  COUNCIL MISSION:
The Mission of the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities is to create change that improves the lives of Oregonians with developmental disabilities.
The Consumer Involvement Fund gives people with developmental disabilities and their families valuable learning opportunities through participation in conferences and trainings.
"It was an uplifting experience for me to be able to speak with other parents of children with cerebral palsy. In our area there are not many parents with children with cerebral palsy. It was comforting to hear about their experiences."
 Why a Consumer Involvement Fund?
People with developmental disabilities and their families often lack the necessary resources to attend conferences and trainings that would increase their skills and knowledge as advocates. Through the Council's Consumer Involvement Fund, individuals receive financial assistance to support their participation in local, state and national training events. By gaining new information and skills, participants are better equipped to advocate for themselves and others.
How can the funds be used?
The Consumer Involvement Fund awards funds that typically cover the following expenses:
- Registration fees
- Transportation costs including mileage
- Meals
- Lodging
- Respite or child care
- Personal assistant services
- Sign language interpreters
- Other reasonable expenses related to attending a training event
Who can apply?
- Oregon residents who are individuals with a developmental disability or a family member.
- Organizations and agencies in Oregon seeking financial assistance to send members to an event.
- Event planners who want to provide scholarships to Oregon participants with developmental disabilities and their families.
How are funds awarded?
The Council's Consumer Involvement Fund Committee reviews applications and decides who will receive funding. The committee limits the number of awards for any single event. The committee may offer less financial assistance than is requested. Organizations and agencies seeking stipends on behalf of members should also be contributing financially to their participation.
Individuals and families who receive Consumer Involvement Funds are only eligible for one request during the year. They may reapply but not until two years from the date they received initial funds.
All Consumer Involvement Fund applications must be consistent with the purpose of the fund and the mission of the Council. Individuals who receive funds are asked to complete a survey about how they benefited from the event they attended, and how they plan to share what they've learned with their community and the Council.
"Being able to attend this conference, I learned how to better advocate for myself and how to get my questions ready and speak clearly so that I can get my needs met."
Nickey Courtney
Warm Springs
To apply, contact the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities.
945-9941 (Salem)
1-800-292-4154 (Oregon)
540 24th Place N.E.
Salem, Oregon 97301-4517
e-mail: ocdd@ocdd.org
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