Thousands of Oregonians were evacuated from their homes because of wildfires earlier this month. For people with disabilities, evacuating required additional time and notice that wasn’t always possible with the rapidly spreading fires. That means that evacuating created additional stressors, and for some, disruptions in disability services they rely on. Ross Ryan is a community advocate for Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition. And Dennis Weirich is the board president and CEO of the Blanche Fischer Foundation, a private nonprofit that makes grants on behalf of people with physical disabilities. They were both evacuated from their homes during the wildfires. They tell us how they and others with disabilities were affected.

Click here to go to the OPB page and hear the report.

The Bend-La Pine school district has gaping socioeconomic differences among its students. Educators say they are working hard to make school an equitable experience for all. But they’re confronting challenges with addressing language barriers, spotty internet connections, and the needs of students with disabilities who relied on the routine of the school day. We talk with Jackson Hogan with The Bulletin newspaper in Bend who has been following this story.

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Listen to three reports from this episode of Think Out Loud.  Discussions range from the Oregon Supreme Court,  ableism and racism in law enforcement, and a discussion with Danny Martinez, emergency manager for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Click here to go to the OPB page and hear all three reports.