Family Support Specialists

New diagnosis? New to the Central Oregon community? New to guardianship? All transitions involve “New”. We are here to guide individuals and families as they navigate the often complex world of disabilities, or diversabilities.

Family Support Specialists are people who have lived experience with disabilities, and professional training to provide peer support. Family Support Specialists are certified through the Oregon Health Authority as Traditional Health Workers, offering the human connection aspect of our Diversability Village resource website. When Life feels overwhelming, we provide space for sharing stories as well as support accessing resources that are meaningful to unique family dynamics.

Family Support Specialist services are: 

  • Short-term

  • Solution-focused

  • Bridges to community resources

  • Partnerships in resource development 

  • Support with healthcare provider treatment plans

  • Shared spaces among people with familiar stories

You are not alone. We are here to support you and help you build, re-build or expand your village.

connect with your Family support specialist:

More in-depth Life Coaching sessions are available for family members and support team members of people with disabilities (including diversabilities as defined by Diversability Inc.). Family members and support team members are parents, guardians, siblings, paid supports, and others who are caregivers for loved ones experiencing disability. Use the form above to access Life Coaching services provided by Amanda Hamer. Life Coaching services are available to people of all ages and involve:

~ An initial FREE meeting up to 90 minutes. This meeting is meant to determine a good fit before moving forward with scheduling ongoing sessions. If we feel like moving forward together, we'll use this initial time for information gathering and deciding what our future time together will look like. 

~ Subsequent 60 minute sessions that are:

  • Billed at $125 per session. This rate is individually scalable depending on financial capacity, and can be updated at any time. 

  • Held wherever individuals are most comfortable. Examples include personal homes, a private office, parks or trails, walking in nature or shopping districts, coffee/food establishments. 

  • Regularly scheduled. For example, the first Tuesday of the month at 2:30, with flexibility for rescheduling as necessary.