful Links
    How To Help
    Jobs
    Mental Health
    News
    Our Voice
    Stories
    Supported Employment
    Supported Living
    UCP Connections
    UCP Foundations
    UCP Leadership
    UCP Mentors
    Volunteer
    WRR

UCP Oregon is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
©2022, All rights reserved.


Privacy Policy
UCP Oregon
305 NE 102nd Avenue, Suite 100
Portland, OR 97220

​Phone: 503-777-4166
​Fax: 503-771-8048
Email Us
Photo used under Creative Commons from Jason McHuff
  • HOME
    • Mission & History
    • UCP'S Leadership >
      • UCP'S Directors
      • UCP'S Board
    • Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • SERVICES
    • Brokerage >
      • Brokerage Services >
        • Brokerage Videos
    • Supported Employment >
      • For Job-Seekers
      • For Employers
      • Be "Ability Aware"
    • Supported Living
    • Children's Services
    • Family Support
    • Bill Porter Memorial Fund: For Applicants
  • CAREERS
    • Why You'll Love UCP
    • Careers FAQ
  • NEWS
  • EVENTS
    • Family Support Workshops
    • Family Support Group
    • Walk, Roll 'n' Run
    • Skate Night
    • Family Conference
  • WAYS TO GIVE
    • Donate
    • Raise Money While Shopping
    • Planned Giving
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Other Ways to Help
    • Give Parents a Break
    • Bill Porter Memorial Fund: For Donors >
      • Bill Porter Honor Roll
    • For Readers of Portland Business Journal >
      • Learn More About Us
  • This is Our Voice
    • Share Your Story
    • Be a Legislative Advocate
    • Formal Complaint
  • Share Your UCP Story