Region Six ASO Support Groups
ASO Region 6
Serving Clackamas, Wasco, Hood River and Multnomah Counties
Chapter Representatives:
Diane Cervi (503) 257-7374
Janet Tangney (503) 313-9961 (Adult Services)
Nadia Derhalli (503) 484-6655
Lisa Voltolina (971) 295-1024
If you have a question, comment, or concern that you'd like to share with your Region 6 Reps, please GIVE US A CALL or use the form at the bottom of this page to send us an email.
ASO Sponsored Support Groups
NEW MEETING DATES! Young Adults with ASD (SW Portland) - meets from 6:45 to 8 pm on the following Tuesdays: Nov. 13, Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March 12, April 9, May 14 and June 11. (Does not meet in July or August.) Location is: Portland State University, School of Education building, located at 615 SW Harrison (between SW 6th and Broadway), in Conference Room ED 202. For more information, contact Carol Markovics, PhD, by e-mail by clicking here.
Girl Power Support Group (SE Portland) - Meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month (except April & December), from 1-2:30, at the Moreland Presbyterian Church, located at 1814 SE Bybee St. Portland, OR 97202. A social group for girls ages 10 and older with any disability. GPG helps girls develop their social skills in a fun, friendly environment. Facilitated by a rotating group of professionals who work with children with special needs. For more information or to register, please call the ASO office at (503) 636-1676 or send an e-mail. $5 suggested donation to cover supplies.
GAINS (Portland). ASO started this group out of a need expressed by many grandparents. We are re-starting this group and hope to have our next meeting soon. Are you a grandparent that would like to be on our mailing list to receive meeting notices? If so, please contact the ASO office at (503) 636-1676 or send an e-mail.
NEW DAY! R.E.S.T. (Gresham) - This support group is specifically for Moms. Meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7pm in Gresham. An RSVP is much appreciated! Call Michelle at 971-506-4949 for details. Please click here to see our Facebook page.
Other Support Groups & Activities:
For Parents:
ASD Caregivers Support Group (N Portland), meets the 4th Thursday of each month, 6:30-8:00 p.m., at Legacy Emanuel Hospital. 2801 N. Gantenbein, in Medical Building 2 East on Graham St. (one block south of main building on Gantenbein). Parking structure is just before Kerby St., Medical Building 2 is on the right. This is a parent-led support group for anyone caring for an ASD child or adult. It is a private time to share our feelings, frustrations and concerns with others on the same journey. Everyone has uninterrupted time to talk without judgment or criticism (including well-intended advice). Free. Please no children. For more information, contact Becky by email by clicking here, or 503-283-5513. On Facebook at: ASD Caregivers Support Group.
ASD Support Group (Canby), meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, starting April 5, 2012, from 7-8pm at The Ackerman Center. For more information, contact Sarah Burgon, at 503-505-0740
NEW LISTING! AWE (AWEtism We Embrace) (NE Portland) meets the second Thursday of every month, 7:00-9:00 pm, at Cascade PCC Women's Resource Center in the Student Services Building. room 103. 705 N Killingsworth St, Portland. Parking is free! "A group for those of us needing balance around what autism can mean in our lives. We often experience fear and tension around this experience, and in that fear we forget that "understanding" autism often isn't necessary. This is a group to support each other in allowing it to exist- and finding what is good in the characteristics within the autistic experience... and in what we have, rather than what we don't." For more information, contact Shasti McLaughlin by email by clicking here.
"Me Time, Coffee and Tea" (Tualatin) sponsored by the Portland Aspergers Network (PAN). Meets from Last Sunday of each month, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. at Panera Bread, 7149 SW Nyberg St., Tualatin, OR (503) 691-2162. "An unstructured time for givers of care to older teens (looking towards graduating from high school), young adults, older family members who are on Spectrum, to visit and decompress with others working through similar situations. Think of this as a sharing and caring opportunity, a space and time to be with other people who can relate to life with Autism, adulthood and caring for someone. Don't hesitate, or put it off...You need to take care of you, too!" For more information, go to http://aspergersnet.org/me_time.
Native Americans Support Group (Portland)- 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.
Portland Asperger's Network (SE Portland) - has a quarterly support group for parents that meets in SE Portland. Please click here for more details.
Sensory Support (West Linn) - meets on the first Wednesday of the month in West Linn. "We are an organization that provides resources and support for families of children with sensory issues." For more information, please check out see their website at www.sensorysupport.org, and facebook page: www.facebook.com/sensorysupport.
SPD Support Group (SW Portland): Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM held at Advanced Pediatric Therapies, 4444 SW Multnomah Blvd, Portland.. For more info, contact Sharon Donnelley at donnellyot@comcast.net.
"Talk it Over" Family Support Group (Gresham), at 124 NE 181st, one block north of E Burnside and the MAX station (TriMet #19). Located in the new Human Solutions Rockwood building, in the Community Room. Meeting every 2nd and 4th Tuesday afternoon of each month, from 6-7:30 pm. FREE. For more information, contact Margaret Puckette at 503-289-7797 or mpuckette@comcast.net. For parents, caregivers, and siblings of a child or teen with a serious behavioral disorder. Click for flyer.
