North Star Oregon

Person-centered disability support services in Oregon that enrich the lives of individuals with intellectual & developmental disabilities (I/DD).

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Where Care Meets Community – North Star Oregon Guides the Way.

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ABOUT Us

At North Star Oregon, we are deeply committed to providing person-centered disability support services that enrich the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Our small, dedicated agency shines brightly in the heart of Oregon, offering a constellation of in-home and community group activities tailored to meet the unique needs and preferences of each person we serve. We understand the importance of family in the journey of care, which is why we embrace a family-focused approach, working hand in hand with loved ones to foster a supportive and inclusive environment.


Our services are not just about care but about creating moments of joy and engagement through day support activities and in-home attendant care services. With a team of available and compassionate staff, we ensure that each person we serve experiences fun and engaging activities that promote personal growth and community involvement. From art workshops to outdoor adventures, every activity is designed to bring a smile to the faces of everyone and their families. We serve people from all walks of life and all ages, including children, adults, and seniors throughout Oregon.  At North Star Oregon, we don’t just navigate the path of care—we celebrate it, lighting the way to a brighter, more connected community for those we serve and their families.



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Join our team at North Star Oregon and embark on a truly rewarding career path, where every day is an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a valued member of our organization, you'll be instrumental in shaping the experiences of the people we serve through a variety of day support activities and attendant care services. Our commitment to personal and professional growth means you'll enjoy ongoing training and support, ensuring that you're equipped to provide the highest level of care. Whether you're leading engaging programs that promote skill development or providing one-on-one support, you'll be part of a community that celebrates every milestone and fosters an environment of inclusion and empowerment. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and ready to grow with a team that values compassion, dedication, and innovation, North Star Oregon is the place for you.


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Empowering Journeys, Celebrating Potential – Join North Star Oregon.

NEWS & ARTICLES

By Jeremy Allen May 27, 2026
Falls are one of the most under-discussed health risks facing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). They are also one of the most preventable. Yet in conversations with the Oregon families we support — in homes across Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Springfield, Salem, and Tangent — we hear the same story again and again: a parent or Direct Support Professional notices a "near miss" on the stairs, brushes it off, and a week or a month later that near miss becomes a real fall, with real injuries, a real ER visit, and a long, painful recovery. Older adults are not the only ones who fall. Younger adults with I/DD experience falls at rates significantly higher than the general population — driven by factors like medication side effects, seizure disorders, balance and coordination differences, sensory processing differences, vision and hearing changes, and the home environments many of us inherited rather than designed. Cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, and many other conditions also affect gait, balance, and proprioception in ways that increase fall risk across the lifespan. The good news: most falls are preventable with thoughtful planning. This guide walks through the most common fall risks for adults with I/DD, what to look for in the home, and how to build a fall prevention strategy that works for the individual you support — without making the home feel like a hospital. Why Falls Matter More Than Most Families Realize A single significant fall can change everything for an adult with I/DD. A broken hip can require surgery, rehab, and weeks of immobility, which often leads to deconditioning, pneumonia, pressure injuries, and the loss of independent skills that took years to build. A head injury can cause cognitive changes that are hard to distinguish from baseline differences and may go undiagnosed for weeks. Even a fall that produces "only" bruises can trigger lasting fear, reduced activity, and a downward spiral in confidence and mobility. For individuals who have limited communication, a fall can also be invisible. Pain may show up as behavioral change — irritability, sleep disruption, refusal to walk — rather than a clear "I hurt my hip." Caregivers who know the person well are often the first line of detection, but only if they are looking. The cost is not only physical. For families who are the primary caregivers, a serious fall often means weeks of additional medical appointments, missed work, and emotional strain. For provider organizations, it can trigger incident reports, investigations, and changes to the Individual Support Plan. Preventing falls is one of the highest-leverage health and safety investments any family or care team can make. Common Fall Risk Factors in Adults with I/DD Fall risk is almost never one cause. It is usually a combination of factors that, on a bad day, add up to a fall that wouldn't have happened