Empowered Services is dedicated to supporting parents in becoming strong advocates for their children, particularly those with special needs or disabilities. As a parent, you play a crucial role in ensuring your child’s rights, well-being, and education are fully supported. Our Parent Advocacy program provides guidance, resources, and strategies to help you effectively navigate complex systems and become a champion for your child.
How We Support Parent Advocates:
- Educational Advocacy: Learn how to work with schools and educators to ensure your child receives the proper accommodations and support they need to succeed.
- Legal Rights: Understand your child’s rights under the law, including access to services like special education and healthcare.
- Workshops & Training: Attend our advocacy workshops to learn practical skills in communication, negotiation, and legal knowledge.
- One-on-One Support: Receive personalized guidance from our team of experts who can help you develop advocacy strategies tailored to your family’s needs.
Training
Swindells Center events, including Sibshops, IEP training, and a Community Health Fair
Other resources
- Library of Things – The library has more than just books – you can check out anything from camping gear to a ukulele (why not both?) through your local library.
- Buy Nothing Group – This Facebook group helps people connect through a ‘gift economy.’ This is not an endorsement, for info only, but I’ve heard good feedback from the parents I work with – looking for a sensory swing? Safety items? Or other equipment/supplies?… ask the group.
- Ant Farm Youth Core – Ant Farm helps youth learn work skills with their peers while connecting with the community; typical jobs include yard work for local seniors, clean up at local parks and they even have a coffee shop where youth can gain food prep and customer service skills.
- Oregon City Farmers Market – every Saturday in August, 9 am-2 pm – located at the Red Soils campus, 2051 Kaen Rd. Oregon City.
- Be prepared for wildfire season – you can sign up for notifications or view current alerts HERE also, see the attached documents for more info.