Circle of Friends

08/27/2026

A huge thank you to our friends at Valley Sims for so generously opening their doors to Circle of Friends and hosting our first-ever Inclusion Invitational, presented by the Springfield Drifters Baseball Club! ⛳💛

When we dreamed up this event, we knew we wanted to do something a little different. Traditional golf tournaments can create barriers for many of the youth and families we serve. By taking the tournament indoors and using virtual golf, we can create an experience where more of our Circle of Friends community can participate, be together, and be part of the fun.

Valley Sims believed in that vision and has been an incredible partner in helping us bring it to life.

We hope our community will return that generosity! If your business, family, team, or group is looking for a fun and unique place to gather, consider booking your next event at Valley Sims and supporting a local business that supports Circle of Friends. Their state-of-the-art facility is a fantastic space for corporate events, celebrations, team outings, and, of course, some friendly competition.

You can reach Valley Sims at [email protected]. And while you're at it, please let them know how much you appreciate their support of Circle of Friends!

And we have some more exciting news...

An incredibly generous anonymous donor has paid for TWO teams to participate in the Inclusion Invitational at absolutely no cost! Each team includes four golfers, so if you've wanted to join us, this is your chance.

Interested in claiming one of the donated teams? Email [email protected] for details. First come, first served!

Thank you, Valley Sims, for helping us create a tournament designed around something we believe deeply: recreation, community, and belonging should be accessible to everyone.

08/26/2026

🧡 𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧. 🧡

Our search continues for the Director of Mental Health & Wellness / Clinical Director who will help us launch and lead Circles of Support, our new disability-informed mental health and wellness program.

We know the right person is out there. Someone who believes deeply in disability-affirming, family-centered care. Someone who sees the gaps families experience and wants to help build something better. And someone excited by the rare opportunity to shape a new program from the ground up.

We’re not looking to fill this position quickly. We’re looking to fill it with the right person.

Circle of Friends is becoming so much more than a school. We’re building a hub where youth with disabilities and those who love them can find education, mental health services, community, and opportunity under one mission. This person will play an incredibly important role in what comes next.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. And if someone immediately came to mind while reading this, please send this their way. 💛

Apply: https://indeedhi.re/4etrCtU

Questions? Email: [email protected]

Help us find our person.

08/17/2026

NEW DATE + A BIG RAFFLE ANNOUNCEMENT!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞!

📅 Saturday, September 19
📍 Valley SIMS in Eugene

We heard from many of you that a Saturday would make it easier to join us, and we listened! We're excited to bring even more of our families, friends, partners, and community together for our first Inclusion Invitational.

And with the new date, we're also launching one of our most exciting raffle prizes!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Alaska Airlines, one lucky winner will receive TWO unrestricted round-trip coach-class travel vouchers, valued at up to $1,750 each! 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 $𝟑,𝟓𝟎𝟎!

Where would you go? ✈️

𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬:
1 for $20 | 3 for $50 | 7 for $100

ENTER NOW: https://bit.ly/IIAlaskaRaffle

Simply visit the link, choose how many entries you'd like to purchase, and you're in!

𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐 𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏, so whether you're joining us on September 19 or cheering us on from somewhere else in the world, you can enter for your chance to pack your bags.

And please share this post and help us spread the word! Every entry supports Circle of Friends and our work creating greater access to education, opportunity, and belonging for youth with disabilities.

The Inclusion Invitational isn't your traditional charity golf tournament. We chose virtual reality golf so the kids we serve can participate right alongside their families, teachers, friends, and community. 𝐒𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗! We can't wait to celebrate with you.

Every Person Has Value. 💙

By Circle of Friends School

08/15/2026

Our Circle of Belonging will be there, will you? Join us for a fun evening with the City of Creswell tomorrow evening!

08/13/2026

🏆 Nominations are now open for the Circle of Friends Annual Awards!

Every day, people and organizations across our community are creating opportunities, removing barriers, advocating for change, and helping ensure that people with disabilities and their families are welcomed, supported, and valued.

We want your help recognizing them.

Circle of Friends is now accepting nominations for our Annual Awards, celebrating the businesses, organizations, leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, advocates, volunteers, and community partners who are making a meaningful difference within and alongside the disability community.

This year, we are accepting nominations in the following categories:

🏢 For-Profit Business
💙 Nonprofit Organization
🙌 Community Volunteer
🏛️ Elected Official
🌱 Foundation
🩺 Healthcare Provider
🍎 Educator
📣 Disability Advocate
💼 Inclusive Employer
🏆 Lifetime Achievement

Maybe it’s a teacher who has gone above and beyond for a student. A business creating meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities. A healthcare provider who truly listens to families. A volunteer who quietly gives countless hours. An advocate whose voice has helped create change. Or someone whose lifetime of service has left a lasting mark on our community.

