support groups

Region 6
See also listings under Region 8

Clackamas, Wasco, Hood River, and Multnomah counties.

ASO Sponsored Support Groups

We depend on fund raising and donations to sponsor our programs.
Your tax-deductible donation will go to these worthwhile programs and others like them.

Girl Power Support Group in SE Portland -- This is a social group for ages 10 and older with any disability. The Girl Power Group helps girls develop their social skills in a fun, friendly environment. The group is facilitated by professionals who work with children with special needs. The group is held the 3^rd Saturday of the month, 1:00-2:30, at the Moreland Presbyterian Church located at 1814 SE Bybee St. Portland, OR, 97202. To register, please call the Autism Society of Oregon office at (503) 636-1676 or email.

Support Group for Parents of adult child (age 18 and up) on the Autism Spectrum. Facilitated by Carol Markovics. 2nd Tuesday of the month, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the United Way Building, downtown Portland, located at 619 SW 11th Ave. For more information contact the ASO office at (503)636-1676, info@oregonautism.com. Download flyer.

Support Group for young adults with ASD. 1st Tuesday of the Month, 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. Portland State University, School of Education building located at 615 SW Harrison, between 6th and Broadway. Conference room ED 502. Download flyer.

GAINS. ASO started this group out of a need expressed by many grandparents. This support group meets quarterly and we are changing the venues to cover a larger population of Portland: twice a year we’ll meet in Beaverton and twice a year we’ll meet in SE Portland. We try to bring in a speaker for this breakfast meeting and have covered such topics as Sensory Integration, Special Needs Trusts and Biomedical Interventions. Are you a grandparent that would like to be on our mailing list to receive meeting notices? Please call the ASO office at (503)636-1676 or info@oregonautism.com and give us your name, complete mailing address, telephone number and, if you have one, your e-mail. We’ll notify you when the next GAINS group meets.

Other Support Groups

PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS:

• Autism Medical Information Support Group - Meets the 4th Tuesday at 7:00 at the Interstate Kaiser Town Hall Building. Contact: Kathy Henley at (503) 351-9255.
• Native Americans Support Group - This Portland area support group is for anyone who is a caregiver of a child that is Native American and on the autism spectrum. Contact: Christine Bruno at (503) 666-1740 for more information and schedule of meeting times.
• SPD Support Group: Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month, from 7:00 to 8:30 held at Advanced Pediatric Therapies, 4444 SW Multnomah Blvd. For more info, contact Sharon Donnelley at donnellyot@comcast.net.
• The Portland Asperger's Network has an occasional support group meeting in SE Portland. Please check their website for more details.
• Parents of Hope Support Group in Gresham. 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30-8:00 p.m., East Hill Foursquare Church, 695 N. Main St., Gresham. Call Kelly Meyers at (503) 492-9012 or Sheri Woodin at (503) 349-5426 for more information or visit website at www.parentsofhopesupportgroup.web.officelive.com
• A.C.T.S.N. (Advocates of children that have special needs) support group meets at least 2 times per month, once in the evening and once in the morning in Wilsonville. Contact Kim Klupenger at (503)781-7929, kim.hrconsulting@comcast.net or Jenny Cavarno, (503)869-4793, jennycavarno@gmail.com for more information.
• Youth Peer Support Group hosted by the Oregon Family Support Network for youths ages 12-20. Meetings are every Thursday, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Meetings occur at the Montavilla Community Center located at 8219 NE Glisan Portland, 97220. For more information, contact Elicia Smith at (503)539-0088, Elicia.smith@ofsn.org.
• Seminars for Parents of Young Adults and Older Adolescents with Autism Spectrum and Attentional Challenges. Place and Time: Fulton Park Community Center, 68 Southwest Miles Street, Portland, OR 97219-2863. Every two weeks on Monday evenings from 6:00pm to 7:30pm (90 minutes), beginning on April 26, 2010. Schedule:
  • April 26 – Accessing resources
  • May 10 – Burnout: reclaiming my life and other relationships.
  • May 17 – Managing anxiety and moods.
  • May 24 – The disability perspective: talking about reality and limitations.
  • May 31 – Internet use, misuse and other cyber-debates.
  • June 7 – To be determined by request.
  