on a good day. The strongest prevention strategies address several factors at once. Medications. Many medications commonly prescribed for adults with I/DD — including seizure medications, psychiatric medications, sleep aids, blood pressure medications, and some pain medications — list dizziness, drowsiness, or balance disturbance as side effects. Polypharmacy (being on multiple medications at once) compounds the risk. An annual medication review with the prescribing provider and pharmacist — specifically asking about fall risk — is one of the most evidence-based things a family can do. Vision and hearing. Many adults with I/DD do not receive regular vision and hearing exams, often because the exams themselves are hard to access or hard to tolerate. Uncorrected vision changes — especially in low light or with bifocal lenses that distort stair edges — are a major fall risk. Hearing loss makes it harder to perceive ambient cues that warn of obstacles. Annual exams with a developmental specialist optometrist or audiologist are worth the effort. Foot health. Bunions, ingrown toenails, calluses, poorly fitting shoes, and untreated foot pain all change how someone walks. Many adults with I/DD wear shoes that don't fit well — either because of sensory preferences, because foot growth went unnoticed, or because nobody has been doing regular foot checks. Slippers without backs, socks on hardwood floors, and worn-out shoes are particularly hazardous. Seizures. For adults with seizure disorders, falls during seizures are a separate and serious category of risk. Helmet use, padded environments in high-risk areas, and seizure detection devices may all be appropriate depending on seizure type and frequency. Coordinate closely with the neurology team. Sensory and cognitive factors. Differences in proprioception (knowing where your body is in space), vestibular processing (sense of balance), and depth perception are common in many I/DD profiles. So is impulsivity that may lead someone to stand up quickly, miss a step, or refuse a needed mobility aid. These are not character flaws — they are real physical differences that benefit from environmental adaptation. Mobility changes over time. Many adults with I/DD experience changes in mobility as they age, sometimes earlier than the general population. A person who has used a walker for years may benefit from a wheelchair for longer distances. A person who has always been ambulatory may need a gait belt or a mobility aid for stairs. Accepting these changes and adapting equipment is a sign of good care, not a step backward. A Room-by-Room Home Safety Audit The single most actionable step any family can take is a thorough walk-through of the home, room by room, looking for fall hazards. We recommend doing this with the individual themselves whenever possible — they know what trips them up, what feels wobbly, and what they secretly avoid because it scares them. Entryways The transition from outdoors to indoors is one of the highest fall-risk zones in any home, especially in Oregon, where wet shoes meet smooth floors for nine months a year. Place industrial-grade no-slip mats both outside and inside every entry. Install grab bars or sturdy handrails on any step. Make sure entryway lighting comes on immediately — motion-sensor lights are a small investment with huge payoff. Designate a seat where the person can sit to remove shoes, with shoes stored within reach. Hallways and Living Areas Walk every common path your loved one takes through the home. Are there cords across the floor? Throw rugs that slide or curl at the edges? Furniture corners at hip or shin height? Pet bowls, toys, or charger cables underfoot? Many of these are easy fixes — secure or remove rugs, tape down cords, rearrange furniture so the path is clear, designate a single "pet zone." Lighting matters enormously. Many homes have shadows, dim corners, and inconsistent lighting that an adult with vision differences can easily misread. Add night lights in hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Consider motion-sensor lights so the person doesn't have to fumble for switches in the dark. Bathrooms The bathroom is statistically the most dangerous room for falls. Wet floors, hard surfaces, transitions between standing and sitting, and tight spaces all conspire against safety. Grab bars near the toilet and inside the tub or shower — installed into wall studs, not just attached with suction cups — are essential for any adult with mobility or balance differences. Non-slip mats inside the tub, a non-slip bath rug outside it, and a stable shower chair or bench all reduce risk dramatically. For many adults with I/DD, a walk-in shower is safer than a step-over tub. If a tub is the only option, a transfer bench can dramatically reduce risk. Raised toilet seats with armrests help adults who struggle with the sit-to-stand transition. Avoid leaving towels, bathmats, or clothing items in places that might be stepped on accidentally. Bedrooms Beds at an appropriate height — neither too low to easily get out of, nor too high to safely get into — are the foundation of bedroom safety. A bed that the person can sit on with feet flat on the floor and hips slightly higher than knees is usually ideal. Clear paths from the bed to the bathroom, with night lights along the route. Avoid throw rugs in the bedroom entirely. For individuals who get up multiple times at night, consider a bedside commode if the bathroom path is long or hazardous. For individuals at risk of rolling out of bed, bed rails or pool-noodle bumpers under the fitted sheet can help. For individuals who have fallen from bed in the past, lowering the bed and placing a fall mat alongside it can reduce