Empowered IDD Resources
Oregon county-by-county IDD events, sensory-friendly outings, summer camp registrations, adaptive sports, mental health supports, and family resources — all in one place.
Featured May & Ongoing Highlights
High-impact programs and recurring opportunities across Oregon — for self-advocates, families, providers, and community partners. Evergreen anchors paired with May-specific picks.
♾️ FeaturedSelf-Advocate Guide to I/DD Services — Training Series (Continues)
FACT Oregon — May & Summer Workshops
OHSU UCEDD Training Series
Mental Health Awareness Month — IDD Focus
ODDS Community Conversations
Empowered Services Programs & Upcoming Events
Ongoing weekly activities, monthly partnerships, and upcoming adventures hosted by Empowered Services — for the people we support. Open to individuals of all abilities.
🦁 Annual EventDiscovery Days Wildlife Safari — Winston
Weekly Bowling — Ongoing
MonthlySensory-Friendly Movie Nights
🧱 OngoingFun with Legos — ES + ASO + Connection Club
💐 Mother’s DayFun at the Library — Mother’s Day Cards
☀️ Summer PreviewComing This Summer with ES
May 2026 — Confirmed Events Calendar
Verified dated events happening across Oregon this month. Sourced directly from partner organizations (Autism Society of Oregon, NAMI, Resource Connections Oregon, Club EMU, CODSN, and county partners). Scroll by week to plan ahead.
These are partner-hosted events, not Empowered Services events. Always confirm details with the host organization via the link on each card before attending — capacity limits and last-minute changes happen.
Week 1 · May 1–2
Game Night · Beaverton
Grupo de Apoyo para Padres de Autismo
Week 2 · May 3–9
Fun with Legos · Newberg
🌟 May the Fourth Be With You — Star Wars Party
Fun with Legos · Lake Oswego
Fun with Legos · Albany Carousel
Game Club with Club EMU
Joy in the Journey Resource Fair
Autism Walk in Eastern Oregon
Sensory Friendly Movie · Roseburg
Week 3 · May 10–16 (Mother’s Day Week)
🧠 Eugene Peer Support Group
🔬 Sensory Sensitive Evenings — Eugene Science Center
“Not-So” Taco Tuesday (Eastside)
Grupo de Apoyo de Padres NAMI en Español
All Together Playground / Grupo de Juego
All-Ability Gaming Socials · Ashland
Whole Life, Whole Community Conference
🎭 ASO Cosplay Group · Beaverton
Passport to Inclusion (PDX)
🌳 Where Connections Take Root — Family Fun Day at Oaks Park
Week 4 · May 17–31 (Memorial Day Week)
💬 Social Skills Class — Eugene
Tryon Creek Nature Walk
🐐 Baby Goat Visit
4th Annual ASO Autism Walk · Salem
🎡 Multnomah County Fair
Sensory Friendly Movie · Cornelius
Summer Camps & Registration Now Open
May is the critical month to register for summer programming. Camps, adaptive sports leagues, and inclusive day programs fill up fast — get on waitlists now.
Why register in May?
Most IDD-friendly summer camps in Oregon either close registration by end of May or fill specialty sessions on a first-come basis. Adaptive and inclusive programs often have smaller staff-to-camper ratios, which means fewer available spots. Starting the conversation in May gives families the best shot at a good fit.
Registration windows and session dates vary by organization and change year-to-year. Use the linked camp pages to confirm 2026 deadlines, age ranges, fees, scholarships, and specific needs support before committing.
Special Olympics Oregon — Summer Programs
CODSN — Central Oregon Summer Opportunities
Autism Society of Oregon — Summer Events
Oregon Adaptive Sports — Summer Programs
THPRD Adaptive & Inclusive Summer Camps
ACAP Summer Camps — Autism Community
2026 Oregon IDD Camps Directory
Comprehensive directory of summer camps, adaptive programs, and year-round inclusive recreation across Oregon for individuals with intellectual & developmental disabilities. Each listing links directly to the organization so you can register, request scholarships, and ask about accommodations.
Registration windows vary — some camps fill by April, others take registrations into June. Always confirm current 2026 dates, fees, age ranges, scholarships, and support accommodations with the camp directly before committing.
