Disability Support Services in Salem, OR
In-home attendant care and Day Support Activities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Oregon's capital city.
Salem at a Glance
- Services Available
- In-Home Attendant Care & Day Support Activities
- County
- Marion County
- Local CDDP
- Marion County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP) · 503-588-5288
Disability Support Agency Serving Salem and Marion County
Salem is Oregon's capital and its second-largest city, home to roughly 183,000 people. As the seat of state government and the hub of the mid-Willamette Valley, Salem has a concentration of disability-related agencies and advocacy organizations that few other Oregon cities can match — yet finding the right direct-support provider still takes work. North Star Oregon serves Salem with both in-home attendant care and Day Support Activities (DSA), giving individuals and families in Marion County access to consistent, person-centered I/DD support without leaving their community.
If you or a family member receives services through the Marion County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Program — the local CDDP, located at 3180 Center St NE, Salem, OR 97301 (phone: 503-588-5288) — your service coordinator can help connect you to North Star Oregon's attendant care or DSA programming. If you're new to the system and haven't yet established eligibility, we can walk you through the intake process and help you understand what's available.
Salem's role as a government center means organizations like The Arc Oregon, Shangri-La, and NorthWest Senior & Disability Services all maintain offices here. North Star Oregon works alongside — not in place of — these organizations. Our focus is direct support: showing up in people's homes and running structured day programming, day after day.
Disability Support Services in Salem, Oregon
Two Core Services in One Community
Unlike many of our service areas where attendant care is the sole offering, Salem is one of the locations where North Star Oregon operates both in-home attendant care and Day Support Activities. That means individuals in Marion County can access one-on-one home-based support and group-based community programming through the same provider — with the same commitment to consistency and familiar staff. Our services are funded through Oregon's K-Plan and coordinated through the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS). If you already have an Individual Support Plan through the Marion County CDDP, we can coordinate directly with your team. If you're exploring services for the first time, start by calling Marion County I/DD at 503-588-5288 or contacting us directly.
Stability in a City That Knows Government but Needs Good Providers
Salem has no shortage of state agencies and policy organizations. What families here need are reliable direct-support workers who show up on time, know the person they're working with, and stay long enough to build real trust. Every North Star Oregon support worker is trained, background-checked, and matched to the individual they serve. We prioritize retention and consistency because a revolving door of unfamiliar faces is not support — it's disruption.
In-Home Attendant Care Services in Salem, Oregon
In-home attendant care is one-on-one support delivered in the individual's own home, helping with daily living tasks, personal care, skill development, and access to the surrounding community. For people living in Salem — whether near the Willamette University campus downtown, out along Lancaster Drive by Chemeketa Community College, or in the neighborhoods south of Salem Hospital — attendant care means support comes to you rather than requiring you to travel to a facility.
This matters in a city the size of Salem, where distances between neighborhoods are real and public transit, while available through Cherriots, doesn't always align with the schedules of people who need support. Our attendant care workers help with everything from morning routines and meal preparation to getting to medical appointments at Salem Health or running errands in the community. The goal is always to support greater independence — not to create dependence on the service itself.
- Personal care and daily living assistance
- Skill building toward independent living
- Community access — shopping, appointments, recreation
- Meal preparation and household task support
- Companionship and consistent, familiar support staff
Day Support Activities in Salem, Oregon
Salem is one of six locations where North Star Oregon operates Day Support Activities programming. Our DSA location in the West Salem area provides structured group activities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, running Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM. Activities rotate and include community outings, arts and crafts, fitness activities, volunteer projects, and educational workshops — all designed to build social connections, develop practical skills, and keep participants engaged with the Salem community.
DSA is a meaningful complement to in-home attendant care. Where attendant care focuses on one-on-one support in the home, DSA provides a group setting where participants build friendships, try new activities, and practice social skills in a structured environment. For families in Marion County, having both services available through one provider simplifies coordination and ensures continuity.
To see what's on the current schedule, check the DSA calendar or contact us to arrange a visit.
Marion County Disability Resources
- Marion County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP) — The local CDDP and your starting point for eligibility determination and service coordination.
- The Arc Oregon — Statewide advocacy organization headquartered in Salem, promoting the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
2405 Front St NE, Suite 120, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-581-2726
- Shangri-La — Salem-based nonprofit providing residential services, employment support, outpatient mental health services, and workforce development for individuals with disabilities.
4080 Reed Rd SE #150, Salem, OR 97302
Phone: 503-581-1732
- NorthWest Senior & Disability Services (NWSDS) — Area Agency on Aging and disability services for Marion and Polk counties.
3410 Cherry Ave NE, Salem, OR 97303
Phone: 503-304-3400
- Disability Rights Oregon — Statewide nonprofit providing legal advocacy for people with disabilities. Main office: 900 SW 5th Ave, Suite 1800, Portland, OR 97204. or 800-452-1694. North Star Oregon works alongside these organizations to provide coordinated, direct support for our clients in Marion County.
Phone: 503-243-2081
About North Star Oregon
North Star Oregon has been part of the Salem disability services landscape since our founding. As Oregon's capital city, Salem is home to more I/DD policy organizations and advocacy groups than almost anywhere else in the state — but policy doesn't get someone to a doctor's appointment or help them cook dinner. That's our job. We provide the day-to-day, person-centered direct support that makes independent living possible for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Marion County. Our team knows Salem, works in Salem, and is accountable to the families we serve here.
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