Session 1: September 11-12, 2026
DRO Partners in Policymaking Leadership Series
2026-2027
History of the Disability Rights Movement
Where
Day 1: Friday, September 11, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Training: Atrium (lobby level), The Standard Insurance Center, 900 SW 5th Avenue, Portland
Overnight stay: The Duniway Hotel, 545 SW Taylor, Portland
Day 2: Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Training: Captain Gray Room, The Duniway Hotel
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1:00 Welcome and introduction – Coleen Carey, Advocate, DRO
1:15 Mindfulness/Reflection – Coleen Carey (Volunteer for October?)
1:25 Class of 2027 Participant Introductions – What is your WHY?
2:30 DRO Leadership Series Orientation and Expectations
2:45 Break
3:00 Keynote – Sue Swenson, Inclusion International
4:30 Break
4:45 Panel: “Lessons from the Past” – Jan Campbell (DRO Board & Past President) and Sherri Osborn (Class of 2010)
5:15 Dinner
6:00 Film: “In the Shadow of Fairview,” Oregon Experience, OPB
7:00 Facilitated Discussion of the Film
7:30 Regroup/Sharing, then Adjourn
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8:30 Coffee and bagels
9:00 Panel: Past Graduates “Passing the Baton” (Margo Lalich - 1996, Penny Fitzmaurice - 2025, Brianna Wilson - 2026)
9:45 Break, Checkout
10:15 The Disability Rights Movement – Sue Swenson
12:00 Lunch
12:45 The Disability Rights Movement - Coleen Carey
2:15 Break
2:30 Q&A with Sue Swenson
3:00 Intro to Charting the LifeCourse - Coleen
3:30 Homework Assignments and Session Evaluation
4:00 Adjourn
Homework
Person Centered Planning:
Using whatever medium you prefer (writing, typing, dictating, creating a collage, poem, artwork, etc..) answer the following questions. Be prepared to share your responses during the next session.
Who is this person?
What is your/their dream?
What is your/their nightmare?
Resources
Videos
Disabling segregation: Dan Habib at TEDx
Demand what You Believe In (6 min)
Library
In the Shadow of Fairview Video (56 minutes)
DRO History of Fairview Blog post (5 minute read)
Disability Laws, Policy, and Rights
Inclusion International
Examples of Person Centered Planning Tools
Credo for Support
Words Matter
American Psychological Association Suggested Language Blog post (10 minutes read)
"Dos and Donts" of Disability Language Blog post (5 minutes read)
New Study on Language and Autism Article (3 minutes read)
What’s So Special About That? Blog post (5 minutes read)
Casual Ableist Language
Disabled Person or Person with a Disability?
