UCP Oregon announces that Executive Director Ann Coffey will retire effective January 30, 2026, concluding a distinguished career dedicated to advancing opportunity, independence, and inclusion for people with disabilities across Oregon. During her many years with UCP Oregon, Ann provided steady leadership, helped guide significant organizational growth, and played an important role in shaping services and advocacy within Oregon’s intellectual and developmental disabilities community. Reflecting on her journey, Ann shared, “The work we’ve done together—the growth, the advocacy, the courage, the change—has been the honor of my professional life.” UCP’s Board of Directors is currently developing a thoughtful transition plan and will share additional updates as they become available. Our programs and operations will continue without interruption. We are deeply grateful for Ann’s extraordinary service and leadership, and we wish her the very best in retirement. 
Hello, UCP Community.
Our Family Support Department is excited to share an upcoming community event. Brian Trapp, director of Disability Studies at the University of Oregon, would like to invite members of the UCP community to Broadway Books on Thursday, January 29th at 6pm to talk about his novel, Range of Motion. Brian says, “Range of Motion is about the secret language of siblings and the resilience of special needs families. It’s partly based on my experience growing up with my twin brother, who had cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities and was also a funny, playful, and complex person. I’ll be in conversation with PSU Professor Gabriel Urza, author of the novel Silver State. I’ll talk about growing up in a special needs family, writing caregiving and disability, and how to think about people like my brother in more profound ways. I think this is an important story for caregivers, parents, sibs, and disabled people alike.” 
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Martin Luther King Jr. Every year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day invites us to pause and reflect on Dr. King’s words and the values he stood for. His message always resonates—but this year, it feels especially present. Dr. King challenged us to look beyond ourselves, to notice where injustice exists, and to recognize our shared responsibility to one another. Dr. King’s vision reminds us that justice isn’t abstract or distant. It shows up in everyday choices—in how communities care for one another, and in whether everyone is given the opportunity to belong, participate, and thrive. And so we pause today, and consider—individually and together—what it takes to build A Community for Everyone. |