ABOUT CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

MISSION

To gain power, resources and freedom for people with disabilities to actively participate without encumbrance in all aspects of the community.

The Connection Communities Coalition (CCC) – Oregon’s first cross-disability coalition – was launched in late 2009 to fill a gap in the disability community and address the need for an all-inclusive coalition focused on removing barriers. CCC is unique in that it includes nonprofits, businesses and individuals. Anyone interested in disability issues is invited to join.

THE BEGINNING

In 2008, armed with passion and a vision to recapture the ADA spirit, Portland Habilitation Center NW reached out to connect the many bodies of their community, joining in with representatives from:

• DePaul Industries
• Easter Seals Oregon
• Kaiser Permanente’s People with disAbilities Association
• Oregon Commission for the Blind
• Portland State University’s Office of Assistive Technology
• AO Non-profit Strategies and Affairs
• City of Portland – Neighborhood Involvement
• Avita Business Center
• The Oregon Office on Disability and Health

The result of this multi-organizational collaboration was the successful 2009 Connecting Communities event, which launched the CCC.

CCC is uniting and celebrating all people living in our community and raising statewide awareness of disability advocacy organizations. CCC has more than 90 members and is growing rapidly.

The CCC is partly funded by a corporate sponsorship from The Standard Insurance Co.