injury severity. Stairs Stairs are non-negotiable territory for safety attention. Sturdy handrails on both sides of every staircase. Non-slip strips or carpet on every tread. Excellent lighting at the top and bottom, with light switches on both ends. A clear, decluttered staircase — no laundry baskets, shoes, or items "to bring upstairs next time." For individuals with significant fall risk, gates at the top and bottom of stairs may be appropriate, just as they are for young children. If stairs become persistently challenging, it is worth considering whether the household can be restructured so that the person's bedroom, bathroom, and primary daily activities are all on one level. Sometimes a stair lift is the right answer; sometimes a moved bedroom is. Kitchens Wet floors, items stored too high or too low, and the temptation to climb on something to reach a high shelf are the main kitchen risks. Keep frequently used items between waist and shoulder height. Use sturdy step stools with handles — never chairs — for higher items, and ideally have a caregiver assist. Clean spills immediately and consider replacing slippery flooring with textured or rubberized alternatives. Building a Fall Prevention Plan A formal fall prevention plan can be part of the Individual Support Plan (ISP) and can include the home modifications above plus the following: Regular medication reviews with the prescribing provider, with a specific request to evaluate fall risk and consider deprescribing where appropriate. Annual reviews at minimum; more often if medications change. Annual vision and hearing exams with providers experienced in working with adults with I/DD. For some individuals, exams may need to be done in stages or with sedation, but they remain worth doing. Annual foot care exam with a podiatrist, plus a regular at-home foot check by a Direct Support Professional or family member. Many issues can be addressed at home before they become walking problems. A physical therapy evaluation, particularly after any change in mobility, fall, or hospitalization. A PT can assess balance, gait, and strength and recommend exercises that fit the individual's interests and abilities. Adapted yoga, swimming, walking programs, and balance exercises can all help. A mobility aid plan that respects the individual's preferences. The "right" mobility aid is the one the person will actually use. Many adults with I/DD resist canes or walkers because they feel stigmatizing or unfamiliar; involving the person in choosing equipment and giving them time to adapt makes adoption much more likely. Documentation and tracking. When falls do happen, document them: date, time, location, what the person was doing, what they were wearing, who was present, what injuries occurred, and what the suspected contributing factors were. Patterns often emerge over time that are not visible from a single event. When a Fall Happens Despite the best prevention plan, falls will sometimes happen. When they do: Do not immediately move the person. Especially if there is any suspicion of head, neck, back, or hip injury. Stay with them, talk calmly, and assess for injury. Call 911 if there is any sign of serious injury, loss of consciousness, severe pain, or inability to move a limb. After a fall, watch closely for 24–48 hours. Concussion symptoms can be delayed and may include behavior changes, confusion, headache, sleep disruption, or balance changes. For individuals with limited communication, behavioral changes are often the most important warning sign. Document the event and conduct a debrief. What was happening? What might have prevented it? Update the fall prevention plan accordingly. Notify the Services Coordinator, family members, and provider team as appropriate. How North Star Oregon Supports Fall Prevention For the individuals and families we support, fall prevention is woven into our In-Home Attendant Care planning and into the safety practices of our Day Support Activities sites. Our Direct Support Professionals receive training in safe transfers, ambulation assistance, recognizing signs of pain in non-speaking individuals, and incident documentation. When new mobility or health changes occur, we work with the family, the Services Coordinator, and the medical team to update the ISP and adjust supports. We also partner with families to do home safety walk-throughs, identify modifications that can be made, and connect with resources like the Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Medicaid environmental modification benefits that can help fund larger home accessibility projects. Taking the First Step If you have not done a fall prevention walk-through of your home in the last year, this week is a good time. Pick one room, start there, and work your way through the house over a few weekends. Talk with your loved one about what feels unsteady to them. Notice what shoes they are wearing day-to-day. Check the bottoms for tread, the inside for wear, and the size for fit. Take one phone call — to the primary care provider, to a physical therapist, to a podiatrist — to start a conversation that's been on the list for a while. Preventing one fall can preserve months of mobility, independence, and confidence. It is some of the most important quiet work that families and care teams do. If you are an Oregon family supporting an adult with I/DD and want to learn more about how In-Home Attendant Care or Day Support Activities can include health, safety, and fall prevention planning as part of person-centered care, reach out to North Star Oregon. We would be honored to learn about your loved one and explore how our team can support the kind of life they want — safely, confidently, and on their own terms.