On-Line Community - The Portland Aspergers Network (PAN) has a moderated Internet chat group on Yahoo Groups named "PDXAspergersNetwork" comprised primarily of parents from around Oregon and SW Washington. Group members ask questions, receive feedback, share stories about their children and exchange information about everything from preparing for IEP meetings to medications. Click here for more information.
On-Line Community - Westside Autism Moms (WAM): For mothers who have a child(ren) on the autism spectrum in the Portland/Vancouver area. WAM sponsors a lively Facebook page and meet 4 times a year for dinner in the Beaverton /Tigard area. WAM also holds 4 four family events during the year: Easter Egg Hunt, Summer Picnic, Halloween Party and a Holiday Party in December. If interested, please request to join on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/groups/WAMmoms/) *AND* send an email to wammoms@gmail.com letting them know how you found them and the age of your child.
For Spanish-Speaking Parents:
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.
For Grandparents & Other Relatives:
Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising & Parenting Children (SE Portland), held on the 1st & 3rd Friday of each month, from 10:30 AM - 12 noon, at the Impact NW - Multicultural Service Center, in the Upper Conference Room, 4610 SE Belmont Street, Portland, OR 97215. "A support group for Grandparents and other relatives (such as aunts and uncles) raising and parenting children. The group is for those who were most likely not expecting to be raising children at this time in their lives. Understanding the stress and finding proper ways to deal with it is vital for our own emotional and physical health as well as for the health of your children." For more information, contact for Lisa P. Heard, 503-988-6300 ext. 28316 or lheard@impactnw.org.
Support Group for Grandparents and Other Relatives (N Portland) - raising & parenting children sponsored by Bridge Meadows, meetings held every other Friday, 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon. Location is Bridge Meadows, 8502 N. Wayland Ave. Portland, 97203. Group Coordinator is Lisa Heard, (503)285-6565, ext. 2.
For Children & Teens:
Game Club in West Linn - Sponsored by Portland Asperger's Network (PAN). Held on the 2nd Friday of each month, from 6:30-10:00 PM at West Linn Lutheran Church. "A place where kids, ages 5-18, who are with the umbrella of High Functioning Autism, including Aspergers, HFA and PDD-NOS, can be themselves while engaging in activities they love." Siblings are welcome. $8 donation per family requested. For more information please visit: http://aspergersnet.org/game_club.
Teen Club (various)- Sponsored by Portland Aspergers Network (PAN). For ages 13-20. This social activities groups meets at the monthly Game Club in West Linn and about once a month for additional activities, including movies, LAN parties, Laser Tag and more. For more information, please visit: http://aspergersnet.org/teen_club.
NEW - STARTING SOON! SUPPORT GROUP FOR TEEN GIRLS (SW PORTLAND). "For girls ages 14-19, looking for an accepting environment in which to hangout with other teen girls. Come chat, relax or just chill. Participate in great discussions and/or activities (or not 
) of your choosing!" Meetings will be on the 1st and 3th Saturdays of each month, from 3:00 - 4:30 PM in SW Portland (Multnomah Village). Fee: Sliding Scale, no one will be declined due to lack of funds. For more information contact Paula Ripke at 503-452-1697 or click here to email; or contact Kim Goldman at 503-635-5112 or click here to email.
FOR ADULTS (with or without an ASD diagnosis):
ASAN Portland Social/Support Group: Brings adults (18 and older) on the autistic spectrum together to share ideas, to work on projects that benefit autistic people, and to learn about effective self-advocacy. Meets every other month. For more information, please visit www.meetup.com/ASAN-PDX/.
Asperger (w/Pervasive DD, Anxiety, etc related) Adult Social/Support Group (Portland) 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
"Off the Couch Events" (SE Portland) Activity Night is a socialization opportunity for "differently abled" young adults age 18 and over in a non-competitive, hostile free environment. Meets the 3rd Friday of each month at Tabor Space, 5441 SE Belmont, Portland (By bus: TriMet bus #71, disembark 60th/Belmont & walk 0.3 mile walk west; or TriMet bus15, disembark Belmont/55th). For more information, call 503/702-2394 or click here for email.
"Now What?" Group (SW Portland) Tools for post-high school young adults with Asperger's, and other cognitive-social challenges. The group addresses skills that are needed for employment, social relationships, and community involvement. Skills Notebook and other materials included. Contact Peggy Piers for information regarding cost and schedule. Phone: 503-977-2411 email: piers.p@comcast.net. website and newsletter: http://peggypiers.com/
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.
Portland Asperger Support Group (SE Portland)- 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.
OTHER SUPPORT:
New Seasons Nutrition Tours (various): Will also discuss GFCF foods. For information and tour schedule, please go to www.NewSeasonsMarket.com, or call Karen Siebert at (503)473-8626.
Region 6 Contact Form
If you have a question, comment, or concern that you'd like to share with ASO Region 6 Reps, please use the form below to send us all an email. Or, call us individually using the phone numbers at the top of the page.