We want to hear about them.

Nominees do not need to be directly affiliated with Circle of Friends. These awards are about celebrating the people and organizations throughout our broader community who are helping build a more inclusive future for people with disabilities and those who love them.

✨ Who deserves to be recognized? Submit your nomination today:
https://bit.ly/CoFCommunityAwards

Please share this post and help us reach the people who know the incredible difference-makers throughout our community.

Because creating a community where Every Person Has Value takes all of us. 💙

Please click the link to complete this form.

07/29/2026

Last night reminded us of something important: No family should have to navigate disability alone.

More than two dozen parents, caregivers, educators, and community members gathered to learn, ask questions, share experiences, and support one another during our Parent Education workshop, Understanding Your Parental Rights During the SPED IEP Process, led by the incredible Dr. Kim Sherman.

The presentation focused on understanding the IEP process, advocating with confidence, and empowering families with practical tools. But perhaps the most meaningful part of the evening wasn’t on the slides. It was seeing families connect with one another, realizing they aren’t the only ones asking these questions or facing these challenges.

That’s the kind of community we’re working to build at Circle of Friends.

We believe parents deserve more than information. They deserve connection. They deserve resources. They deserve a place where they feel seen, supported, and understood.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared your experiences, and helped create such a welcoming space. And thank you to Dr. Kim Sherman for generously sharing her expertise and passion with our community.

This is just the beginning. As Circle of Friends continues to grow beyond a school and into a hub for youth with disabilities and those who love them, we’re excited to continue bringing families together through education, connection, and belonging.

💛 Because when families come together, everyone grows stronger.

07/20/2026

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞.

That's why we're excited to relaunch the Circle of Friends Community Engagement Committee, a place where parents, caregivers, educators, self-advocates, and community partners can come together to learn, connect, and support one another.

Join us for our first quarterly educational event:

Understanding Your Parental Rights During the SPED IEP Process
Presented by Dr. Kim Sherman, J.D., Ph.D.

Whether you're preparing for your first IEP meeting, advocating for additional supports, or simply trying to better understand your child's rights, this free presentation will provide practical information you can use immediately. A live Q&A will follow, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and learn from one of Oregon's leading experts in special education law.

📅 Tuesday, July 28, 2026
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Creswell City Hall
🍽️ Complimentary dinner provided

This event is free and open to parents, caregivers, family members, educators, self-advocates, and community partners. RSVP is required and can be done here: https://bit.ly/CoFParentalRightsEvent

Circle of Friends believes that when families are informed, they become empowered. And when a community comes together to share knowledge and support one another, belonging grows.

We hope you'll join us. 💛

Navigating special education (SPED) can feel overwhelming. Join us for an evening of learning and community as we explore your rights!

07/20/2026

Sometimes the most transformational partnerships begin with one simple act: 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈.

Earlier this year, Circle of Friends asked our community a simple question: What do youth with disabilities and their families need most?

The answer was clear. Families told us they needed greater access to behavioral and mental health services, stronger family supports, and a more connected system of care. They weren't asking for another program. They were asking for a community that would meet them where they are.

Today, we're honored to recognize PacificSource Health Plans Foundation for Health Improvement as a 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕: 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 & 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔.

Circle of Friends is becoming more than a school. We're becoming a hub where youth with disabilities and those who love them can find education, mental health services, community, and opportunity under one mission. A place where families can find support from the moment of diagnosis through adulthood. A place where belonging isn't just talked about. It's intentionally built.

PacificSource's transformational gift is making that vision a reality, allowing us to meet our community exactly where they asked to be met.

To our friends at PacificSource, thank you for believing in what is possible when a community is heard. Thank you for helping ensure that families no longer have to navigate disability alone, but instead have a place to turn for support, connection, and hope.

Together, we're building a future where disability is not overlooked, but embraced. Where every family knows they belong. 💛

07/09/2026

“For many families like ours, transportation becomes the factor that determines whether participation in school and community enrichment is possible at all.” - Courtney Leonard, Circle of Friends’ Board Chair

This is another wonderful piece on Circle of Friends and our new ! Thank you to Ashlin Sanderson with The Chronicle.

🧡

COTTAGE GROVE – A nonprofit in Cottage Grove recently received federal money for the purchase of a school bus to serve youth with significant disabilities throughout Lane County. Circle of Friends is a K-8 school that serves children with special needs, focusing on opportunity-centered, community-...

07/08/2026

It takes a United community to Build Belonging. 🧡

We are incredibly grateful to Way of Lane County () for believing in Circle of Friends’ vision and for investing in a stronger future for youth with disabilities and those who love them.

Together, we’re expanding access to education, mental health, community, and opportunity across Lane County.

Here’s to building a community where disability is not overlooked, but embraced. 💛