By Jeremy Allen May 26, 2026
There is something quietly powerful about the relationship between a person with a developmental disability and an animal they love. A dog who lays his head on a child's lap during a hard transition. A cat who knows, somehow, when to climb onto the lap of a young adult who has had a rough morning. A pony who waits at the fence for the same hand and the same carrot every Tuesday. Animals can offer companionship that does not depend on words, a daily rhythm that grounds a household, and — in some cases — formally trained assistance that opens doors that were once closed. This guide is for Oregon families who are thinking about whether an animal might fit into the life of someone they support. We will walk through the legal categories, what each kind of animal can and cannot do, what to consider before bringing one home, and where families in our region have found support. The Three Categories, Clearly Distinguished A lot of confusion in this space comes from blurring three very different roles. Each is real and valuable, but they live in different parts of the law and the day-to-day. Service animals, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are dogs (and in narrow cases, miniature horses) individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. The tasks must be directly related to the person's disability. Examples for someone with I/DD might include interrupting self-injurious behavior, providing tactile grounding during a sensory crisis, retrieving a communication device, alerting a caregiver to a seizure, or performing a trained search-and-locate response if the person elopes. Service animals have full public access rights — they may accompany the handler into stores, restaurants, schools, medical offices, and on public transit. They are not pets in the eyes of the law; they are working partners. Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide comfort by their presence. They are not required to be trained in specific tasks, and they do not have the public-access rights of service animals under the ADA. They do, however, have certain federal housing protections under the Fair Housing Act — a landlord generally cannot refuse to rent to someone with an ESA, even in a no-pet building, with proper documentation from a treating provider. Following 2021 federal rule changes, ESAs no longer fly in the cabin as service animals on most U.S. airlines; they are typically subject to standard pet policies. Therapy animals are pet animals (most often dogs, sometimes cats, rabbits, horses, or guinea pigs) trained and registered through organizations like Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International to make visits to schools, libraries, hospitals, and day programs. They belong to their handler and are at home as a pet, but they have been temperament-tested and prepared to do structured visits. Therapy animals do not have ADA public access rights; they are guests in the spaces that invite them. And then there is the fourth, often most important category for many families: the beloved pet — the household dog, cat, or other companion who is not trained for any formal role and is, simply, family. We will come back to this one, because it is the option that fits the most households. When a Service Dog Might Be a Good Fit A service dog can be life-changing for a person with I/DD, especially when there are specific, predictable tasks the dog can perform. Some examples we have heard from Oregon families: A dog trained to perform deep-pressure therapy when their handler shows early signs of a meltdown A dog trained to tether to a child known to elope, providing a physical and sensory cue that helps the child stay with their family in public A dog trained to alert family members to seizures in time to provide safe positioning A dog trained to retrieve dropped items, open accessible doors, or carry small medical supplies for an adult with mobility needs alongside I/DD A dog trained to interrupt a specific stereotyped behavior that causes injury Service dogs are also a significant commitment. A properly trained service dog from a reputable program in the Pacific Northwest typically takes 18 to 24 months to train and can cost $20,000 to $50,000, though many programs operate on a donation or scholarship basis. Once placed, the dog needs ongoing training maintenance, veterinary care, food, equipment, and a daily working life — a service dog is not "off duty" the way a pet is. Oregon programs and Pacific Northwest neighbors families have worked with include Joys of Living Assistance Dogs (JLAD) in West Linn and Brigadoon Service Dogs based in Washington, among others. Wait times can be long. Plan years ahead. One important note: there is no legitimate "registration" of service animals under the ADA. Online sites that sell certificates and vests are not awarding legal status — service animal status comes from the dog's actual training to perform disability-related tasks, not from a card in a wallet. Anyone who suggests otherwise is not a reliable source. When a Therapy Animal Visit Might Be Right Therapy animal visits are one of the most accessible ways to bring the benefits