OETA Rendezvous 2009
By Cheryl Amundson-Renton
Estacada School District
Transition Coordinator

This past September I had the opportunity to attend the OETA Conference in beautiful and sunny Bend on a generous scholarship. The sessions of the conference were very informative with a great variety of topics and the opportunity to visit with other OETA members from around the state was wonderful.

Myself and two other Youth Transition Program specialists were honored with ALL-STAR award much to our surprise. My Vocational Rehabilitation counselor and “partner in crime”, Stephen Sanders, nominated me for this award and I really appreciated the kind words and the recognition for the work we do together with the students at Estacada High School….but I will get him back when he least expects it!

Ryan “Studmuffin” Swearingen, presented a session, “Obtaining Employment for Youth with Disabilities” that myself and Pam Kretschmer, YTP Specialist from Oregon City High School, attended that reinforced the practices we use with our youth. YTP Specialists must all think alike because Pam and I won all but one of the prizes that Ryan gave out during his sessions. You must have bribes when dealing with youth (and staff that work with youth).

Thank you for the opportunity to attend this conference and please bring back Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant, her general session address was a wonderful way to end a great conference.