Oregon Legislative Workgroup on Autism to Hold Community Forums

An Oregon Legislative Workgroup is hitting the road to hear from families and community members on Autism Support.
I received the information below in an email from Oregon State Representative Chris Edwards' office:

In response to the growing numbers of Oregonians facing the challenge of Autism Spectrum Disorder, a legislative work group led by State Rep. Chris Edwards will host a series of community meetings across the state to hear from parents and advocates of people with autism.

The tour will begin in Bend on Monday Aug. 18th, with stops in NE Portland on Aug. 19th, Eugene Aug. 20th, Beaverton Sept. 9th, Coos Bay Sept. 10th, and Medford on Sept. 11th. In order to reach every corner of the state, a teleconference will be hosted from Salem on Sept. 8th.
The Oregon Autism Project was conceived last May when State Reps. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland) and Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland) asked Rep. Edwards (D – Eugene/Junction City), to lead a legislative work group looking into ways children and adults with autism spectrum disorder can be better served.
(You can view an Autism report on preliminary findings here from The Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities.)
Over the course of the last two months the group has worked to assess current services, investigate other states’ best practices and begin the process of bringing the various components of autism services in the education and health sector together to provide a higher and more efficient standard of care. The group has compiled a draft report with preliminary findings and recommendations for the 2009 Legislature.

Before presenting a final set of recommendations to a joint meeting of the Interim House Committees on Education and Healthcare, the workgroup will be hosting the statewide tour to receive feedback from individuals and families on the report compiled by the workgroup.

“Our group has worked hard to do the preliminary work pulling different stakeholders together, but now is the time to hear from families around the state about their needs, their goals and their challenges in accessing state services for their loved one with autism,” said Edwards.” To view a copy of the preliminary findings please visit the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities website at www.ocdd.org.

Forum Schedule/Itinerary:
Who: Rep. Chris Edwards, and members of the Oregon Autism Project
What: Statewide Autism Tour
When: Time: All meetings will be from 6:30-8:00 pm
Where:
Bend: Aug. 18th,
Bend School District Administration Center,
520 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701
N. Portland: Aug. 19th
Kaiser Town Hall
3704 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97277
Eugene: Aug. 20th
Harris Hall
125 E. Eighth Ave, Eugene, Oregon 97401
Salem: Sept. 8th
Teleconference
Details TBA

Beaverton: Sept. 9th
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, South Auditorium
9205 SW Barnes Rd.
Portland, OR 97225
Coos Bay: Sept. 10th
Coos Bay Public Library
525 Anderson Ave, Coos Bay, OR 97420
Medford: Sept. 11th
Details TBA

All the best to you!
Lon

Bookmark this on Delicious