of animal contact into a person's life without the responsibilities of owning a service dog. At North Star Oregon's Day Support Activities programs, animal visits — at farms, at programs that bring trained therapy dogs to community spaces, or through volunteer activities with horse rescues and animal shelters — are a regular part of how we build community access, sensory regulation, and joy into the week. Many Oregon libraries host "read to a dog" programs through Pet Partners or similar groups. These are wonderful for individuals who are working on communication skills in a low-pressure environment. Hospitals and senior living communities also use therapy animals; some Oregon hospice programs include pet visits as part of end-of-life care. Equine-assisted activities and learning programs — there are a number across the Willamette Valley — offer a different kind of partnership again, one that combines physical work, sensory input, and relational connection. Therapy animal contact does not need to be formal to be meaningful. A weekly visit to a friend's farm, a regular stop at a neighbor's barn, or a structured volunteer shift at an animal shelter can all build the same benefits. When a Beloved Pet Is the Right Answer For most households we work with, the right answer is not a service dog and not a registered therapy team. It is a pet — a family dog, a cat who picks the most-loved couch, a parakeet whose chirping is the soundtrack of the kitchen, a rabbit whose feeding routine has become the way mornings start. These animals do not have legal categories. They have something better: a place in the life of someone who loves them. The benefits documented in research and reflected in our work with Oregon families include: Lower baseline anxiety and improved emotional regulation, especially in homes where the pet is part of predictable daily routines Opportunities for skill-building — feeding, grooming, walking, vet visits — that translate into independent living and employment readiness Social bridges in the community: the dog at the park, the cat at the window who greets neighbors, the conversations that start with "how old is your dog?" A non-judgmental source of physical contact and presence, which matters especially for individuals who find human touch overwhelming or who have limited access to peer relationships A reason to go outside, to move, to come home If you are considering a pet, the questions worth asking are practical ones, not symbolic ones. Who will do the feeding, walking, cleaning, vet runs? Can the person you support participate in the animal's care, and in what specific ways? What happens during respite or when the family is traveling? Is the home environment safe for the kind of animal you are considering? And honestly: does the person actually want this animal, or is this a project the family is excited about? Pets brought into a household where the person with I/DD has not been consulted, or where the household is already at capacity, can become one more stressor rather than a source of joy. Considerations Specific to I/DD A few things worth thinking through that families sometimes overlook: Allergies and sensory differences. Some individuals with I/DD have significant sensory sensitivities to animal hair, dander, or sound. A barking dog or a cat in motion can be deeply dysregulating for someone with auditory or visual processing differences. Spend time around the kind of animal you are considering before committing. Some families do well with a quieter species (a small dog versus a Labrador; a low-shedding breed; a fish tank) rather than no animal at all. Behavior matching. Match the animal to the person, not the picture in your head. A high-energy adolescent dog is a different animal than a settled five-year-old. Adoption from a reputable shelter or rescue with experience matching animals to families with disabilities is often a better path than buying a puppy whose adult temperament is unknown. Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene, Willamette Humane Society in Salem, and Heartland Humane in Corvallis are familiar to many Oregon families. Safety planning. Animals interact with elopement risk in complicated ways. Sometimes a dog is a calming anchor that reduces elopement; sometimes a new pet adds a fresh draw that pulls the person toward an open door. Build the animal into the wandering and safety plan we have discussed in previous posts, and update door alarms and yard fencing as needed. Caregiver capacity. Caregivers — parents, adult siblings, DSPs — are the ones who pick up the slack of pet ownership when the person they support cannot fully care for the animal. Be honest about whether you have that capacity right now. The right answer might be "yes, in two years, after [Name] is settled in their day program" rather than "yes, now." Housing protections. If you live in Oregon rental housing, landlords cannot generally charge pet deposits or pet rent for service animals or, with proper documentation, emotional support animals. Federal Fair Housing Act protections apply. The Fair Housing Council of Oregon is a resource if you encounter pushback. Be prepared with documentation from a treating provider for ESAs. A Word About Cost and Coverage Service dogs are not covered by Medicaid in Oregon, and they are not paid for through the K Plan or 1915(c) waivers. Some programs offer scholarships, fundraising support, or sliding-scale fees, and many families fundraise through their networks. The Oregon ABLE Savings Plan can be used to save for disability-related expenses including service animals, training, and ongoing care, with tax advantages and no impact on benefits eligibility (subject to ABLE program rules). For therapy animal visits and Day Support Activities that include animal contact, those services can be part of authorized DSA hours if they are structured into the program design. Bringing It Together The thread through all of this — service animals, therapy animals, pets — is that animals can be one of the most accessible ways for people with I/DD to experience companionship, sensory grounding, daily structure, and connection to the world around them. The right animal, for the right person, at the right time can change a life. The wrong animal, brought in for the wrong reasons, can add stress to a household that does not need more stress. Whatever you are considering, take it slowly. Talk with the person you support, in the ways they communicate. Visit animals before committing. Talk with families who have walked this path. And remember that an animal's role in someone's life does not need a legal label to be meaningful. Learn More If you are an Oregon family thinking about whether community-based programming with regular animal contact — at farms, with therapy dog visits, through volunteering at animal shelters or rescues — might fit your loved one's life, North Star Oregon would love to talk. Our Day Support Activities programs in Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Springfield, Salem, and Tangent build animal experiences into our regular community access, and our In-Home Attendant Care team can help integrate pet care routines into daily skill-building at home. We support children, adults, and seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Oregon. Visit northstaroregon.com or give us a call to start the conversation.
By Jeremy Allen May 1, 2026
If you are supporting a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability in Oregon, the annual Individual Support Plan (ISP) meeting is one of the most important dates on your calendar. It is the formal conversation where the person you love, their team, and their Services Coordinator or Personal Agent sit down together to answer a simple but weighty question: what is the plan for the next year? Done well, an ISP meeting is empowering. It puts the individual at the center of their own life, names the supports that will help them thrive, and documents the services Oregon will fund through the K Plan or a 1915(c) Medicaid waiver. Done poorly — rushed, form-driven, dominated by clinical language — it can feel like a box-checking exercise that leaves families more anxious than reassured. The good news is that a little preparation changes the whole experience. This guide walks Oregon families through what to do before, during, and after the ISP meeting so that the plan truly reflects the goals, strengths, and dreams of the individual at the heart of it. What the ISP Is and Why It Matters The Individual Support Plan is the document that drives everything Oregon's developmental disability system funds for your family member. It is person-centered by design — meaning it starts from who the individual is, what matters to them, and what kind of life they want — and it lists the specific services, hours, goals, and providers that will support that life over the coming year. At minimum, the ISP captures: The individual's strengths, preferences, interests, and communication style Their goals for the year (things like learning a new skill, building friendships, contributing to the community, or gaining more independence at home) The types and amounts of paid services authorized — for example, hours of In-Home Attendant Care, days per week of Day Support Activities (DSA), relief care, employment supports, or assistive technology Health, behavioral, and safety considerations the team needs to be aware of Who is on the support team and how they communicate How progress will be measured and reviewed The plan is reviewed at least annually and can be updated any time there is a significant change — a move, a new diagnosis, a new goal, a provider change, or a shift in the level of support someone needs. Your Services Coordinator (through the County Developmental Disabilities Program, or CDDP) or Personal Agent (through a brokerage) is responsible for facilitating the meeting and writing the plan, but the document belongs, in every meaningful sense, to the individual it is about. Before the Meeting: Build the Foundation The most common mistake families make is treating the ISP meeting as a one-hour event. It is really a season of reflection that happens to culminate in a meeting. Starting a few weeks out dramatically changes the quality of the conversation. Reflect on the past year — honestly Pull out last year's ISP. Read