The Arc Oregon https://thearcoregon.org Achieve with us. Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:30:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://thearcoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cropped-ArcWebIcon-32x32.png The Arc Oregon https://thearcoregon.org 32 32 193039910 Ashley Hastings https://thearcoregon.org/ashley-hastings/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:32:05 +0000 https://thearcoregon.org/?p=37592 GAPS Advocate

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]]> Title GAPS Advocate Languages Spoken English Supervisor Diane Pearson

The post Ashley Hastings first appeared on The Arc Oregon.

]]> 37592 BethAnn Hayden https://thearcoregon.org/bethann-hayden/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:30:38 +0000 https://thearcoregon.org/?p=37588 ERC Consultant

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]]> Title ERC Consultant How I Can Help I can help you with tools, resources, and support to be an effective employer of your in-home support workers. Languages Spoken English | Spanish | French | German Supervisor Alice Massey

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]]> 37588 Paige Weiler https://thearcoregon.org/paige-weiler/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:20:33 +0000 https://thearcoregon.org/?p=37582 Provider Navigator

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]]> Title Provider Navigator | Health Care Advocate Favorite Quote “We don’t have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to.” – Brené Brown My “Why” I am a helper at heart and believe we all deserve to live our lives to the fullest. About Me My background in mental health has led me toward working with many wonderful communities such as older adults with and people with disabilities. I enjoy being a support in other people’s lives and find so much meaning in witnessing others succeed! I’ve lived in many wonderful states throughout my life but found a home in Oregon. In my spare time I love going to brunch with friends, bird watching, horror movies, and singing karaoke! How I Can Help As a provider navigator my biggest goal is to help you feel prepared and successful in navigating your role as a caregiver. I am able to do this through providing information, tools, education, and resources to you– so you walk away feeling confident in serving others. Caregiving is honorable work and I look forward to supporting you in it! As a Health Care Advocate I strive to help people live their life to the fullest. I approach this by centering individuals self-determination, finding resources to guide the process, and by reminding people of their strengths. I look forward to supporting you through whatever comes our way! Languages Spoken English Supervisor Alice Massey

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]]> 37582 Sonja Ronish https://thearcoregon.org/sonja-ronish/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:59:20 +0000 https://thearcoregon.org/?p=37572 ERC Consultant

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]]> Title ERC Consultant | Employer Resource Connection Favorite Quote “Created with a purpose” My "Why" Supporting others has been a life goal for me and the work I have done. I live for the purpose of helping others and striving to make a difference in their lives. About Me I have been in the caregiving field for 18 years. I started out providing care for my parents. Since then I worked in a variety of care settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult foster homes, hospice settings, and private family homes. I try to serve every person with the same degree of caring and support that I did for my own family members. How I Can Help I can help you with tools, resources, and support to be an effective employer of your in-home support workers. Languages Spoken English Supervisor Alice Massey

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]]> 37572 Alice Massey https://thearcoregon.org/amassey/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:46:19 +0000 https://thearcoregon.org/?p=37189 37189 Closing a Meaningful Chapter: The OTAC Legacy and Our Path Forward https://thearcoregon.org/otac-legacy/ Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:47:45 +0000 https://thearcoregon.org/?p=36750 Since 1984, OTAC, originally Oregon Technical Assistance Corporation, has played an instrumental role in advancing person-centered approaches to services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Oregon. Born as an independent nonprofit, OTAC earned a reputation for innovation and impact. From supporting the closure of the Fairview Training Center to helping shape person-centered planning practices statewide, OTAC has helped Oregon move toward more inclusive, community-based systems of support.

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Closing a Meaningful Chapter: The OTAC Legacy and Our Path Forward

September 30, 2025

Since 1984, OTAC, originally Oregon Technical Assistance Corporation, has played an instrumental role in advancing person-centered approaches to services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Oregon. Born as an independent nonprofit, OTAC earned a reputation for innovation and impact. From supporting the closure of the Fairview Training Center to helping shape person-centered planning practices statewide, OTAC has helped Oregon move toward more inclusive, community-based systems of support.

OTAC logo, Oregon Training and Consultation

In 2016, OTAC rebranded as Oregon Training and Consultation. Then in 2018, after several years of increasing funding challenges, OTAC merged with The Arc Oregon. Since that time, The Arc Oregon has provided additional funds to continue OTAC’s work and vision. Recent work has included providing training and consultation, as well as ongoing leadership for the Oregon ISP process.

However, in recent years, OTAC has faced continuing challenges. Demand for training services has declined, while the costs of developing and delivering meaningful, person-centered training have remained high. Despite persistent effort, we have not been able to identify a path toward sustainable revenue.

After careful evaluation, we have made the difficult decision to sunset the OTAC program. The remaining state contract that continues to provide training and technical assistance related to Oregon’s ISP process will remain active and will be transitioned into our Guardianship, Advocacy, and Planning Services (GAPS) program. We will continue to offer training opportunities and will share more about our offerings in the coming months. Our commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centered services remains unchanged.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to OTAC’s work over the past four decades: staff, trainers, families, self-advocates, government partners, and community organizations. Your collaboration and dedication helped shape a better future for thousands of Oregonians with IDD.

