Disabilities
Latest Stories

Disabled, LGBTQ, people of color rely less on peer support following sexual assault, study finds
College students who were disabled, queer or people of color reported more negative predictions about their peers' response to sexual assault disclosure, a recent study conducted by Oregon State University researchers shows.

View from an Oregon special education administrator: Mental health, behavior, staffing among biggest challenges
OPB’s series on the state of special education has featured students, parents, and staff members across the Portland area. The series has found that some students with disabilities are missing out on school while staff are stretched thin trying to deal with increased needs. Education reporter Elizabeth Miller recently spoke with another staff member — a special education administrator — about how things look from the district office.

A day in the life of an Oregon paraeducator
When you think about who works in a school, you think of teachers, principals, custodians, counselors — but there are also paraeducators. Paras are deployed to help students with disabilities make the most of their education.
Students with disabilities face setbacks, safety risks as Oregon special education systems struggle
Staffing shortages are among the challenges that have left students in special education physically at risk and academically unserved — even though they are among the student groups in greatest need after more than two school years of pandemic disruptions.

Students with disabilities have a right to qualified teachers — but there’s a shortage
When schools can't find a licensed special education teacher, they hire people who are willing to do the job, but lack the training. It's a practice that concerns some special education experts.

International student at Willamette law school alleges she was expelled due to disability discrimination
Willamette law dismissed Charlie Li after concluding she violated the school's honor code, which Li denies. She says the barriers she faced as an international student with disabilities left her too often feeling unsupported by the institution.

Bill to help Oregon students with disabilities not likely to pass this session
Oregon Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin said she heard from Gov. Kate Brown that a bill she sponsored — aimed at directing the Oregon Department of Education to more quickly investigate and resolve allegations brought by families of students with disabilities — would not pass during the 2022 short legislative session.
A new language has been born in the Northwest
The DeafBlind Institute at Western Oregon University recently received $2.1 million to help train interpreters in Protactile, a language created by DeafBlind people.
Report: Oregonians with intellectual disabilities are at growing risk of homelessness
A new report from ECONorthwest finds people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face housing instability — but researchers say there's a serious lack of data about the population.