the goals. Ask yourself: What went well? What did your loved one actually enjoy and grow from? What was written in the plan but never really happened? Why? What changed — in health, schedule, relationships, abilities, interests? What new strengths have emerged that nobody has named yet? Where did a service fall short, and what would make it better? Write these reflections down. Honest notes from the family — including the messy parts — are far more useful than a rosy summary. Talk with your loved one, in their way The plan is theirs. Even if your family member uses few words or communicates with pictures, gestures, a device, or behavior, their voice must anchor the meeting. Over the weeks leading up to it, build in conversations about: What do they want more of this year? Less of? Who do they love spending time with? What makes a good day? A hard day? Are there new places they want to go, new skills they want to try, new things they want to buy, earn, or contribute? Is there anything about their current services they would change if they could? For nonspeaking individuals or those who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), pay attention over time — not just in a single sit-down. Watch what they light up around. Notice where they resist. Ask their Direct Support Professionals and teachers what they have observed. All of that is data your loved one is sharing with you. Gather input from the whole circle of support Reach out to the people who know your loved one well — Direct Support Professionals, teachers or transition specialists, therapists, medical providers, family members, chosen family, employers, and friends. A quick email or text message with two or three questions can surface insights that nobody would remember to mention in the meeting itself: What strengths do you see that the plan should celebrate? What goals would you love to see prioritized this year? What supports or accommodations make the biggest difference? Bring a short summary of what you hear into the meeting. Review documentation — and bring what is useful Assemble any recent documents that the team should see or that may inform the plan. Examples include: Recent medical evaluations or changes Behavioral assessments or positive behavior support plans School IEPs, transition plans, or progress reports Current medications and any recent changes Employment or post-secondary records Provider progress notes you have received A current communication profile, if your loved one uses AAC or nonstandard communication You do not need to come with a stack of binders. A one-page snapshot and a short list of specific documents you want referenced is plenty. Draft your goals list — in plain language Write down, in your own words, what you hope this year's plan will accomplish. Keep it concrete. Instead of "more social activities," try "at least two community outings per week with peers, with a focus on music and art." Instead of "better independence," try "learning to prepare three simple meals with minimal prompting." Clear goals lead to clear services and clear ways of measuring progress. Confirm the logistics A week or two before the meeting, confirm with your Services Coordinator or Personal Agent: Date, time, and location (or video link) Who will be invited from the team How long the meeting is scheduled for Whether sensory, mobility, or language accommodations are needed Whether your loved one will attend part of the meeting, all of it, or provide input a different way If the meeting time or place does not work for your loved one's rhythms — mornings versus afternoons, quiet spaces versus busy offices — say so. The meeting should be designed around the person at its center. During the Meeting: Be a Partner, Not a Passenger A good ISP meeting is collaborative. The Services Coordinator or Personal Agent facilitates, but families, providers, and above all the individual are expected to shape the conversation. A few practical tips: Start with strengths and the person Ask for the meeting to open with a "who is this person" section before jumping into any service numbers. A few minutes spent naming strengths, interests, relationships, and what makes the person unique resets the tone of the entire meeting. Ask for plain language If someone uses jargon — "residential ratio," "natural supports," "plan of care," "K state plan hours" — it is completely reasonable to ask, "Can you walk me through what that means in practice for our family?" You are not being difficult. You are doing your job as an advocate. Slow down on service levels When the team discusses hours of Attendant Care, days of DSA, relief care allocations, or any other funded service, make sure the numbers match the life you are planning. A few questions worth asking: How were these hours calculated? Do they account for realistic scenarios — a sick day, a medical appointment, a school break, a summer schedule? What do we do if our needs change mid-year? What happens if a provider cannot consistently staff the approved hours? Keep the goals tied to real life For every goal in the draft plan, ask: Whose goal is this, really? Does our family member agree it matters? Is the goal written