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Welcome to CODSN!Central Oregon Disability Support Network was started by two moms after their girls were born with Down syndrome just eight days apart in 2003. As we connected and began connecting with other families, we found such a value in others who were able to understand. In 2010 we developed an official board of directors and received our IRS non-profit status. We now are a network of over 1,913 families in Central Oregon who have children experiencing disability.
Thanks to donations and grants we are able to continue connecting families and providing information and resources at no cost. We have expanded and have programs in the following Eastern Oregon areas as well: Klamath County - Family Advocacy and Support Network Harney County - Kintsugi Disability Support Network |
September
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Central Oregon Disability Support Network (CODSN) has been awarded a 5-year grant from the Federal Office of Special Education Programs to implement work as a Community Parent Resource Center serving 8 rural counties in Central and Eastern Oregon (including Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, and Wheeler counties). These regions have multiple barriers which prevent parents and youth with disabilities from accessing support including reduced access to resources, high poverty rates, language and communication barriers, and high foster care and rising incarceration rates.
In becoming a Community Parent Resource Center, CODSN will be able to improve learning and long-term outcomes for the underserved populations in Central and Eastern Oregon including the American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic/Latino, LGBTQ+, homeless, incarcerated, and impoverished parents and youth with disabilities.
CODSN understands that parents and youth with disabilities have better success outcomes if supported by high-quality resources and individualized training, information, and assistance which instills the value of high-expectations, dignity of risk, self-determination, and self-advocacy.
CODSN’s objective will be to improve outcomes for youth with disabilities by creating and disseminating high-quality, culturally-relevant training and educational materials. CODSN already has a decade and a half of experience creating these resources both individually and collaborating with state and local organizations.
CODSN plans to accomplish this objective through providing high-quality trainings, one-on-one support, multi-modal media including a new fully accessible website and newsletter, culturally-specific outreach and programming, and Spanish language support/materials. These resources will provide essential support that currently either does not exist or does not exist to the degree necessary to meet the need in these regions.
Since its inception, CODSN’s mission has been to promote a positive understanding of disability and community inclusion, as well as be a source of support, information, and education for families and professionals. Being awarded this grant will allow the organization to expand this work and bring training, support and resources to these underserved areas and families.
Dianna J. Hansen, Executive Director
Central Oregon Disability Support Network Inc.
Office Phone: (541) 548-8559
Email: info@codsn.org
Bend Office Address and Mailing Address: 2525 NE Twin Knolls Drive, #7, Bend, Oregon 97701
Redmond Office Address: 731 SW Highland Ave, Redmond, Oregon 97756
Email: info@codsn.org
Bend Office Address and Mailing Address: 2525 NE Twin Knolls Drive, #7, Bend, Oregon 97701
Redmond Office Address: 731 SW Highland Ave, Redmond, Oregon 97756