While this chapter is coming to a close, the values that OTAC championed—dignity, inclusion, and person-centered thinking—remain core to everything we do at The Arc Oregon.

For questions about this transition or to share your memories of OTAC’s legacy, please contact us at info@thearcoregon.org.

The Arc Oregon logo

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]]> 36750 Lindsay Dutton on Compassion Fatigue https://thearcoregon.org/lindsay-dutton-on-compassion-fatigue/ Mon, 05 May 2025 20:33:48 +0000 https://thearcoregon.org/?p=36392 Lindsay Dutton on Compassion Fatigue Our OTAC trainer and Mental Health First Aid instructor Lindsay Dutton was recently invited to contribute an article to The International Journal for Direct Support Professionals, and we sat down with her to talk to her about it. The Arc Oregon: Your article is called “Flipping the Switch: Compassion Fatigue […]

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Lindsay Dutton on Compassion Fatigue

Our OTAC trainer and Mental Health First Aid instructor Lindsay Dutton was recently invited to contribute an article to The International Journal for Direct Support Professionals, and we sat down with her to talk to her about it.

The Arc Oregon: Your article is called “Flipping the Switch: Compassion Fatigue to Compassion Satisfaction.” What is compassion fatigue?

Lindsay Dutton: Compassion fatigue is the profound emotional and physical erosion that takes place when helpers are unable to refuel and regenerate. Some people may relate to the concept of having ‘no spoons left to give’. I will save the details for the article, but symptoms can be physical, behavioral, or psychological.

The Arc: Why is compassion fatigue so common in social services?

LD: For one, I think lack of training about the importance of taking care of yourself. This is especially true when caring for others. 

Second, while it may seem obvious, this is a field all about helping humans. Humans are complex. It’s a field where you can do everything you can and still feel like it isn’t enough. Not enough resources, money, time, etc. It’s exhausting!

Third, the people who go into this field have big hearts and we tend to put our needs second. Some of us really struggle with the concept of ‘putting on your mask first’. This ties right back to the first point and the importance of self-care. 

The Arc: How has compassion fatigue affected your own life?

LD: Compassion Fatigue has touched my personal life for as long as I can remember. Personally, I supported my mom who lived with Bi-polar type 1 and then developed dementia. Advocating for my Mom felt like a never-ending cycle of overwhelm, defeat, and frustration. She passed in 2024, and I have been grieving not just her passing, but what could have been if our mental health system was better. Oregon is in last place, and I can say that my experiences reflect that. 

This brings up another important point. If you are in a caretaker role in your personal life, it’s even more critical to have a good self-care plan. You are at a higher risk of developing compassion fatigue if you are working in a helping profession while also caretaking in your personal life.

The Arc: What do you wish you’d known about compassion fatigue earlier?

LD: I wish I had known about the importance of self-care, well-being and what that truly means. Looking at the list of symptoms can be daunting, but they can have a serious impact on your life. Over time toxic stress and trauma can have serious effects on both our mental and physical health.

I put so much pressure on myself to do everything perfectly and to have all the answers, but you can’t. And that’s okay! Maybe that’s turning 40 talking. 

The Arc: Why did you decide you needed to tackle compassion fatigue as a trainer?

LD: When I was doing my mentorship to become a trauma-informed care trainer, I knew that I wanted to try to create something specifically for Case Managers and Providers. Learning about trauma can be a lot, it’s a heavy topic, but I think it can be approached in a way that finds balance between awareness and providing solutions and support.
Also, tackling small bits at a time, such as compassion fatigue, makes the information more digestible. This information is also counterbalanced by the other side- compassion satisfaction – and the role resilience plays. This training is both my literal and figurative ode to the helpers. I care deeply about caring for those that are caring for others and that, ultimately, is my ‘why’.

The Arc: This article was born from a training you developed called “Flipping the Switch.” How is a 90-minute training going to help someone better handle such a difficult problem?

LD: A 90-minute training is only going to do so much, and I don’t expect people to leave suddenly feeling like everything is fine and they don’t have a care in the world. 

However, what I worked very hard to do was present a difficult topic while also spending an equal amount of time on ways we can address the problem. Sometimes you go to a training and hear about the problem, but not enough time is spent talking about what we can do about it. I’m also very clear in the training (and article) that this is only one part of a much larger change that needs to happen within our organizations and systems. 

I’ve also received positive feedback about providing the time and space to create a support plan. I save about 10 minutes or so at the end for people to think of 5 things they can do to provide support during times of overwhelm and high stress. If nothing else, I hope the 90-minutes provides a break from their work and time to connect with others doing the same work. That connection and reminder that you aren’t alone can also help build some of that resilience. 

The Arc: What advice about compassion fatigue would you give someone just starting in social services?

LD: Many of us are so excited and energized about the opportunity to help people and make a difference when we enter the field. Don’t forget to take care of yourself! You will be more effective and help more people if you also make time to care for yourself.

