Disability Support Services in Portland, OR
In-home attendant care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Oregon's largest city and the greater Portland metro.
Portland at a Glance
- Services Available
- In-Home Attendant Care
- County
- Multnomah County
- Local CDDP
- Multnomah County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services Division (CDDP) · 503-988-3691
- Nearest Day Support Activities
- Salem
Disability Support Agency Serving Portland and Multnomah County
Portland is Oregon's largest city, home to more than 627,000 residents and the center of a metro area that exceeds 2.5 million people. Multnomah County alone has more individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities than most Oregon counties combined. The scale of the community here means that demand for qualified, reliable support services consistently outpaces supply. North Star Oregon brings statewide experience in attendant care and disability support to the Portland metro — not as a distant agency, but as a provider that has built its reputation serving individuals and families across the Willamette Valley and beyond.
Disability services in Multnomah County are coordinated through the county's Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services Division, the local Community Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP). Their main office is located at 209 SW 4th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, inside the Five Oak Building, and can be reached at 503-988-3691 (ext. 7) or by email at idd@multco.us. The division handles eligibility determinations, service coordination, and case management for both children and adults with I/DD throughout Multnomah County. North Star Oregon works alongside county service coordinators to deliver in-home attendant care that fits within each individual's person-centered plan.
Portland also has a deep bench of disability organizations — from Independent Living Resources and Disability Rights Oregon to The Arc Portland Metro and Community Pathways, Inc. This is not a city that lacks advocacy or awareness. What families often tell us is that the challenge is not finding information — it is finding a provider who actually shows up, stays consistent, and treats their family member as a person rather than a case number. That is the standard North Star Oregon holds itself to.
Disability Support Services in Portland, Oregon
Statewide Experience Rooted in Oregon Communities
North Star Oregon has built its service model across communities throughout the Willamette Valley — from Albany and Corvallis to Eugene, Springfield, Salem, and Tangent. That statewide foundation matters in Portland because it means we are not learning as we go. We understand how Oregon's K-Plan funding works, how to coordinate with CDDPs and brokerages, and how to recruit and retain attendant care workers in a competitive labor market. Portland is the largest community we serve, and we approach it with the same person-centered commitment that defines our work in every Oregon city.
Reliability in a City This Size
In a metro area with 2.5 million people, it is easy for individuals with disabilities to feel like just another client in a provider's caseload. Large agencies cycle through staff, and families cycle through providers looking for someone who will stay. North Star Oregon prioritizes intentional caregiver matching and long-term staff retention. We pair individuals with support workers who are genuinely a good fit — and we invest in keeping those relationships stable. In a city where people have more options but fewer guarantees, consistency is the most valuable thing we offer.
In-Home Attendant Care Services in Portland, Oregon
In-home attendant care is one-on-one support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their own homes. In Portland, that means helping people maintain independence and daily routines in one of the most neighborhood-driven cities in the country — whether someone lives in a house in Southeast, an apartment in the Lloyd District, or a group home in East Portland. Our attendant care workers help with personal care, daily living tasks, meal preparation, and getting out into the community. The goal is never to replace what someone can do, but to support the areas where they need help so they can live the life they want.
Portland's size also creates practical challenges that a good attendant care provider must account for. Getting across the city takes time — TriMet's bus and MAX light rail network covers a lot of ground, but navigating it independently is not realistic for every individual. Access to medical appointments at OHSU, Providence Portland, or Legacy Emanuel may require support with transportation and scheduling. Running errands to neighborhood grocery stores, attending community events at a local park or library, or simply keeping a consistent routine at home — all of these are easier with a reliable support worker who knows the person, knows the neighborhood, and shows up when expected.
- Personal care and hygiene assistance
- Meal preparation and nutrition support
- Household tasks and daily living skill building
- Community access — shopping, errands, recreation, appointments
- Transportation support across Portland neighborhoods and the metro area
- Assistance navigating TriMet, LIFT paratransit, and other transit options
- Companionship and consistent, familiar caregivers
Day Support Activities Near Portland, Oregon
North Star Oregon does not currently operate Day Support Activities (DSA) locations in the Portland metro area. We believe in being straightforward about what we offer and where. In Portland, our primary service is in-home attendant care — and that is where we focus our energy and our team.
DSA programming is available at our locations in Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, Springfield, Salem, and Tangent. These programs include structured group activities such as arts and creative expression, fitness, educational workshops, community volunteering, and social skill building. If you are in the Portland area and interested in DSA, we are happy to discuss options at our other locations. We are also actively evaluating opportunities to bring DSA programming to the Portland metro in the future — the need is real, and it is something we take seriously as we grow.
Ready to talk about care in Portland?
A real person on our team will reply within one business day — no phone trees, no intake robots.
Services are typically at no out-of-pocket cost to families, funded through Oregon's K-Plan (Medicaid).
Multnomah County Disability Resources
- Multnomah County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services Division (CDDP) — The local point of access for I/DD eligibility, service coordination, and case management in Multnomah County. Five Oak Building, 209 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97204. (ext. 7). Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Phone: 503-988-3691
Email: idd@multco.us.
- Independent Living Resources (ILR) — Portland's Center for Independent Living, serving Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. Provides advocacy, peer counseling, skills training, and information and referral services. 1839 NE Couch St., Portland, OR 97232. .
Phone: 503-232-7411
- The Arc Portland Metro — Advocacy, education, and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across the Portland metro. 6929 NE Halsey St., Portland, OR 97213. .
Phone: 503-223-7279
- Community Pathways, Inc. — Support services brokerage for adults with developmental disabilities in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties. Helps individuals access, plan, and monitor community-based supports. 2475 SE Ladd Ave., Suite 220, Portland, OR 97214. .
Phone: 503-935-5243
- Disability Rights Oregon (DRO) — Oregon's designated Protection and Advocacy system. Provides legal assistance and advocacy for people with disabilities statewide. 511 SW 10th Ave., Suite 200, Portland, OR 97205. .
Phone: 800-452-1694
- Multnomah County Aging, Disability and Veterans Services — County department connecting older adults and people with disabilities to community services, including the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC). ADRC statewide line: 1-855-ORE-ADRC (1-855-673-2372).
Phone: 503-988-3620
About North Star Oregon
North Star Oregon is headquartered in Philomath and serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the state. Portland is the largest city in our service area, and we recognize the weight of that. Families here have been underserved by providers who spread too thin or treat the metro as an afterthought. We are building our Portland presence deliberately — with attendant care workers who live in the metro, who know their neighborhoods, and who are committed to the people they support. Our founder, Justin Wallace, has more than 12 years of experience in the I/DD field, and our team brings the same standard of care to Portland that we have established in communities across the Willamette Valley.
Learn MoreOther Service Areas in Portland Metro
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A real person on our team will reply within one business day — no phone trees, no intake robots.