The Arc Lane County

10/22/2026

👻 City Hall-O-Ween is two weeks away!

This year’s celebration is about more than candy. It is also a chance to connect with organizations doing work throughout our community.

Joining us on October 30:
🍬 Catholic Community Services of Lane County, Inc. (CCS)
🎃 The Arc Lane County
👻 Made By You
🍭 Rise & Shine
🎉 Springfield Drifters Baseball Club
🚒 Eugene Springfield Fire
💡 Springfield Utility Board
🧀 Franz Bakery Grilled Cheese Truck

Come meet our community partners while enjoying indoor trick-or-treating, activities and a magic show at 4 p.m.

📅 Friday, October 30
⏰ 3:30 to 5 p.m.
📍 Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth Street
🎟️ FREE and open to all

10/22/2026

10/22/2026

The October edition of Empower is here!

In this month's edition, you'll find:
• Important advocacy news and opportunities to connect with the disability community
• Upcoming Halloween fun and inclusive community events
• Updates the Arc Park
• Resources to help individuals and families navigate housing, food, healthcare, disability supports, and more

Read the October edition of Empower:

Email from The Arc of Lane County Fall events, disability advocacy, voting resources, parent respite opportunities and more.   Celebrating Disability Employment, Inclusion October is National Disabili

10/21/2026

Happy Unity Day!

Learn how you can support bullying prevention every day to create a more inclusive community at https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/show-your-support/

10/21/2026

☕💙 Coffee, Connection & Community — Join Us Tomorrow!💙☕

Every family deserves a space where they feel welcomed, understood, and connected! 💕

Our Parent Coffee Meet-Up is designed with families of children with disabilities in mind, including families of children with disabilities.

We invite you to take a little time for yourself, enjoy a cup of coffee, and connect with other parents and caregivers who may share similar experiences.

✨ No agenda, no pressure, and no expectations! Just a welcoming, inclusive space to relax, share experiences, exchange ideas and resources, build friendships, and support one another.

Whether you're new to navigating disability-related services and supports or have years of experience advocating alongside your child, your experiences, perspectives, and voice are valued here! 💙

☕ If you're a parent or caregiver of a child with a disability, we'd love for you to join us tomorrow!

At Families Connected, we believe in building community, celebrating neurodiversity and disability, empowering families, and creating opportunities for meaningful connections.

💙 Come as you are. Connect at your own pace. Find your community.

We look forward to welcoming you! 🥰.

10/20/2026

Unity Day is tomorrow! Be sure to wear orange to send a visible message of building community through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

Also, take the online pledge to treat others with kindness, be more accepting of people with differences, and help include people who are left out. Take the pledge here:

National Bullying Prevention Month › Take the Pledge More than one out of every five students will be bullied this year. This is probably happening to someone you know and care about. Support others who have been hurt or harmed. Treat others with kindness. Be m

10/20/2026

🎉 HEY BETHEL FAMILIES! ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FUN?! 🎉

Looking for a fun, safe, and welcoming place for your child to spend a Saturday while you enjoy a little well-deserved time for yourself? 💙

🌈 The Arc Lane County invites you to our FREE Saturday Kids Social in Bethel!

Our Saturday Kids Social is all about making friends, having fun, building connections, and enjoying a space where every child belongs!

✨ What can your child look forward to?
🎨 Fun crafts and creative activities
🎲 Games, playtime, and socializing
🤝 Opportunities to make new friends

10/18/2026

🎉 What a FUN Family Fun Day! 🎉

What a wonderful day filled with smiles, laughter, fun activities, and families coming together! ❤️

A HUGE thank you to everyone who joined us for today's Family Fun Day! We loved seeing familiar faces, meeting new families, and watching everyone enjoy time together while making special memories!

Events like today remind us how important it is to create welcoming spaces where families can connect, kids can have fun, and everyone feels like they belong. 💕

We can't wait to do it all again next month! 🎉

Thank you for being part of our wonderful community. We look forward to seeing you at our next Family Fun Day!

The more families, the more fun! 🥳

10/14/2026

💙 Tomorrow is Neurodiversity Family Support Night!

Haven't registered yet? There's still time!

Join us tomorrow evening for an opportunity to connect with other families, build relationships, share experiences, and find support within our community.

📅 Thursday, October 15th
⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Whether you're joining us for the first time or have attended before, we'd love to see you!

Don't miss out! Reserve your spot today! https://tinyurl.com/yc384d3u 💙

10/13/2026

Congratulations to Nick!

Congratulations, Nicholas Kaasa!

Yesterday at our monthly staff meeting, The Arc Oregon celebrated Nicholas Kaasa, winner of the 2026 Ross Ryan Employment Self-Advocacy Award. We were joined by guests from ODHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services and Full Access Brokerage as we all recognized Nick together.

Julie Huber of the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Disabilities Services, shared that the award honors Ross Ryan's commitment to employment and his voice as an advocate. Nominations grow every year, and Nick's application stood out even in a fiercely competitive field.

Ryley Newport remembered first meeting Nick about 10 years ago, when Nick was named student of the year and then signed up as a peer mentor to help people move from sheltered workshops into community jobs. Ryley also shared a favorite Ross Ryan line: "I changed the space by being there."

Ashley Herberholz, last year's recipient, told Nick, "I couldn't think of anybody better to accept this award."

In his remarks, Nick said, "A job is more than just a paycheck. It is a reason to get up in the morning. It is a place to belong." He thanked his team, Ross Ryan, and Lindsay Dutton, who nominated him. Lindsay said Nick embodies the spirit of "nothing about us without us."

Nick is a Trainer with The Arc Oregon, and he now trains new services coordinators and personal agents to do their jobs even better. We see his work every day, and it is wonderful to see it honored.

Congratulations, Nick, and thank you to ODHS, ODDS, and Full Access Brokerage for celebrating with us during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.