Resources
Employment
Mentra Network
A hiring platform that intelligently matches neurodivergents with fulfilling careers. This is a data-driven neurodiversity employment network whose goal is to maximize career success for neurodivergent people. The website is clear and user friendly. In addition to connecting you with potential employers, you can also find articles with tips and stories that may be helpful to you.
Neurodiversity Hub
This organization aims to change the narrative about autism and neurodiversity through awareness, education, and engagement. Their goals include support with accommodation and flexibility of school and the workplace, linking neurodivergent students with work experience, and improving the employability of neurodivergent students.
Inclusively
Think of this platform as LinkedIn made specifically for people with disabilities. The tagline of this organization is “One Front Door, Open to All” and the motto of this company is to redefine the conversation around hiring disabled employees, making the recruitment process as transparent as possible. Inclusively aims to work with both employers and job seekers to make sure necessary accommodations to facilitate disability inclusion are advocated for and met.
Workability
Workability aims to connect neurodiverse and disabled talent with inclusive employers worldwide.
Disability Advocacy and Appeals Organizations
Disability Advice
Disability Advice provides practical advice, hope, and support, offering actionable insights, resources, and a deeper understanding of available rights and services for families navigating complex journeys. The guide linked below serves as a roadmap for families to navigate the emotional and logistical complexities of caring for a child with unique needs, empowering them to secure the support they deserve.
FACT Oregon
FACT Oregon helps families, young people, and communities understand disability systems and work together for disability justice and policy changes, ensuring people with disabilities can flourish in their homes, schools, and communities.
Disability Rights Oregon
A great resource for helping individuals understand and navigate disability rights.
Portland Disability Resources
This is a list of local community resources. You will find local disability organizations and disability community resources for housing, transportation, business, recreation, and more.
Support for Talking with Health Care Providers
AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit
This website was created to improve the healthcare of autistic adults. The toolkit linked below may help your healthcare provider better understand your needs by presenting your healthcare information in an easily understood way, without needing you to explain your needs in real-time. After asking you to register for an account and then fill out a survey, the report collects your answers and puts it into an accommodations report which you can review before saving it.
Questions to Ask Your Therapist
The article linked below suggests great questions to ask a potential therapist regarding neurodiverse-affirming services and supports.
Organizations + Networks
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)
ASAN aims to advocate that autistic people need to be involved whenever autism is discussed, using the slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us.” They provide a user-friendly site with resources for autistic people (such as: books, COVID-19 resources, reports and brief materials, toolkits, accessibility resources, autism acceptance, self-advocacy, and webinars/ toolkits to help improve sexual health care for patients with disabilities).
Autism Society of Oregon (ASO)
ASO connects autistic individuals and their families with needed resources. They provide resources, education, advocacy, and support for individuals and families living with autism. This site includes descriptions of their core principles, resources, videos and support (support and social groups by region, financial aid and scholarship information, volunteer opportunities).
Asperger/ Autism Network (AANE)
AANE aims to support neurodivergent individuals to build meaningful, connected lives. They offer free programs, online support groups, and discussion forums for different demographics.
Autism Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)
AWN is committed to disability justice, gender & racial equity, neurodiversity & trans liberation with a focus on transformative and restorative justice in disability spaces.
Autism Empowerment of SW Washington & Portland Metro Area
Autism Empowerment is a nonprofit organization that offers innovative programs, training, and services as well as opportunities for leadership and volunteerism for those within and supporting autism and disabilities communities.
Autism & Grief Project
This website aims to help autistic adults navigate their grief, specifically with consideration of how people on the autistic individuals experience the process of grief and mourning.
Get out there!
Reduced Tri-Met Fare
The Honored Citizen pass offers reduced fare for seniors age 65+, people on Medicare, people with disabilities, people who qualify based on income, veterans and active-duty military.
America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass
A free, lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) that severely limits one or more major life activities. It provides access to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies.