Empowered IDD Resources
County-by-county activities, sensory-friendly outings, Easter events, self-advocacy trainings, adaptive sports, arts programs, and community events for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families across Oregon.
Featured April Highlights
The most broadly useful events this month for self-advocates, families, providers, and community partners — plus key upcoming opportunities.
♾️ FeaturedSelf-Advocate Guide to I/DD Services — Training Series
ODDS Leadership Budget Meetings
FACT Oregon Special Education Conference
Breaking Barriers: Life Beyond Labels
ODDS Community Conversations Survey
Empowered Services Hosted Events
Activities hosted and organized by Empowered Services — for the people we support. Open to individuals of all abilities.
🐣 Annual EventEmpowered Services Annual Easter Egg Hunt
🧗 New!Rock Climbing Wall — George Fox University
🎨 ArtsBouquet Stamp Art — Fun at the Library
Weekly Bowling
🧱 PartnerFun with Legos — ES + ASO + Connection Club
SponsoredSensory-Friendly Movie Nights
🦁 May PreviewComing Soon: Discovery Days Wildlife Safari
Free Easter & Spring Events
Inclusive, free egg hunts and spring celebrations across Oregon — great low-barrier community outings.
🐣 Free EventsFree Easter Egg Hunts Across Oregon
County-by-County Events
Organized by place so caregivers and coordinators can find local options fast. Includes April events and ongoing programs.
Washington County
Beaverton · Hillsboro · Cornelius
♾️ Major24th Annual Autism Walk · Beaverton
Connection Club & ASO — Washington County
30+ EventsHillsboro Adaptive Recreation — April
Clackamas County
Oregon City · Milwaukie · Wilsonville
FORGE: Parenting Inside Out
Special Olympics: Cornhole — Milwaukie
Multnomah County
Portland · Gresham
♾️ Autism MonthA Day at OMSI — Autism-Friendly
ASO & Community — Portland
Disability Services Advisory Council (DSAC)
Yamhill County
McMinnville · Newberg
Yamhill County Resource Fair
Marion County
Salem · Keizer
Polk County
Dallas · Fairgrounds
Fam Jam — Polk County Fairgrounds
Clatsop County
Warrenton · Oregon Coast
“Color the Coast” Autism Walk / Fun Run
Lane County
Eugene · Springfield
Deschutes County / Central Oregon
Redmond · Bend
Ladies Who Lunch · Bend
Jackson County
Medford · Southern Oregon
Medford Sensory Friendly Egg Hunt
Jefferson County
Madras
Potty Training Workshop · Madras
Lake County
Christmas Valley — rural highlight
Sensory Friendly Play Day · Christmas Valley
Klamath County
Klamath Falls
Statewide, Online & Support Groups
Best fallback when a county has few public listings or a family needs flexible virtual access.
ODDS Self-Advocacy Hub
Best statewide entry point for self-advocates — service planning, ONA, ISP meetings, rights, and monthly feedback sessions.
- April training Zoom registration
- Self-Advocate Guide + videos
- Community Conversations: 1st Wednesday monthly, noon–1 PM (no registration needed)
FACT Oregon
Best statewide family training for special education, advocacy, systems navigation, and school-related questions.
- April 4 special education conference
- FACT Oregon main site
- IEP, behavior, mediation, and parent participation resources
Autism Society of Oregon
Best rolling source for sensory-friendly movies, drop-in hours, walks, social groups, and community events statewide.
Online Support Groups
Virtual support and connection options — especially useful for rural families and individuals who prefer remote access.
- Autistic Adults Support Group — Wednesdays, 3:30 PM (18+)
- NAMI Parent Support Group — April 1, 4:00 PM
- ASO/Synergy Parent Group — April 25, 10:00 AM
- Intersectional Identity Group — April 27, 1:30 PM
- All ASO online events
Special Olympics Oregon
Year-round free sports training and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across Oregon.
- Apr 12 — Cornhole (Milwaukie) + Powerlifting (Newberg)
- Apr 18 — Powerlifting (Klamath Falls)
- Apr 19 — Powerlifting (Springfield)
- Summer registration opens in spring: track, bocce, golf, softball
- Full SOOR events calendar
Oregon Adaptive Sports
Non-competitive outdoor recreation — skiing, cycling, hiking, and year-round adaptive programs in Central Oregon.
- OAS main site
- Great for individuals who prefer outdoor, non-competitive activities
Arts & Creative Programs
Studios, workshops, and inclusive creative spaces for individuals with I/DD and autism — many are ongoing and accept rolling enrollment.
North Pole Studio
Professional art studio + gallery for individuals with autism and I/DD. Art classes, studio space, and opportunities to sell artwork.
- northpolestudio.org
- One of the best art career programs in Oregon for adults
Elbow Room PDX
Inclusive community art studio focused on creative expression, mentorship, and exhibitions for people with I/DD.
- elbowroompdx.org
- Low-pressure creative space — great for building confidence
Portland Adaptive Recreation
Creative arts classes + social activities for teens and adults with disabilities through Portland Parks.
- Portland Parks Adaptive Rec
- Runs in sessions — easy to plug into services
Multnomah Arts Center
Structured classes: drawing, painting, ceramics, music, and creative arts in an inclusive environment.
ACAP — Autistic Community Activity Program
Recreation-based learning for individuals with autism: crafts, creative group activities, and camps with art components.
- acappdx.org
- Great for youth + structured programming
THPRD Adaptive & Inclusive Recreation
Tualatin Hills Parks — offers adaptive arts, sensory-friendly creative events, and inclusive programming.
Key Oregon Service Resources
For services, eligibility, and system navigation — not just events.
ODHS I/DD Services
Primary statewide landing page for Oregon I/DD supports, eligibility, and program structure.
Brokerage + County Navigation
The right local system entry point rather than a general event list.
County / Rights Support
When families hit roadblocks or need county-specific contacts and rights-oriented support.
How to Use This Guide
Start with county. If a county has limited public listings, move to statewide online trainings and statewide calendars. For this population, a smaller predictable event is often more useful than a larger impressive one.
County cards, event dates, and direct registration links.
ODHS, CDDP, brokerage, self-advocacy, and rights pages.
We’re adding audience filters (child, adult, caregiver) and more rural counties each month.
Looking for Compassionate Care?
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