Statewide Camps
These programs serve families across Oregon and are top-tier starting points if you’re new to adaptive camps.
Portland Metro / Multnomah County
Highest concentration of adaptive recreation programs and specialized camps.
Washington County
Hillsboro / Beaverton region — strong adaptive gymnastics, equine therapy, and THPRD inclusive programming.
Clackamas County
Oregon City / West Linn / Wilsonville region.
Central Oregon / Deschutes
Bend / Redmond / Sisters region.
Lane County
Eugene / Springfield / Florence.
Jackson County
Medford / Ashland region.
Mid-Willamette Valley (Marion · Polk · Linn · Yamhill · Benton)
Salem / Albany / McMinnville / Corvallis region.
Oregon Coast
Coastal families — travel for specialized programming or use these local options.
Eastern Oregon
Umatilla County — limited options; Meadowood Springs is the anchor program.
Looking for more? Statewide aggregators:
- ASO’s searchable directory — filter by type, county, and service
- Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities (OCDD)
- Oregon Commission for the Blind — vision-specific camps
- FACT Oregon — family navigation help & camp recommendations
County-by-County Events — Featured
Detailed listings for 14 priority Oregon counties with active May programming. Includes May events, recurring programs, and summer previews. For the remaining 22 counties, see the Complete Oregon County Directory ↓ with CDDP links.
All dates below are typical patterns or scheduled at time of publication. Confirm specific May dates, times, and locations with the host organization via the links on each card before attending.
Washington County
Beaverton · Hillsboro · Cornelius · Tigard
OngoingHillsboro Adaptive Recreation — May
Connection Club & ASO — Washington County
THPRD — Adaptive & Inclusive Recreation
Clackamas County
Oregon City · Milwaukie · Wilsonville
Sensory Friendly Movie · Oregon City
Clackamas County DD Council
FORGE: Parenting Inside Out (12-Week Series)
Special Olympics — Clackamas Spring Events
Multnomah County
Portland · Gresham
Sensory-FriendlyA Day at OMSI — Autism-Friendly Access
ASO & Community — Portland
Disability Services Advisory Council (DSAC)
Mental Health Awareness Walk — Portland
Yamhill County
McMinnville · Newberg
Fun with Legos · Newberg
Yamhill County Family Connect
Marion County
Salem · Keizer
Salem Cosplay & Pop Culture Group
Fun with Legos · Salem
Marion County Health & Wellness — IDD Resources
Polk County
Dallas · Monmouth
Mid-Valley Parenting — Polk Family Events
Lane County
Eugene · Springfield · Cottage Grove
Sensory Friendly Movie · Eugene
Special Olympics — Lane County
Fun with Legos · Eugene
Linn County
Albany · Lebanon
Fun with Legos · Albany
Douglas County
Winston — home of Wildlife Safari
Wildlife Safari — Accessible Spring & Summer Visits
Deschutes County / Central Oregon
Bend · Redmond
Ladies Who Lunch · Bend
CODSN — May Programming
Jackson County
Medford · Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon Sensory-Friendly Events
Jefferson County
Madras
Family Resource Center · Madras
Lake County
Christmas Valley — rural highlight
Sensory Friendly Play Day · Christmas Valley
Klamath County
Klamath Falls
Special Olympics — Klamath Falls
Complete Oregon County Directory — All 36 Counties
Every Oregon county is served by a Community Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP) for eligibility, case management, and service coordination — plus adult support brokerages for Personal Agent services. Counties featured above have detailed May listings; all others link directly to their CDDP and statewide supports.
Portland Metro & North Willamette Valley
Highest concentration of IDD programming, brokerages, and adaptive recreation in Oregon.
Mid-Willamette Valley
Strong family-network density; Salem hub for statewide ODDS/DHS services.
Southern Oregon
Medford / Ashland area is a major IDD service hub; rural counties served primarily via CDDPs.
Central Oregon
Bend area growing rapidly; CODSN serves as regional hub for family supports.
Oregon Coast
Services are dispersed; CDDPs are the primary entry point. Many families travel to Portland or Eugene for specialized programming.
Columbia Gorge & Eastern Oregon
Large geographic area with dispersed populations. Many Eastern Oregon counties share brokerage coverage; the ODDS directory is the fastest way to find your Personal Agent.