  Group Fees: In order for the group to be as accessible as possible, there is a suggested donation of $20 per person ($30 per couple) for each meeting. RSVP strongly suggested. if you would like to attend, or get more information, please contact: Peggy Piers, M.Ed.–counseling,(503) 977-2411
• Seminars for Parents of Young Adults and Older Adolescents with Autism Spectrum and Attentional Challenges. View flyer

SUPPORT GROUPS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS:

• Game Club in West Linn -- A place where Asperger's and High Functioning Autistic kids, ages 5-18, can be themselves while engaging in activities they love. Held on the 2nd Friday of each month, 6:30-10:00 in West Linn. Visit: www.gameclubonline.com or contact Michelle Kreupker at (503) 656-6026.
• Portland Aspergers Network Teen Club - This social activties groups meets about once a month and is for 13-20 years old. Activities include movies, LAN parties, Laser Tag and more. Contact Rose Case for details at rose.case@verizon.net.
• "Now What?" Group. Social Tools for young adults (18-20 something). This is a 12 session series starting on September 9th. Skills Notebook and other materials included. A free introductory meeting will be held approximately 2 weeks before each series begins. Facilitated by Peggy Piers and Roni Sautter. For information on upcoming series, please contact Peggy Piers M.Ed.-counseling at (503) 977-2411, piers.p@comcast.net. To be held at Southwest Family Physicians, 11900 SW Greenburg Rd. Tigard, OR 97223. See overview.

SUPPORT GROUPS FOR ADULTS:

• Portland Asperger Support Group - A peer-facilitated adult support group. The meetings are held on the second Sunday of each month from 3:00-6:00 p.m., and is currently co-facilitated by a number of members from the group. The meet at the Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church located at 6161 SE Stark St., Portland, OR. Visit:: www.aspdx.org. For more information contact Roger Meyer at (503) 666-2776, rogernmeyer@earthlink.net.
• The Portland AS Partners Group - This group is a co-facilitated support group for partners in committed relationships. It is co-facilitated by Roger N. Meyer and Lisa Lieberman, MSW-LCSW. If you are interested in joining, please contact Roger Meyer first at (503) 666-2776, rogernmeyer@earthlink.net.
• Asperger (w/Pervasive DD, Anxiety, etc related) Adult Social/Support Group. Portland,OR area. An informal social/support group for adults. These meetings are usually scheduled on the weekend of the 1st Saturday of the month. Location can vary, but mainly in the Portland Metro area. See website for more details, changes, and updates. These three links are the same webpage, on different servers. If the first link fails, then try the next link.
  http://www.geocities.com/srsr12/pnwgroupsummary.htm
  http://members.tripod.com/~srsr1212/pnwgroupsummary.htm
  http://srsr12.freehomepage.com/pnwgroupsummary.htm
• ASAN Portland Social/Support Group: Brings young adults on the autism spectrum together to share ideas, give advice & support and to learn self-advocacy. Meets the 1st Friday of every month from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Kaiser Town Hall located at 3704 N. Interstate Ave., Portland, 97227. For more information contact Phoebe at velvetgunpowder@fastmail.fm or call Elesai at 718-208-3435.

PADRES EN ACCION:

• Reunión de familias latinas para celebrar a sus hijos discapacitados, aprender del uno al otro y así construír una comunidad con poder y apoyo. El grupo se reune en el condado de Multnomah tercer viernes y en el condado de Washington el cuarto viernes de cada mes.Para mas informacion, llame a Adelina Martínez (503) 615-3080. Vea el folleto.

OTHER SUPPORT:

• New Seasons Nutrition Tours: Will also discuss GFCF foods. Go to www.NewSeasonsMarket.com to check out the class and tour schedule. If you have questions, call Karen Siebert at (503)473-8626.

Chapter Representatives:
Amy Evans, (503)771-5743, amelia@spiritone.com
Janet Tangney (for adult issues) (503) 313-9961, tangneyjm@comcast.net