in specific, observable language? Who is responsible, what are the supports, and how will we know progress is happening? Name gaps and preferences If a service area is under-addressed — for example, if relief care is listed at a level that will not actually let a parent-caregiver rest, or if community access is not reflected — say so. If your loved one strongly prefers certain activities, settings, peers, or staff, it belongs in the plan. Invite your loved one to lead what they can Even short participation matters. Some individuals will attend the whole meeting; others will join for the portion about their goals and then leave; some will share through a video they recorded earlier, a picture board, or a trusted person reading their words. Every version counts. Take notes — or ask someone to Even with a skilled facilitator, it is hard to track every decision, service number, and action item in real time. Bring a family member or trusted friend to take notes, or ask the team if you can record the audio for your own reference. After the Meeting: Don't File It and Forget It The ISP is a living document. What happens in the weeks after the meeting matters as much as what happens in the room. Read the written plan carefully Once you receive the finalized ISP, read it closely. Common things to check: Are the correct service types, hours, and providers listed? Do the goals match what the team agreed to? Are important accommodations, communication needs, and medical considerations captured? Are start and end dates correct? Is there anything written that you did not agree with, or that does not reflect the meeting? You have the right to ask for revisions if the written plan does not match what was discussed. Share it with the people who need it With appropriate permissions, share relevant portions of the ISP with Direct Support Professionals, employers, teachers, or therapists so that the plan actually shapes day-to-day support. A goal that lives only in a binder is not a goal; it is a wish. Track progress in small, regular check-ins Set a quarterly rhythm to look at the plan with your loved one and the team. Are the goals moving? Are services being delivered as written? Has life changed in ways that call for an update? Small check-ins throughout the year prevent the annual meeting from becoming the only time anyone looks at the plan. Call for an update when life changes You do not have to wait twelve months to change the plan. If your loved one moves, starts a new school or job, has a health change, develops a new interest, or if family circumstances shift significantly, request a plan update. Oregon's system is built to flex around real lives. A Few Rights Worth Knowing Families sometimes walk into ISP meetings unsure of what they are entitled to ask for. A short, non-exhaustive list: The right to a person-centered planning process that starts from your loved one's goals, not a pre-set service menu The right to bring anyone you want to the meeting — family, friends, advocates, attorneys, cultural or spiritual support people The right to request an interpreter, sensory accommodations, or an accessible meeting format The right to a written copy of the plan and to request revisions The right to disagree, to document your disagreement, and to pursue a grievance or fair hearing if a needed service is denied or reduced Your Services Coordinator or Personal Agent can explain the specific procedures; a Family Support Specialist or advocacy organization can also help. How North Star Oregon Partners with Families Around the ISP At North Star Oregon, we view the ISP meeting as one of the most important conversations in our work together. As a provider of In-Home Attendant Care and Day Support Activities across Oregon — including our DSA locations in Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Springfield, Salem, and Tangent — we bring observations, progress notes, and honest input to the team so that the plan is grounded in what we see day to day. We also help families prepare. If you are new to the process or feel unsure about how to shape the conversation, we are happy to talk through what to expect, how our services are described in plan language, and how to connect goals in the ISP to the activities and supports we provide. Most importantly, we believe the person at the center of the plan should be the loudest voice in the room — and when they need support to make that voice heard, we are proud to stand beside them. Learn More or Get in Touch If you are in Oregon and considering services, preparing for an ISP meeting, or wondering how our in-home and DSA programs could fit into your loved one's plan, we would love to hear from you. Visit northstaroregon.com to learn more about our services, our direct-employment model, and the communities we serve, or reach out through our contact page to start a conversation. The ISP is not just paperwork. It is a plan for a life — and with the right preparation, your family can step into that meeting knowing your loved one's story will be heard, their goals will be honored, and their future will be built on their own strengths.
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