Kate (she/her/hers)

Hi! I’m Kate! I enjoy exploring the outdoors with light hiking and spending time in my garden, although I’m still a novice when it comes to growing things. I love card/board games, cooking, reading, and crafts when it’s too rainy to be outside. I like to attend community events, sightsee, and volunteer around the city. 

Although I’ve only been working as a DSP for people with I/DD disabilities for less than a year, I spent a year volunteering at a residential facility for people with severe persistent mental health disabilities, during which I spent time with them playing games, doing exercises, and talking with them. 

In addition, I worked in counseling/case management for a year in a reentry program in San Diego. Many of those individuals had mental health and/or IDD disabilities. In this work, I got experience with care coordination and advocacy in systems of care. I also became familiar with the set of programs typically provided by municipalities to individuals with disabilities. I am looking to work with individuals who need support leading independent lives. 

I am willing to support individuals to help communicate medical concerns to providers and to advocate in the health system, I am willing to support people in the community or find solutions to day to day problems, and I am willing to transport people as they engage in the community, but only within the confines of the Portland area. I  will support people with medically documented permanent disabilities  or if they need help cleaning and carrying things.