Christopher Mortensen, Director of Employment and Independent Living Services
(Translated ASL video for article below)
BRIDGES OREGON RELEASES NEW DEAF INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES SELF-ADVOCACY GUIDE
Salem, Oregon — Free Online Resource Helps Organizations Support Deaf Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD).
Bridges Oregon, Oregon’s premier statewide nonprofit serving Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals, has launched a new Deaf I/DD Self-Advocacy Guide, now available online for public use. The resource provides practical tools that agencies, service providers, and community organizations can use to support Deaf individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) in developing self-advocacy skills.
The guide was developed as part of Bridges Oregon’s Deaf I/DD self-advocacy initiative and offers one of the first linguistically accessible, Deaf-centered frameworks designed specifically for this community. The materials are available free of charge at:
https://bridgesoregon.org/deaf-idd-self-advocacy-guide/
The online resource includes a comprehensive self-advocacy guide, facilitator tools, communication tips, and information about communication access and rights for Deaf individuals with I/DD.
“This guide is designed to help organizations create environments where Deaf individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can understand their rights, communicate their needs, and actively participate in decisions that affect their lives,” said Chad A. Ludwig, Executive Director of Bridges Oregon.
Bridges Oregon has already supported approximately 150 Deaf individuals with I/DD through individualized advocacy education, helping participants learn how to request interpreters, communicate their needs, and navigate complex public systems. The new online guide expands that impact by providing a resource that communities across Oregon and the nation can use to support self-advocacy.
The project was funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds administered through the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS).
Bridges Oregon encourages service providers, disability organizations, educators, and community leaders to explore the guide and consider how it can be used to strengthen advocacy and communication access for Deaf individuals with I/DD.
To view and download the Deaf I/DD Self-Advocacy Guide, visit:
https://bridgesoregon.org/deaf-idd-self-advocacy-guide/
About Bridges Oregon:
Bridges Oregon is a linguistically and culturally specific statewide nonprofit serving Oregonians who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing or who face other communication barriers. Its mission is to promote equity and inclusion by providing a bridge to opportunity through advocacy, education, and communication.