Workshops

At Upstream Access, our trainings and workshops are rooted in disability justice, collective care, and lived experience. Every workshop is grounded in Disability Justice, a trauma-informed practice, and the belief that preparedness should be accessible, culturally responsive, and never fear-based.

We center disabled people, practical tools, and real-life strategies—so participants leave with knowledge, connection, and meaningful ways to take action. Our workshops are designed by disabled people, for disabled people and anyone who wants to strengthen community resilience.

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all learning. Every session is co-created, tailored, and responsive to the community, organization, or group we are working with. 

Organizations, agencies, and community groups can pick and choose from our menu of workshops to build the experience that works best for your community. We meet you where you are — virtually or in-person — and tailor each session to your group’s needs, access requirements, and goals.

Our trainings and workshops are:

• Disability justice–informed – Centering intersectionality and the leadership of those most impacted
• Accessible by design – Plain language, flexible formats, and multiple ways to engage
• Trauma-informed – Creating space for choice, pacing, and care
• Interactive and relational – Learning through discussion, reflection, and shared experience
• Person-centered – Grounded in individual needs, strengths, and realities
• Tailored to your community – Designed with your audience, goals, and context in mind

Our workshops are interactive, community-centered learning spaces that combine training, discussion, shared knowledge, and practical tools. A typical Upstream Access workshop is a 3-hour interactive experience.

Each of our workshops includes:

• Interactive learning and group discussion
• Accessible resource materials
• Opportunities to learn from one another
• Giveaways to help personalize preparedness tools and plans

Participants leave with practical strategies, stronger connections, and tools they can use right away.

Choose one, mix and match, or build a full series.

Power Resilience

This workshop supports participants in identifying their power needs and exploring ways to stay connected and safe during outages.

Outcomes:

• Identify personal power needs and priorities
• Learn about backup power options
• Create a plan for maintaining power access

Pod Mapping (Community Care Planning)

This workshop focuses on building networks of support and strengthening relationships as part of emergency preparedness. Learn how to identify your “people,” build a circle of support, and create a pod map that helps you connect before, during, and after emergencies.

Great for teams, neighbors, service providers, and community groups.

Outcomes:

• Identify trusted people within your support network
• Build a shared emergency plan
• Strengthen interdependence and community care

Basic Preparedness (P-CEP Focused)

This workshop introduces preparedness through a person-centered lens, supporting participants in building plans that reflect their own lives and needs.

Outcomes:

• Build a personalized emergency preparedness plan
• Understand preparedness through a person-centered approach
• Increase confidence in taking next steps

Extreme Cold Preparedness

This workshop explores cold weather risks, especially during power outages, and supports participants in planning for safety and warmth. The workshop offers practical, accessible tools for staying warm, safe, and supported during winter storms and freezing temperatures — including backup heat options, staying connected, and personal planning that fits each person’s body, home, and resources.

Outcomes:

• Identify risks related to cold weather and outages
• Learn safe warming strategies
• Prepare personalized cold weather supplies

Extreme Heat Preparedness

A strength-based look at surviving and thriving through climate change, this workshop focuses on the impacts of extreme heat and how to stay safe using strategies that reflect individual access needs. We cover hydration, cooling tools that actually work, recognizing heat illness, backup power for cooling devices, and planning for days when going outside isn’t safe.

Outcomes:

• Understand heat-related risks for disabled people
• Learn practical safety and cooling strategies
• Build a personalized heat preparedness plan

Mental Health Resilience Kits

This workshop centers emotional well-being, stress, and regulation, while supporting participants in creating personalized tools for care. Based on our collaboration with The Arc, this workshop brings people together to build personalized mental health resilience kits. Participants learn grounding skills, coping strategies, and create kits with sensory items, calming tools, affirmations, and community connection.

Outcomes:

• Learn strategies for managing stress and big feelings
• Create a personalized Mental Health Resilience Kit
• Strengthen connection and reduce isolation

Beyond the Go Kit: Real-Life Preparedness

This workshop moves beyond checklists to focus on how preparedness shows up in everyday life, relationships, and environments.

Outcomes:

• Understand why go kits alone are not enough
• Integrate preparedness into daily routines and spaces
• Build flexible, realistic plans based on lived experience

Create-Your-Own Go/Stay Bags Together

A hands-on session where participants build an emergency bag that actually works for them — not a generic checklist. We walk through adaptive tools, mobility-specific items, communication needs, medication access, and comfort items that support both body and mind.

• Facilitated by disabled educators and emergency preparedness specialists
• Culturally responsive + trauma-informed
• Accessible materials (plain language, large print, ASL, Spanish options)
• Lived experience at the center
• No one-size-fits-all — everything is tailored
• Strength-based, not fear-based
• Designed to build connection, confidence, and community resilience

Upstream Access uses the Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) model, originally developed in Australia, and adapts it for our local communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

P-CEP is built on the belief that:

• disabled people know our own needs best
  
• planning should be flexible and individualized
  
• emergency personnel, community organizations, and disability communities must work together
  

We work with individuals and groups to:

• identify strengths, supports, and needs across different areas of life
  
• craft plans that can move with you — at home, work, school, transit, or community settings
  
• build confidence and connection, not fear

Whenever possible, we match education with tangible supplies. Depending on the project or funding, community members may have access to:

• Solar-powered and battery-powered devices for communication equipment, medical devices, power wheelchairs, and charging phones or tablets.
• Extreme Heat Kits cooling towels, spray bottles, fans, shade tools, water containers, and information on staying safe.
• Extreme Cold Kits blankets, hand warmers, layers, traction tools, and tips for preventing falls and staying warm.
• Mental Health Resilience Kits sensory tools, grounding items, coping prompts, and resource lists.
• Go/Stay Bag Supplies flashlights, chargers, storage bags, organizers, and more.

Because access to power, information, and care should not depend on how much money you have.

Communities know what they need best. If you have an idea, a gap you are noticing, or a topic you want to explore, we would love to collaborate.

Together, we can create something that is:

• Relevant to your community
• Accessible and inclusive
• Grounded in disability justice