Our Story
How Griffin’s Place Came to Be
Griffin was born a happy but quiet child in 1994. Two years later, he was diagnosed with Autism.
The Bergers
Griffin was born as the sixth child to Becky and Keith Berger, owners and operators of a successful family agriculture business in Hillsboro, Oregon.
As Keith had rapidly declining health due to Multiple Sclerosis, Griffin’s care was left mostly to Becky. Being non-verbal with sensory difficulties, Griffin relied heavily on his mom for dressing, showering, toileting, and encouragement to participate and engage in everyday activities.
In 2011, after 28 years of battling illness, Keith Berger passed away. Becky was left to run the business, care for Griffin, and manage a household of seven completely alone.
Times Got Tough
The entire Berger family struggled during this time, but Griffin most of all. Now 17, he spent most of his time alone in his room which was his preferred “activity” outside of school. His diet deteriorated and his weight skyrocketed. It was one crisis after another for a long time.
Those close to Becky encouraged her to get help in supporting Griffin. Becky knew Griffin deserved to become her top priority and believed that, with the right supports and opportunities, he could do much more than others thought was possible. She contacted a few highly trained consultants and, with their help, “Team Griffin” began to take shape.
Team Griffin is made,
An Organization is Born
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Team Griffin is made, An Organization is Born -
Using finances secured after Keith’s passing, Becky was able to provide Griffin the items, activities and workers that the consultants recommended. Sensory equipment, quality staffing, direct therapy and home/community activities proved very successful in developing Griffin’s leisure interests and social development, even as an older teenager!
Becky began to move forward with one key goal in mind: Give Griffin the tools and skills to successfully live on his own by age 23. This meant teaching Griffin to be as independent and connected with the community as possible, to move away from reliance on his mom and to work on developing the necessary skills and resources he needed to live on his own, make his own choices and reach his full potential.
What Griffin can do
Griffin is now 30 years old and has become independent beyond Becky’s wildest dreams.
Work
He uses public transportation, with support, and has maintained consistent employment up until Covid. Griffin is now utilizing support through County DD and Vocational Rehabilitation services to explore his current interests and future employment opportunities.
Care for himself
He cares and cleans up after himself; does laundry, is learning to vacuum, grocery shops with a written and visual shopping list.
Socialize
He now attends social activities with friends in the community, checks out books from the Library, is learning to text crucial information (Who, What, Where, When) and hosts events with others at home.
Work out
He loves to watch Blazer games with his family, enjoys bike riding, strength training at the gym and swimming.
Growth
He has expanded his expressive and receptive, and verbal communication by consistently learning and utilizing a Speech Generating Device, as well as by taking social skill classes through Griffin’s Place and other community based courses offered through local libraries and organizations like Hidden Creek Community Center.
Cook
He cooks all his own meals, including chicken fettuccini, steamed broccoli and a side salad and frequently orders a variety of menu items using his communication device at local sit down restaurants.
Helping others
After seeing the ways good support changed Griffin’s life, Becky began to wonder who else she could help.
In mid-2014, Griffin’s Place was founded as a non-profit social enterprise to support individuals with I/DD and their families & providers through resources, classes, hands-on experience, and training to flourish in all aspects.
