Advocate Access NW

03/16/2026

🎮✨ You’re invited to our very first Tech & Gaming Club! ✨🎮

😎We’re starting a new space for people who enjoy video games, tech, and connecting with others who share those interests. Whether you’re a casual player, a retro game fan, or just curious to check it out, you’re welcome here.🤩

🗓March 20th
⏰3:30–5 PM
📍St. Helens Community Center

🍕For our first gathering we’ll have pizza, drinks, Mario Kart (Switch), and Mario Party 7 (GameCube) while we get to know each other and talk about what games everyone enjoys. Your ideas will help shape what this group becomes!

🎮 Feel free to bring controllers, games, or retro consoles if you’d like to share.

👾 Come for a little while or stay the whole time — whatever works best for you.

👉 Please register so we can have an accurate headcount for food & drinks:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=VdipJLbD8EqZ-qoHNYwc78JBUxXHpPdIm0Ov2-rDnSJUNVRWOEJGUzZWTEhaQ1QwOE01VDczS0lKWS4u

🍀We’re excited to build this group with the people who join it and can’t wait to see what everyone likes to play!

03/16/2026

🍿✨ Comfort Cinema Club is coming up!

Don’t forget to register so you can help choose the movie for our next cozy movie afternoon. Everyone who registers will receive a voting link next week to help decide what we watch! 🎬

This month’s movie choices are:
🌺 Lilo & Stitch (live action)
🤖 Wall-E
🤠 Toy Story
🚗 Cars
🐭 Stuart Little
🐻 Jungle Book

Jammies, blankets, and comfort items are always welcome - we’ll bring the snacks and the cozy vibes. 💛

Register soon so your vote counts. We can’t wait to spend another comfy movie afternoon together!



https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comfort-cinema-club-march-tickets-1984312010640?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

03/16/2026

📅 Halfway through the month already!😎

With daylight savings bringing us more evening light, there’s still plenty of time to get out, connect, and enjoy what’s left of this month’s events with Advocate Access NW.🩵

👀Take a look at our monthly calendar to see what’s still coming up; from weekly favorites to special gatherings, there are lots of opportunities to spend time in community and try something 🆕.

✨ And keep an eye on our socials this week. We’ll be sharing reminders, updates, and a few extra things you won’t want to miss.✅

We can’t wait to see you out and about!🍀

03/12/2026

🩵Your voice matters to us.🩵

📲Member Satisfaction Surveys will be sent via email or text to members and guardians very soon! These surveys give you the opportunity to share your experiences and help guide how we continue to grow and improve our services.

✨The survey is completely anonymous, and your feedback plays an important role in shaping the support and opportunities we provide.✨

📝If you have not received the survey by March 13, please:
• Check your email spam or junk folder
• Reach out to us if you still have not received it

🫶Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and help us continue building services that reflect the needs and voices of the people we support.

03/12/2026

🐴 Don’t forget to sign up for our NeuroConnect Field Trip next week!🧠

We’re heading to The Sande School of Horsemanship on March 19th for a free, informational, and interactive visit where we’ll learn about a new mental health program designed to support individuals, caregivers, and families in the I/DD community.

During this visit, we’ll explore EquiTerra Integrative Mental Health, a program that partners professional mental health providers with trained horses to support goals like emotional regulation, communication skills, trauma recovery, and more. Nature and animal interaction can be powerful tools for healing and growth. This is a great opportunity to learn about new supports available in our community and experience the space firsthand.

✨ Please make sure to register for both NeuroConnect and EquiTerra before attending.

🔗 Sign up here:
✅ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982718772221?aff=oddtdtcreator
✅ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1HEJk2SmwbQ_T-E0IAAHwuRbYu7B42nx1Dhvfb6wM3ZxqQw/viewform

We’re excited to learn together and can’t wait to see you there! 💙

03/11/2026

🔥 Snag the Swag! Official Sale SOON🔥

Join us March 20th from 3–7 PM for a special Advocate Access NW merch sale! Snag some official gear and show your support for the community. 💙

It’s the perfect chance to grab some comfy swag, represent Advocate Access NW, and connect with the community. When you grab some merch, you’re also helping fund our community events and inclusive gatherings throughout the year.🤩

✨ One day only - March 20th, 3 PM - 7 PM! Don’t miss it!

