Greetings!

About this time last year Bud told me he would be retiring at the end of 2011 and we began discussing how to go about finding UCP's next Executive Director. As the time has neared, I've come to realize how much I have enjoyed working for Bud and how much I will miss him as both a boss and a person. Bud has always encouraged me to be true to myself and my values. He is above all else, an ethical and caring human being.

Bud practices something he calls managing by walking around, in which he does just that - walks around and talks to employees about their jobs, lives, people we support, or whatever else is on their mind. He meets every new employee in person shortly after they are hired. He cares about our employees just as much as the people we support, recognizing that we don't have one without the other.

I've worked for Bud the past 9 years and have learned and grown more during that time than at any other point in my working life. Bud has taught me how to be a better professional and supervisor, always promoting the virtues of transparency and honesty. He has laughed at my groan-worthy puns and shared his own corny jokes. We've celebrated and commiserated together over achievements and setbacks.

Not only has Bud been an excellent boss and leader, he has been an almost tireless advocate for people with disabilities. Back in 1979 we opened the first group home in Oregon for people with orthopedic disabilities, a big transition from living in an institution. Bud oversaw the addition of the Family Support department to UCP in 1985 so that families raising kids with disabilities would be supported, too. By 1992 we had closed our group homes and transitioned to supporting adults in their own homes. Bud kept pushing our mission further, and in 1996 we closed the Sheltered Workshop that provided segregated employment services and began the long journey towards true Supported Employment. Bud saw us finish the transition to individualized services when we committed to 1:1 supports in our Choices (community inclusion) program in 2001. And if that weren't a lot for one career, Bud also celebrated the opening of Oregon's most recent support services brokerage, UCP Connections at the end of 2010.

At the end of this year, Bud will begin a whole new adventure. Many staff and people UCP supports will miss him greatly. But his legacy will live on. We will continue to seek better ways to provide support, advocate for the civil rights of people with disabilities, and strive to be the employer of choice within our field. It won't be the same without Bud at the helm, but his vision and values will continue to drive us forward.

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed  

easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded! 

On Thursday, October 20th, UCP's Employment Solutions team took over the event space at the Ace Hotel in downtown Portland to honor the employers who have hired people with developmental disabilities through our office. Each employer was given an AbilityAware recognition award. This award honors community businesses that are committed to hiring people with developmental disabilities, and markets that mission to their customers. Over 20 employers were honored, and the event included presentations from four area employers.

Hippocrates' Secrets owners Dave & Anna Roussette discussed the important role Jacque has played in filing paperwork, and how their eyes were opened to the level of ability Jacque presents despite any disability. The job coaching of Sheila Forget was described as pivotal in fostering a long-term placement for Jacque.

Local-business-unifier Supportland presented on the boost in efficiency they saw as a result of hiring Renea to package thousands of rewards cards, and how the simple networking of Job Developer Nicholas Von Pless connected Supportland to a qualified job seeker.

Employment Solutions now has a Facebook page - "like" us to stay up-to-date on new hires and advocacy articles for individuals with disabilities.  Visit the site  here.

For more information about Employment Solutions, contact Melissa Miller at mmiller@ucpaorwa.org. 

 Below is a story written by a 12 year old girl about her older sister who had cerebral palsy.  The story was for a school assignment and has been left in its original form.  We wanted to share the insightful and touching perspective she shares of her short time with her sister.  

My older sister Alyssa was two years old when I was born. I knew all my life that my sister had a disability called, Cerebral Palsy. She was different in a lot of ways. Alyssa couldn't talk, walk, or taste delicious food like us.

When I was four and Alyssa was six, my little brother Tyler was born. Tyler loved to play with Alyssa, but the sad thing was that; he was too young to understand that she wasn't playing back. Tyler loved to crawl all over Alyssa. He was like a little monster. Tyler also loved to drive his toy monster trucks over her legs.

Tyler was too young to understand what was going on with Alyssa. He still was a baby. Now that Tyler is older he wants to learn more and more about Alyssa. Tyler is always saying that he misses Alyssa and he wishes that he could of known her better. That makes me and my mom and dad very sad. It is very hard to know that Tyler didn't know Alyssa that well, but Tyler still loves her.

It made me cry every time I had to hear, "Alyssa is done with the surgery now." I had to hear that so many times. Alyssa couldn't walk, sit or move her muscles very well, so she had to have tons of surgeries. She also had a hard time breathing sometimes. Alyssa was in a wheel chair all her life until she passed away.

It's been four years since Alyssa passed away on July, 12, 2007. It was very hard to know that my sister was dead. I cried for three days strait. Well at her funeral my mom said, "Even though she's gone, it doesn't mean we will never see her again. We all know she is with us inside of our hearts." That touched all of us. All of my sister's family and friends were there to support us in losing Alyssa. So even though she was different on the outside I know she will always be the same inside of my heart. I miss my sister like crazy, but I still love her.

My sister taught me to love every one. So every time I see a person in a wheel chair I don't think, "Wow that person is so stupid". Instead I think, "Wow, that family must be blessed with that child, but I understand the difficulties that they might have once in a while." If you know someone with a disability don't judge them. Try to get to know them. I believe that anyone can see, hear, walk and talk inside of their own body.