Practical guides for Oregon families navigating I/DD services
By Jeremy Allen • September 4, 2026
Transportation is the quiet gatekeeper of adult life with I/DD. A family guide to free OHP medical rides, ADA paratransit, bus training, and building a plan around the person's actual week.
By Jeremy Allen • September 2, 2026
Oregon starts from the assumption that adults with I/DD can work real jobs at real wages. How Employment First, discovery, job coaching, and the team behind a job actually work — and how to start.
By Jeremy Allen • August 31, 2026
September is National Preparedness Month. Go-bags built for the person, a one-page About Me sheet, outage and evacuation plans, and practice that feels like routine — preparedness as love expressed in logistics.
By Jeremy Allen • August 28, 2026
A full calendar is not the same as a full life. How families and support teams help adults with I/DD build real, reciprocal friendships — repetition, shared interests, and support that knows when to step back.
By Jeremy Allen • August 26, 2026
Before pursuing guardianship, Oregon families should know the less restrictive option state law now recognizes. What House Bill 2105 changed, how supported decision-making works, and the questions to ask first.
By Jeremy Allen • August 24, 2026
What does a DSP actually do all day? A walk through the real work — mornings where trust is built, ordinary outings that double as goal work, and the invisible skills that make it a profession.
By Jeremy Allen • August 20, 2026
A practical late-August guide for easing the transition from loose summer days back to fall structure — gradual sleep shifts, schedule previews, a real goodbye to summer, and a synced support team.
By Jeremy Allen • July 23, 2026
A practical guide for Oregon families getting ready for smoke season — checking air quality, indoor backup plans, masks and sensory needs, and keeping routines steady.
By Jeremy Allen • July 5, 2026
A practical summer guide for Oregon families and support teams protecting sleep when heat, daylight, travel, outings, and routine changes make evenings harder.
By Jeremy Allen • June 28, 2026
A practical summer guide for Oregon families on who to contact, what to share, and how to keep outings, DSA days, and routine changes better coordinated.
By Jeremy Allen • June 22, 2026
A practical holiday planning guide for Oregon families preparing for fireworks, crowds, noise, sleep disruption, and routine changes around the Fourth of July.
By Jeremy Allen • June 22, 2026
Practical sensory-friendly summer planning for Oregon families supporting individuals with I/DD, from quiet outings and visual supports to exit plans and caregiver pacing.
By Jeremy Allen • June 5, 2026
Your ISP is the operating manual for your loved one's services — but most families just sign it. A section-by-section guide to reading the Oregon Individual Support Plan and knowing what to check.
By Jeremy Allen • May 1, 2026
What to do before, during, and after the annual Individual Support Plan meeting so the plan reflects your loved one's goals — not a service menu.
By Jeremy Allen • April 30, 2026
27 years after the Supreme Court ruled unjustified segregation is discrimination, what Olmstead has changed, what it hasn't, and why it still shapes Oregon services.
By Jeremy Allen • April 30, 2026
Practical strategies for Oregon caregivers — heat illness prevention, hydration, sensory comfort, water safety, and avoiding burnout — so summer is joy, not crisis management.
By Jeremy Allen • April 28, 2026
Most parents share a quiet, persistent worry: what happens when I'm no longer here? A practical guide to Special Needs Trusts, Letters of Intent, and Oregon ABLE accounts.
By Jeremy Allen • April 23, 2026
April in Oregon means the world is waking up — get hands in the soil and experience the therapeutic power of nature.
By Jeremy Allen • April 22, 2026
From outdoor adventures to creative workshops, here's how Day Support Activities programs help individuals with disabilities build skills, friendships, and confidence this spring.
By Jeremy Allen • April 21, 2026
How Oregon's I/DD support system actually works — Personal Agents, Services Coordinators, brokerages, and CDDPs in plain language.
By Jeremy Allen • April 21, 2026
Our DSA program now serves Grants Pass and Josephine County. Same model of care, same person-centered approach, now in southern Oregon.
By Jeremy Allen • April 9, 2026
Caring for a loved one with a disability is rewarding — and exhausting. Learn how relief care can help you recharge while ensuring your loved one receives quality support.
By Jeremy Allen • April 8, 2026
The transition from school-based services to adult disability support can feel overwhelming. Here's what to expect and how to prepare for this important milestone.
By Jeremy Allen • March 20, 2026
If you're a parent caregiver for a child with a disability, you may be eligible for significant tax benefits under IRS Notice 2014-7. Here's what you need to know.
By Jeremy Allen • November 28, 2025
Some of the most profound growth happens not within four walls, but out in the world. How nature shapes our DSA programming.
By Jeremy Allen • August 12, 2024
Disability inclusion is beneficial for everyone. Practical ways to be inclusive in workplaces, schools, and community life.
By Jeremy Allen • July 22, 2024
Everyone goes through different life experiences that shape them. How trauma informed care principles guide our work with individuals with I/DD.
By Jeremy Allen • June 19, 2024
Why day support activities and programs are essential for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
By Jeremy Allen • June 19, 2024
Dispelling some common myths about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — and the facts that matter.
By Jeremy Allen • June 19, 2024
When working with individuals with I/DD, it's crucial to use destigmatizing, respectful language. A practical guide.
By Jeremy Allen • June 19, 2024
What person-centered disability support care is and why it's essential, especially at North Star Oregon.
