At our January 2026 IDD Connect Oregon gathering, we were grateful to hear from Anna Gonzales of Direction Service, an organization that has been a vital advocate for children, youth, and families in Lane County for nearly 50 years. Their presentation highlighted the critical role advocacy, education support, and family-centered services play in helping young people with disabilities and other challenges reach their full potential.
Who Is Direction Service?
Direction Service believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed, and that families should not have to navigate complex systems alone. For parents and caregivers of youth who experience disabilities or other challenges, ongoing advocacy and guidance can make all the difference.
Serving Lane County for decades, Direction Service provides a crucial safety net for families by filling service gaps and ensuring youth have access to the tools and resources they need to thrive in school and beyond. In the past year alone, Direction Service supported and advocated for nearly 1,000 local youth and their families.
Education Advocacy That Makes a Difference
A key focus of Direction Service’s work is education advocacy. Their Education Team works closely with families, school districts, and community partners across Lane County to ensure students receive appropriate, timely, and effective support.
Notably:
- 97% of youth served by Direction Service have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan, ensuring accommodations that support their learning needs.
- Direction Service partners with every school district in Lane County, regularly attending IEP, safety, medical, mental health, and school meetings alongside families.
Their presence helps ensure that youth and family voices are heard, duplication and confusion are reduced, and issues are addressed early—often before more intensive or costly interventions are required.
Strengthening and Empowering Families
Direction Service’s work extends beyond the classroom. Their team supports families by:
- Helping families understand, access, and coordinate services and supports to meet basic needs such as food, housing, medical care, respite, and job placement
- Advocating to ensure youth and family needs are met in a timely and effective manner
- Providing encouragement, emotional support, and continuity, reducing isolation and helping families feel more confident and in control
- Attending and coordinating school, medical, mental health, and community meetings to promote collaboration and shared understanding
Families consistently share how impactful this advocacy is, often describing the relief and confidence that comes from knowing someone is standing beside them and fighting for their child year after year.
Why This Work Matters
More than 16% of Lane County students experience a disability, representing thousands of children across Eugene, Springfield, and Bethel schools. Navigating educational and support systems can be exhausting and overwhelming for families—and Direction Service exists to ensure they do not have to do it alone.
Their work directly contributes to greater stability, improved educational outcomes, and stronger futures for youth and families impacted by physical, behavioral, and developmental disabilities.
Thank You, Direction Service
We are grateful to Anna Gonzales and the Direction Service team for sharing their work with the IDD Connect Oregon community and for the unwavering advocacy they provide to families across Lane County. Their commitment aligns deeply with our mission to promote education, connection, collaboration, and shared growth within the IDD community.
To learn more about Direction Service or explore ways to support their work, visit www.directionservice.org.
We look forward to continued connection and collaboration with Direction Service and are thankful for the meaningful impact they make every day.
