Northwest Center is a leader in advancing equal opportunities for children and adults with disabilities because we’re there in the fight with them. We support and advocate for people with disabilities to thrive early, learn more, and find a place in the world, from birth all the way through retirement. Tomorrow, we are asking you to support us in the very first step. NWC has made the commitment to working with families transitioning home from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
 Written by: Amy & Connor Doran
Edited by: Jennifer Owen It started as a hobby. Pulling a string, defying gravity with every twist and turn of his body, Connor Doran knows how to fly a kite. He enjoyed gliding his kite through the crisp Washington air, but it wasn’t until 2009 that he thought to share his talents with the rest of the country. For Northwest Center Integrated Facility Services, Cleaning Means Better Business Practices5/8/2017  By: Tracee Christie
Writers: Jennifer Owen Tracee, Senior Area Manager at Integrated Facility Services (IFS), has been with Northwest Center for 15 years and knows what it takes to succeed. From working long hours to personally inspecting with her teams the 1.6 million square feet of property she manages; Tracee knows that hard work and proper management leads to successful teams.  Written by: Wendy Heddrick & Jackie Fountain
Edited by: Jennifer Owen Innovation blossoms in environments that embrace diversity. At Argus, the female-run janitorial service defies the traditional insular, male dominated profession with a workforce largely consisting of women, minorities, and people of all abilities. We sat down with General Manager Jackie and Senior Manager Wendy to learn about their model of inclusive employment and all the strides Argus is making in the Pacific Northwest.  This past Saturday, April 29th, SODO Park was transformed into a sea of decorative hats and roses, with philanthropic spirit abounding. The Derby was a success for the sixth year running, from the silent and live auctions to the wine pull we raised $267,432 benefiting Northwest Center Kids.
 Like many successful young women approaching their 30th birthday, Emily leads a busy fulfilling life. She has a good job, a steady boyfriend, a spunky sense of humor, loves to sew and knit, and dreams of getting married one day. Emily is an important member of the early learning team at Northwest Center Kids Chinook.
 Bringing home a new baby is stressful, but for Giselle and Grant, the experience of bringing Griffin home was terrifying. Griffin was born prematurely and spent his first 93 days in UW Medicine’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The prospect of leaving this expert support system was traumatic.
 Devin is just an ordinary guy. Like so many young men in their early 30’s, he has a good job, a girlfriend, goes out dancing, loves music and movies, and adores Justin Timberlake. His slightly sarcastic sense of humor and playful nature make Devin fun to be around. Everyone likes him – a very nice guy.
 Northwest Center and Value Village Celebrate 50 years in 2017
By Denise Small Senior Director, Big Blue Truck In 1967, just two years after our founding, Northwest Center entered into a partnership with Value Village. We collect clothing and household donations with The Big Blue Truck™ and The Blue Bin. Value Village buys that merchandise to sell in its stores, and the revenue funds our education and employment programs. The innovative “social business” model was decades ahead of its time. Today, the partnership is stronger than ever, collecting state wide. Northwest Center’s business relationship with Value Village has been the foundation of our entire philosophy of change, which is to use business to create social good. Now the world is embracing the business value of diversity at unprecedented scale, thanks in part to this breakthrough that started 50 years ago right here in Seattle.  April means Autism Awareness month! Be sure to explore the sensory sensitive events taking place throughout Seattle:
 We know that workplaces benefit the more diverse they become, but the number of unemployed people with disabilities highlights how much change is yet to come. If you or your organization are interested in hiring individuals with disabilities, consider the following advice and tips to find the right employee.
 Last week, my child was bullied.
And while this is more common than not in today’s world, it was a first for our house. It was also a first that I expected sooner rather than later. Knowing this, I assumed I would be fully prepared to know how Sully would respond (poorly) and how I, as his mother, would need to support him (intensely).  Looking to explore something new this weekend? Check out our list of family friendly activities based throughout the Seattle metro area!
Know of other goings-on? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook!  Modes of communication consistently evolve, with technology serving as a catalyst. New assistive technology is focusing on ways to facilitate communication for people who are non-verbal or have difficulties expressing themselves verbally. Whether reading brain waves or offering quick expression sharing options, tech ventures are a driving force behind innovative ways to democratize communication.
 Seattle’s swaths of downtown real estate are looked after by Debbie, who manages the janitorial teams responsible for the upkeep of government institutions housed in historic office buildings and modern skyscrapers.
 Happy World Reading Day! While every day should be a reading day, today we get to celebrate the amazing invention of the story. Books are such an incredible tool when it comes to children’s success, development, and creativity. Books have enabled children all around the world to engage one another in a common language. They teach us how to be good people. Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree teaches the importance of sharing and appreciating your loved ones (and has been translated into more than 30 languages). Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax shows us the value of taking care of the world around you. Crockett Johnsons’ Harold and the Purple Crayon is a perfect illustration of just how far your imagination can take you.
We’re all about celebrating people in their entirety, which is why we were excited to see the hashtag #DisabledAndCute being embraced by people with disabilities on Twitter. Eschewing the notion that their disabilities make them less-than able-bodied people, #DisabledAndCute began as a way of celebrating all bodies. The hashtag was created by Keah Brown, a young woman who lives with cerebral palsy. As she explained to Teen Vogue, it’s commonly held that people with disabilities inherently hate their bodies or are in some way disappointed in them. Brown claims that #DisabledAndCute is proof that this is not true.
