Direct Support Professional's (DSP ) Resource Guide
- Michael Merrill
- Oct 9
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 19
Find agencies, advocates, and condition-specific support
Published by: Northwest Mental Health Management Services Updated: October 2025
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are the backbone of the I/DD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) community—providing critical, person-centered care to help individuals live meaningful, connected lives. Whether you’re new to caregiving or a seasoned DSP, finding the right resources, advocacy groups, and community organizations can make all the difference.
This living guide brings together trusted local organizations, caregiver communities, disability advocacy groups, and condition-specific networks in Oregon and Southwest Washington, designed to support you, your clients, and their families.
Caregiver & DSP Agencies
🧍♂️🧍♀️ These organizations provide direct services, employ DSPs, or offer respite/community support that caregivers may work within.
Organization | Website | Description |
 | Provides in-home and community support for individuals with disabilities. Focused on person-centered DSP services. Serving All of Oregon | |
 | Offers in-home support, residential, respite, and community-based DSP services. Eastern & Southern Oregon | |
 | Provides respite, DSP supports, and community inclusion services for children and adults. Southern Oregon | |
 | Partnering with families to provide daily living supports and community inclusion through DSP staff. Corvallis, OR | |
 | Provides attendant care, behavior support, relief care, and in-home services for people with developmental disabilities. Columbia County, OR | |
 | We support people with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities in a 24 hour residential setting. Now Hiring! Clackamas County, OR | |
 | Builds inclusive communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life in homes and programs. Portland, OR | |
 | Auxilia Community Support Services supports people with I/DD through choice, quality care, and community. Clatskanie, OR |
Local Advocacy, Networks & Disability Organizations
🌐These groups offer advocacy, training, peer communities, legal support, and systems navigation for DSPs, families, and individuals.
Organization | Website | Description |
 | Legal advocacy, rights protection, systemic policy work. Excellent resource for DSPs navigating client rights. | |
 | Statewide coalition advocating for quality DD services and funding. | |
 | We are a self-advocacy organization fighting for the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a 501(c)(3) organization operated by people with disabilities, we organize and advocate for full inclusion in society. | |
 | Helps families and caregivers navigate services and advocate effectively. | |
 | Community of families and advocates amplifying voices and inclusion. | |
 | Offers mental health education, support groups, and advocacy. | |
 | Inclusive arts academy for adults with I/DD, offering classes and community performances. | |
 | Community Vision provides Supported Living services to people with developmental disabilities who wish to live in their own home with one-on-one support. | |
 | Advancing social & policy change so that individuals w/developmental disabilities, their families and communities may live, work, play and learn together. | |
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National Advocacy, Networks & Disability Organizations
🌐These nationwide groups offer advocacy, training, peer communities, legal support, and systems navigation for DSPs, families, and individuals.
Organization | Website | Description |
 | Families of children with disabilities are too often let down by the healthcare, education, and social service systems, leaving them without the timely therapies and support they urgently need. At National Disability Alliance, we’re committed to shining a light on these struggles and pushing for real policy changes and resources that make life better for children and their families. | |
 | Information, Guidance, and Training on the Americans with Disabilities Act. | |
 | The Guide on Driving with a Disability is designed to empower individuals with disabilities, helping them stay independent and confident behind the wheel. The guide covers different types of disabilities that are compatible with driving and highlights adaptive equipment that can improve safety and ease. | |
Condition-Specific Organizations & Communities
These groups focus on specific disabilities or conditions common among the I/DD population—great for DSPs seeking specialized resources or training.
Organization | Focus | Description |
 | Parent-driven organization supporting families & individuals across OR & SW WA. | |
 | Statewide autism support network with chapters, trainings, and events. | |
 | National org with local chapters for ADHD education and advocacy. | |
 | Resources, toolkits, and health promotion for I/DD populations. | |
 | UCP Oregon, which stands for United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon and Southwest Washington, is a nonprofit organization that supports children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. | |
 | The Arc Portland Metro provides advocacy, services, and supports for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. |
County & Regional Programs
🏠 Most I/DD services in Oregon and Washington flow through county or regional developmental disability offices. DSPs often work alongside these agencies for service coordination.
Multnomah County IDD – We provide individualized care coordination and planning to help eligible children and adults with Intellectual and/or Developmental disabilities.
Yamhill County DD Services – Our program offers services for children and adults with Intellectual Disabilities and other qualifying Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) residing in Yamhill County.
Marion County DD Services – We are the local Community Developmental Disabilities Program (CDDP) and provide a variety of services to children and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Clark County Developmental Disabilities (WA) – Clark County will assist all people with developmental disabilities to achieve full, active, and productive lives.
PEACE NW – Family navigation and advocacy across Clark, Skamania & beyond.
Caregiver & Family Support Programs
🧰 Even professional DSPs benefit from connecting with family caregiver support networks, respite programs, and wellness resources.
Oregon Family Caregiver Support Program – The Family Caregiver Support Program recognizes that family caregivers provide the majority of care and support to their care recipient and that they are deserving of services that help them enhance their own lives as well as the person they support.
Jewish Family & Child Services – Disability Support – JFCS provides disability support services with:
a robust resource and referral list in addition to a disability community resource list, below
mental-health support through our Community Connection
individual mental-health services offered by our Counseling team
L’Arche Portland Assistant Program – A relational living model that welcomes caregivers into community life. -------------------------------------------------------------------- DSP caregivers change lives every day. The more connected we are to one another—and to the incredible network of organizations in Oregon and SW Washington—the stronger our community becomes. Share this guide, contribute new resources, and let’s keep building bridges.
Disability Community Organizations
Facebook Group: Oregon PSW/DSP Resources
Facebook Group: Columbia County I/DD Advisory Council
Facebook Group: Disability Advocacy Group: Pacific Northwest
Facebook Group: DSPs & PSWs of Oregon
Disability-Specific Organizations
If you see an organization missing from this list, please send us a note so we can add it.
How ODHS Helps People with Disabilities
Through its Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) and Aging and People with Disabilities (APD) divisions, ODHS provides a range of supports designed to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) or physical disabilities live as independently and safely as possible.
ODHS helps Oregonians with disabilities live with dignity, independence, and full inclusion in their communities, ensuring they have access to the supports and services they need throughout their lives.
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