Community Listening Sessions

What is a listening session?

A listening session is similar to a focus group and is a type of facilitated discussion with a group of people, aimed at collecting information about their experience. Participants in a listening session are asked to talk about what they know and think and sometimes answer specific questions about a topic. Generally, the goal is to understand the opportunities and challenges surrounding a topic as community members perceive them. The University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and Institute on Development and Disability use the information participants share to determine what changes or actions we need to take. In an environment where community members often have limited means to give feedback, listening sessions are a tool to collect valuable information about people’s experiences.

We have traveled the state to learn more from people with disabilities and their families about their strengths, challenges, needs and priorities. We present resources and findings from various listening session events in diverse communities throughout the state of Oregon.