Advocate for your needs and take advantage of training opportunities. Learning, in a safe space, about how trauma and toxic stress affect us can be life changing. It can also be triggering and a heavy lift, so always prioritize your well-being.

You can read Lindsay’s article “Flipping the Switch: Compassion Fatigue to Compassion Satisfaction” and watch a webinar about it at the National Alliance For Direct Support Professionals website here. You can also sign up for the next Flipping the Switch training by visiting our events page.

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]]> 36392 Chapter Spotlight: Jackson County https://thearcoregon.org/chapter-spotlight-jackson-county/ Mon, 05 May 2025 17:38:58 +0000 https://thearcoregon.org/?p=36373 Chapter Spotlight: Jackson County The Arc Jackson County has been really busy running impactful programs in their community! Below is a peek into what they’re up to. Community Events & Partnerships Throughout the year, we work together with local organizations to plan fun free events and activities that everyone can enjoy. Coming up, we’ve got […]

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Chapter Spotlight: Jackson County

The Arc Jackson County has been really busy running impactful programs in their community! Below is a peek into what they’re up to.

Community Events & Partnerships

Throughout the year, we work together with local organizations to plan fun free events and activities that everyone can enjoy. Coming up, we’ve got our ever-popular annual Spring Fling dance. We also will be putting on Sow & Tell, which is a partnership with our local family network and children’s museum. Our first parking lot party is coming up too! Check out our events page for more info!

Active with The Arc

The goal of Active with The Arc is to explore new and creative ways to live an active lifestyle while also familiarizing our community with new spaces that may be intimidating if accessed individually. Recently, this crew met up for karaoke, walked around Lithia Park, splashed at Rogue X, gone bowling, and hopped on the Rogue Jet Boats.

DSP Program

We are the only non-profit bilingual DSP program in Jackson County. Our goal is to give the best help we can through building strong relationships with the individuals and, their advocates and families, and our community. All the money we earn from our DSP Program goes right back into our community!

CommCard Program

Thanks to The Arc of Benton County, we are bringing the CommCard program to Jackson County. We are training our first group of cardholders now. Our hope is that this will help create a better relationship between individuals with disabilities and helping professionals in our community. This way everyone can feel safe and understood in a crisis.

Jackson County Self Advocates (JCSA)

We team up with Living Opportunities to support the Jackson County Self Advocate group. JCSA focuses on three main things: learning, advocacy, and having fun! They meet every month and attend conferences to share their message. They’ve made great friendships with other advocate groups and are proud to be a strong voice in their community and beyond!

The Arc Inclusion Scholarship

This scholarship helps people with disabilities of all ages and income levels join fun activities in their local community. This scholarship is one of our most beloved resources. It has helped cover swimming lessons, museum memberships, dance classes, and even supported a dance group to cheer at a Trail Blazer game!

DSP Program

We are the only non-profit bilingual DSP program in Jackson County. Our goal is to give the best help we can through building strong relationships with the individuals and, their advocates and families, and our community. All the money we earn from our DSP Program goes right back into our community!

The Arc Inclusion Scholarship

This scholarship helps people with disabilities of all ages and income levels join fun activities in their local community. This scholarship is one of our most beloved resources. It has helped cover swimming lessons, museum memberships, dance classes, and even supported a dance group to cheer at a Trail Blazers game!

The Ken Wonderly Fund

Since its establishment in 1991, The Ken Wonderly Fund has helped people with disabilities experiencing emergency needs. It’s the only fund of its kind in Jackson County, and we are extremely proud of it. We’re also very grateful to Oregon Community Foundation for funding it the last two years.

Housing Stabilization Program

We believe that a strong community includes everyone. Ensuring access to basic needs—such as housing—is a critical part of our community’s well-being. This is why we take part in community relief programs. We are currently home to OREDAP state funding, which helps people experiencing imminent eviction keep a roof over their heads.

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]]> 36373 Supporting Dignity of Risk https://thearcoregon.org/dignity-of-risk/ Thu, 24 Apr 2025 20:17:12 +0000 https://thearcoregon.org/?p=36290 Supporting Dignity of Risk Every person has the right to learn and one of the ways we learn is bytaking risks in life. It is important to understand the concept of dignity of risk, and how to assist people with supported decision-making. We take risks every day and by helping someone think through decisions and […]

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Supporting Dignity of Risk

Every person has the right to learn and one of the ways we learn is by
taking risks in life. It is important to understand the concept of dignity of risk, and how to assist people with supported decision-making. We take risks every day and by helping someone think through decisions and weigh options can support their dignity of risk.

Join us in this 90-minute online session to:

  • Understand the meaning of dignity of risk
  • Identify the difference between important TO and important FOR, and how to find the balance between the two
  • Explore creative ways to support a person’s dignity of risk through supported decision-making
  • Engage in hands-on practice and discussion to help promote dignity of risk

Meet your Instructor

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]]> 36290 Trauma Informed Care https://thearcoregon.org/trauma-informed-care/ Thu, 24 Apr 2025 20:02:26 +0000 https://thearcoregon.org/?p=36282 36282