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A Sad Announcement

1/26/2021

 
It is with a heavy heart that we announce changes to UCP Oregon’s Supported Employment Department (“Employment Solutions”).
 
Employment Solutions supports adults who experience disabilities to find and keep fulfilling jobs in the community. As you might imagine, COVID-19 has had a huge effect on this department.
 
In March of 2020, most of the department’s employed customers lost their jobs due to COVID-19 restrictions, with very few able to be rehired in a contracting economy.
 
Over the intervening months, we have attempted to keep the department as whole as possible. We applied for (and received) COVID-19 relief grants. But three layoffs were necessary in July, and we are now forced to restructure again.
 
Department changes include:
  • Eliminating the Department Director and two full-time Job Coach positions.
  • Phasing out UCP’s employment services in Washington County. (We will to offer services in Multnomah and Clackamas counties.)
  • Exiting a few customers from our services.
  • Becoming more selective about the job seekers we support.

These changes will have a tremendous impact on UCP Oregon’s community. We are saying goodbye to some of our best and brightest, including our Employment Solutions Director, Melissa Miller. Read more about Melissa, and her contributions, here. 
 
Affected customers and employees have been informed, but if you have questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Celebrating Melissa Miller

1/26/2021

 
As many of you know, UCP has been forced to implement layoffs in our Supported Employment Department.
 
One of the biggest changes was that the department’s Director, Melissa Miller, was laid off. We’d like to take a moment to celebrate and honor Melissa’s achievements at UCP.
 
Melissa started at UCP more than 17 years ago. She applied to be a “Roommate” (a live-in caregiver), hoping to get a job and a place to live. As she says, though, she ended up finding “a family, a community and a mission.”
 
That mission? As Melissa says, it’s to “PUSH THE ENVELOPE and NEVER STOP PUSHING for those who need support.”
 
Over the years, Melissa worked in many of UCP’s departments, supporting and interacting with hundreds of customers and employees. She met her husband at UCP, and started her own family. Meanwhile, Melissa was creating a new department, Employment Solutions, and serving as a statewide advocate and voice.
 
As UCP’s Executive Director, Ann Coffey says, “Melissa is bold, fearless, opinionated, hard-working, and full of gusto. She moves mountains. And she will continue to push the envelope for equity and justice, wherever she may roam.”
 
Melissa’s right-hand woman, Nicole Vivanco, will step into a new role as manager of the Employment Solutions team.
 
Learn more about recent changes to Employment Solutions here.

HAPPY NDEAM!

10/1/2020

 
Picture
Happy NDEAM to you!

Wondering what NDEAM means? It stands for "
National Disability Employment Awareness Month," and it happens every October.

The 2020 NDEAM is pretty special. That's because we're celebrating both the 75th observance of NDEAM... and the 30th anniversary of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)!

Both milestones are being celebrated across the country with a range of events, all centering on the theme "Increasing Access and Opportunity."

UCP Oregon's fantastic supported employment division (Employment Solutions) creates "access and opportunity" every day! 
Learn More About Employment Solutions

UCP Customer Featured on KGW

3/4/2020

 
Picture
A UCP customer, Alex, recently appeared on KGW. 

Alex worked with 
Julie Guzman, an Employment Specialist with UCP's Employment Solutions, to get a job at Parr lumber. As Julie says, “Work is so much more than a paycheck. It's the ability to be socially active, to meet new people, to build friendships, to grow."

Alex experiences Fragile X Syndrome, but doesn't let it hold him back. As Julie says, "Alex is just an amazing guy. He has significant challenges, but he is so resilient, and he just overcomes them with his personality, with his enthusiasm and he is one of the hardest workers I know."

Chris Hansen, the Parr district manager, says that he doesn't know who "gained more from the experience, my guys or Alex, or myself. It was just completely a good experience all around.”
Watch the KGW Video
Learn More About Employment Solutions at UCP

Congrats to Linda

2/13/2020

 
Congratulations to a UCP customer, Linda Akagi! Linda was accepted for her first research publication--Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Artificial Intelligence!

