The Arc of Oregon

The Guardianship, Advocacy and Planning Services (GAPS) program was established in 1978 in response to parents’ concerns about who might support their child with I/DD when they were no longer able. Today, our GAPS team supports over 70 adults in 17 Oregon counties as legal guardian, health care representative, and/or advocate.

Whatever our role, we treat everyone we support with dignity and respect, and encourage self-reliance and independence to the greatest extent possible. Utilizing legal guardianship only as a last resort, we strive to ensure a good life for people we support through team collaboration, person-centered planning and supported decision-making.

Planning for the future is a critical part of caring for a loved one with a disability. The Oregon Special Needs Trust (OSNT) is a pooled trust established to offer families a dependable, affordable way to provide financial security and an enhanced quality of life for their loved ones, while preserving the benefits they depend on in their daily lives.

Since its inception in 1999, the OSNT program has also become an effective means of safeguarding money for individuals whose own resources threaten their ongoing eligibility for public benefits.

As the only Oregon-based pooled trust for over 20 years, we are committed to providing high-quality, personalized services that meet your needs.

Our newest program builds on 35 years of experience in innovative educational opportunities for professionals, families and people who experience a disability.

Oregon Training and Consultation (OTAC), was originally incorporated in 1984 as Ore­gon Tech­ni­cal Assis­tance Cor­po­ra­tion. After 34 years as an independent nonprofit organization, OTAC became a program of The Arc Oregon on April 1, 2018.

The OTAC team teaches practical skills for supporting people who experience disabilities with the dignity and respect they deserve.