Can’t find your county? Use these statewide pathways:
- ODDS County CDDP Directory — every CDDP phone number & address
- Oregon Brokerage Directory — adult Personal Agent services by region
- 2-1-1 Oregon — dial 2-1-1 or text your ZIP to 898211 for local disability, health, and family resources
- Oregon Disability Rights — advocacy and rights support statewide
Statewide, Online & Support Groups
Best fallback when a county has few public listings or a family needs flexible virtual access. These anchors run year-round.
ODDS Self-Advocacy Hub
Best statewide entry point for self-advocates — service planning, ONA, ISP meetings, rights, and monthly feedback sessions.
- May self-advocate training series — schedule on ODDS Events
- Self-Advocate Guide + videos
- Community Conversations — monthly open forum, drop in (no registration)
FACT Oregon
Best statewide family training for special education, advocacy, systems navigation, and school-related questions.
- May: end-of-year IEP, ESY, and transition planning workshops
- 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.
- Full event calendar
- Weekly drop-in hours, monthly sensory movies, teen + adult groups
Online Support Groups — Direct Links
Virtual support and connection options — especially useful for rural families and individuals who prefer remote access. Each group below has a dedicated registration page with current Zoom times.
- For parents & families:
- NAMI Parent Support Group (online)
- Autistic Parents Parenting Group
- Autism Parent Support Group
- ASO/Synergy Autism Support Group (statewide)
- For autistic adults:
- Support & Discussion Group — Wednesdays
- Support & Discussion Group — Thursdays (18+)
- “Happy Hour” for Autistic Adults
- Autistic Professional Support Group
- For teens & young adults:
- Young Adult Social Group (18–30)
- Supported Teen & Young Adult Club
- Friendship Group for Autistic Kids (7–13)
- Friendship & community:
- Women & Non-Binary Friendship Group #2
- Women & Non-Binary Friendship Group (Portland)
- Intersectional Identity Group
- Social Skills Discussion Group (Eugene)
- View full ASO events calendar →
Special Olympics Oregon
Year-round free sports training and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across Oregon.
- May: track & field, bocce, softball, and swim in-season
- Late May / early June: State Summer Games — 2026 dates on SOOR’s events page
- Summer registration: bocce, golf, softball continuing
- Full SOOR events calendar
Oregon Adaptive Sports
Non-competitive outdoor recreation — cycling, hiking, paddling, and year-round adaptive programs in Central Oregon.
- Summer registrations typically open in spring
- OAS main site
- Great for individuals who prefer outdoor, non-competitive activities
Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
Leadership training, advocacy events, and policy engagement for self-advocates and allies statewide.
- OCDD main site
- Systems-level change + self-advocacy leadership
🇪🇸 Recursos En Español
Spanish-language resources for Oregon’s IDD community. Apoyo, grupos, y eventos para familias hispanohablantes.
🚶 Autism Walks 2026 Series
ASO’s annual walk series — four walks across Oregon to raise awareness and build community. Register individually or as a team for any walk.
- Walks 2026 umbrella — register for any walk
- Portland walk (April 26): portlandwalk
- Pendleton / Eastern Oregon walk (May 9)
- Salem walk (May 23, 4th Annual): salemwalk
- Eugene walk (June 20): Eugene2026
- ASO Walks main page
NAMI Oregon — Mental Health Month
National Alliance on Mental Illness offers May programming especially relevant to IDD families — parent groups, walks, and caregiver wellbeing.
- NAMI Oregon
- NAMI Walks (May)
- Free virtual and in-person family support groups
OHSU UCEDD
Clinical training, family education, and professional development. Especially strong content on mental health and IDD intersection.
- UCEDD Training Portal
- Ongoing webinar series — free and open
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 summer camps with art components.
- acappdx.org
- May is peak summer camp registration — don’t wait
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 your county. If your county has limited public listings for May, move to the statewide online trainings, the Summer Camps section, and the support-group resources. For this population, a smaller predictable recurring program is often more useful than a large one-time event.
County cards, May event dates, and direct registration links.
May is the critical registration window — Summer Camps section plus Special Olympics, CODSN, and THPRD.
ODHS, CDDP, brokerage, self-advocacy, mental health, and rights pages.
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