03/11/2026

🍿 Don’t forget to register for Comfort Cinema Club this month!

Join us for a cozy afternoon of movies, snacks, and community on March 28th at 1:00 PM in St. Helens. Come comfy — jammies, blankets, and favorite comfort items are absolutely welcome. 💛

✨ Light snacks and beverages provided
✨ Sensory items available
✨ A warm, inclusive, and welcoming space for everyone

Spots are limited, so be sure to register to save yours!⤵️🎟
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1984312010640?aff=oddtdtcreator

📍 235 S 15th St, St. Helens
🗓 March 28, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM

03/11/2026

✨ Wednesdays are all about connection, creativity, and community. ✨

Whether you’re joining friends, trying something new, or just looking for a welcoming space to spend part of your day, our Wednesday groups are here for you. Come to one, come to all, or stop by when it works for you. 💛

💎 Jewelry Junction | 10 AM – 12 PM
Spend the morning getting creative with Jollie at the St. Helens Senior Center. Make jewelry & crafts while connecting with others.

🎳 Pin Pals | 3 PM – 4 PM
Roll into the afternoon with bowling, laughs, and great company at Oregon Trail Lanes with Curtis.

🃏 Magic: The Gathering Group | 4 PM – 5 PM
Join Devin and fellow players at Pantheon Comics & Games for cards, strategy, and a fun community of gamers.

We love seeing this group grow each week and there’s always room for building connections.🩵

03/10/2026

🥳

Join Us tomorrow for our DD Awareness Celebration Event: MARCH 10, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM at the Barbara Roberts Human Services Building in Salem. Can't attend in-person? Join Us on Zoom at https://bit.ly/Oregon-DD-Awareness



Event Program:

Welcome:
Brent Watkins, Interim Executive Director, OCDD

Reading of the Proclamation:
Kelly McCauley, OCDD Chair

Guest Speakers:

- Amelia Abel, Reality Kitchen Board Member and Arc Lane County Employee
- Paulina Larenas, OCDD Family Member Committee Chair
Em Braman, Executive Director, The Arc of Oregon

Keynote address:
Allen Hines, Housing Access Director, Community Vision

Poster Unveiling Remarks:

Justin Connolly, Chair, Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition (OSAC)
Gabrielle Guedon, Executive Director, OSAC

Self-advocates Unveil the 2026 DD Awareness Poster

Closing Speaker:
Acacia McGuire Anderson, Director, ODHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services(ODDS)

Cake and Refreshment will follow the program.

03/10/2026

💚Social Hour is happening this afternoon!💚

Looking for a relaxed place to connect, chat, and spend time with others? Come join us for Social Hour today. It’s a welcoming space to hang out, catch up with friends, and meet new people in the community.😎

Whether you stay for a little while or the whole time, we’d love to see you there. 💬

03/10/2026

Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition (OSAC) is partnering with ODHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services on a training series.
Together, we are leading a 5-week online training with self advocates across Oregon. The training is about the Self-Advocate Guide to I/DD Services. It is for self-advocates and the people who support them.

Each session is one hour long. Self-advocate trainers will walk through the guide with staff from OSAC and ODDS.

Each week, we will talk about one chapter:
• Advocating for yourself – March 19, 2026, 3–4 PM
• Introduction to Oregon I/DD services – March 26, 2026, 3–4 PM
• Oregon Needs Assessment (ONA) – April 2, 2026, 3–4 PM
• Individual Support Plan (ISP) meetings – April 9, 2026, 3–4 PM
• Your rights and disagreements in I/DD services – April 16, 2026, 3–4 PM

Register for this training using this link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/Lr-FMX_mTa-DLg3gFHg1sg #/registration

03/09/2026

🍀🫧Creative Connections Club-Tonight! 🫧🍀

Join us TONIGHT (3/9) from 4–6 PM for another fun evening of creativity!

We’re making March / St. Patrick’s Day themed bubble art—a super fun way to create awesome designs using creative tools and colorful bubbles 🎨✨🍀

It’s messy, magical, and a great chance to try something new and make some amazing art.
Bring a friend and come get creative with us! We can’t wait to see you there! 🫧🎨