Linda Akagi, B.S., is a research assistant in the at the PSU Universal Design Lab, and experiences cerebral palsy and complex communication needs. Linda leads the AAC Design Council, a forum for people with complex communication needs to influence the direction of AAC technology and research. She is dedicated to helping serve children, teenagers, and adults obtain AAC systems and be inspired to change people’s expectations.

PS: Kudos, too, to Linda's UCP Employment Specialist (Alex Raines of UCP Oregon’s Employment Solutions), who assisted Linda to get her job at PSU.

AbilityAware HaPpy Hour

10/26/2019

 
On Thursday, October 24, 2019, we had an amazing time hosting our very first “AbilityAware Business Awards Happy Hour."

The event was held at the Armory in Downtown Portland. We celebrated businesses that are committed to employing Oregonians who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities.

It was empowering (and fun) to hang hang out with so many leaders, innovators and advocates! Thanks to everyone who attended or helped with the event!

Congrats to Katie

6/14/2019

 
Picture
Katie is a customer of UCP's Supported Employment (which we call "Employment Solutions"). She uses our services to support her in her employment goals.

Katie works at PetsMart in Tualatin. We're excited to announce that Katie was recently awarded Employee of the Month!

Her management team says that Katie "is amazing with customers! She loves the animals she works with and always has a smile."

Congrats, Katie. We are so happy for you!

Learn More About Employment Solutions

Kristin Talks about Real Jobs

3/26/2019

 
Kristin is a hardworking, friendly, person who wants a job that is meaningful to her. UCP's Employment Solutions worked with Kristin and a local coffee shop to make it possible! Watch this fun video to learn more.

It's About the People

12/12/2018

 
Picture
If you're lucky, you like your job. If you're really lucky, you get to like your co-workers, too.

Billy is a News Seasons employee who likes his job--and his co-workers, especially Phillip. UCP's Employment Solutions supports Phillip to work at New Seasons, so we're super excited to hear what Billy has to say about Phillip:

"Thursdays are my favorite day of the week because that's the day I get to work side-by-side with Phillip. It's an absolute honor and pleasure to have a co-worker like Phillip. He adds to my quality of life and I add to his; it's a win-win situation!"
                          --Billy at New Seasons
Find Out More About UCP's Employment Solutions

Congrats to Our Ability Aware Award Winners

11/7/2018

 
UCP Oregon’s Employment Solutions department assists job-seekers who experience disabilities to find meaningful jobs in the community. Once the individual has the job, we can provide initial training and on-going supports as needed—all with the goal of ensuring the newly hired employee is as independent as possible.

Read More
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UCP Oregon
305 NE 102nd Avenue, Suite 100
Portland, OR 97220

​Phone: 503-777-4166
​Fax: 503-771-8048
Email
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
    • Supported Employment >
      • For Job-Seekers
      • For Employers
      • Be "Ability Aware"
    • Brokerage >
      • Brokerage Videos
    • Supported Living
    • Children's Services
    • Family Support
    • Bill Porter Memorial Fund: For Applicants
  • CAREERS
    • Why You'll Love UCP
    • Careers FAQ
  • NEWS
  • EVENTS
    • Meet the Babies
    • Family Support Classes
    • Family Support Group
    • Skate Night
    • Walk, Roll 'n' Run
    • Family Conference
  • WAYS TO GIVE
    • Donate
    • Raise Money While Shopping
    • Planned Giving
    • Be a Corporate Partner
    • Vehicle Donations & More
    • Bill Porter Memorial Fund: For Donors >
      • Bill Porter Honor Roll
    • Give Parents a Break
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Info
  • This is Our Voice
    • Share Your Story
    • Be a Legislative Advocate
    • Formal Complaint