Employment First Oregon
Employment First Oregon
Employment is a key to full citizenship for Oregonians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Employment First is both a philosophy and an Oregon state policy. As a philosophy, Employment First is based on the presumption that working age adults and youth with I/DD can work in jobs fully integrated in the community. Integrated employment includes typical workplace settings where there are regular opportunities for meaningful interaction with co-workers without disabilities and/or customers or the general public. This can also include self-employment. The employment of individuals with I/DD adds to the diversity of the workforce and general enrichment of communities. Our Employment First Teams in each county below work together to achieve this goal.
Eastern Oregonian Ross is an example of a successful transition from school to work. For the full story, check out this Employment First Success Story link.
To read more success stories, check out the Employment First Success Story Archive.
County Teams
ALL Team meetings are Virtual only at this time until further notice
Contact/facilitator emails:
- Shelby Myers (All counties) : shelby.myers@odhs.oregon.gov
- Erica Drake (Harney only): erica.drake@odhs.oregon.gov
- Xochil Springer (Harney only): xspringer@eossb.org
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Contact - Shelby Myers ,Regional Liaison, ODDS; This team is monthly, virtual only, supporting East, West Umatilla and Morrow County schools and agency support partners. Meetings are virtual every last Tuesday of the month at 3:30 PM..
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Contact -Shelby Myers- Regional Liaison, ODDS; La Grande. Quarterly, (Jan, April, July, Oct.) Virtual only. Second Tuesday at 2:00 PM.
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Contact - Shelby Myers, Regional Liaison, ODDS. Third Tuesday of every month at 2 PM. In-person at New Directions Offices, Baker City.
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Contact -Shelby Myers, Regional Liaison, ODDS ;
Quarterly, first Thursday , 11:00 am (note: 12 PM mountain time), Virtual only. -
Contact Shelby Myers, Regional Liaison, ODDS; Grant County meetings are quarterly, (Jan, April, July, Oct.) virtual only. Second Wednesday of month 1 PM.
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Contact Shelby Myers, Regional Liaison, ODDS;
Bi-annual or as needed, date varies, Location in-person is Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness -DHS office, Enterprise. -
Contact - Xochil Springer, EOSSB or Erica Drake, Regional Liaison, ODDS. Monthly meetings, First Tuesday of month at 12:00 PM, Symmetry Care Office - in person with virtual option..
Main Contact Links for Team Meeting information
- Shelby Myers, Regional Liaison, ODDS
- Erica Drake, Regional liaison, ODDS - Harney County only