“My disability is not all that I am, but it is a big part of who I am. I will never not be disabled, and so to [conceal] that part of me would be ridiculous,” Brown told Cosmo. Not only does #DisabledAndCute encourage body positivity, it embraces an unapologetic call for visibility. The hashtag is a step in the right direction, down a path where people with disabilities aren’t making a statement just for celebrating themselves. Regardless, #DisabledAndCute is a great way to share your story within the context of a conversation that celebrates all that you have to offer.  Spring is around the corner and we couldn’t be more excited to be outside and get some sunshine on our faces. If you’re looking for some accessible activities to get involved in during the upcoming months, check out some of the resources below!
1) Friendship Adventures Based out of Kirkland, Friendship Adventures focuses on recreation, education and leisure activities for people with developmental disabilities. From bingo to dances, they’re all about building community. 2) Outdoors for All Foundation From kayaking to snowboarding, Outdoors for All’s mission is to enrich the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through outdoor education. Offering a diverse selection, see if there’s one for you! 3) Wilderness Inquiry Providing integrated trips with people of all abilities, Wilderness Inquiry wants to get as many people out enjoying nature as possible. They also provide inclusive equipment meant to meet a range of needs. 4) Seattle Adaptive Sports Seattle Adaptive Sports facilitates athletic and recreational activities for youths and adults with physical disabilities, and offers a mélange of options. Basketball, tennis and soccer are all some of the classic sports leagues you can join. 5) Aquatic Therapy Services A combination of mental relaxation and physical well-being can result from spending time in the water, especially if it’s in the form of aquatic therapy. If you’re located in the Seattle area, Seattle Children's Hospital has an accessible pool which is always heated to 93 degrees. If you happen to be located near Sammamish, Community Integration Services offer several programs for both children and adults. Let us know of any other organizations, groups or services you enjoy participating with, we want to spread the word!  On February 7th, Betsy DeVos was confirmed as Secretary of Education under President Donald Trump. Pictured: Betsy DeVos. Photo used with permission by Getty Images and is subject to copyright - gettyimages.com On February 7th, Betsy DeVos was confirmed as Secretary of Education under President Donald Trump. This process – from President Trump announcing DeVos as a candidate to her confirmation – has been one of the most contested cabinet positions in modern history. In an unprecedented vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos to be secretary of education despite widespread concerns about her comments on special education.
 Photo from Advocacy Day 2017 in Olympia, WA With a full agenda of developments and exciting news, there’s a lot to be excited about at Northwest Center in this upcoming year. One thing we’re especially pleased to share with you all is the launch of our advocacy branch; a new sector of Northwest Center aiming to connect our clients with even more resources both locally and nationally, while also supplying useful, nonpartisan information to help families and individuals make the best choices for themselves.
 This morning, Betsy DeVos was nominated as Secretary of Education under President Donald Trump. This nomination will move to Congress for approval in the coming weeks. While DeVos was met with harsh criticism in recent weeks from Democrats and special needs advocates, “deep opposition from special education advocates was not enough to prevent President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Education from moving forward.” (Disability Scoop, January 31, 2017).
Gaining much attention is DeVos’s public position on Individuals with Disabilities Act and her belief that it should be run state-by-state, moving from the current national standardization. Following is a history of IDEA, what the law actually entails, and what it means to people with disabilities. In 1967, almost 200,000 individuals with significant disabilities were living in state institutions. Before the passing of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) of 1975, people with disabilities were likely to have inequitable opportunities in life. State institutions provided only minimal clothing, food, and shelter; furthermore, people with disabilities were merely accommodated rather than assessed and educated.  Northwest Center Partners with Tech Neighbor to Establish National Model of Inclusion
By Sarah Rothman Director, Project Inclusion Being located in one of the quickest-growing tech centers in the world, Northwest Center cherishes the opportunity to partner with our forward-thinking neighbors. Our employment team is proud to be working on a sustainable, long-term relationship with one of the largest tech companies in Seattle. Building off of a pilot program in 2015, the long-term objective of the partnership with Northwest Center is to attract and retain a part-time driven and diverse workforce. By developing an inclusive, broad staffing network, we are placing people with disabilities who are looking for part-time opportunities in independent, competitive employment.  Expanding Inclusive Work Environments Across County Lines
By Taryn Farley Manager, Employment Services 2016 was a year of growth throughout all Northwest Center departments. Taryn Farley and Alex Diseth, the Community Employment Services Managers, assumed full leadership of the job development team in August with goals geared towards long-term growth. Both managers have worked at Northwest Center for nearly five years and have experience in the disability field beyond their tenure at Northwest Center. Taryn and Alex have their eyes set on staff retention through quality training aimed towards getting more people into jobs! With new leadership and a growing team, we are poised to increase our existing services in King County and are now certified to expand our services statewide. Our first order of business is to begin expansion into the adjacent counties of Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap. Expansion efforts have already begun in Snohomish County, with relationships being built out of the Lynnwood Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Office.  Celebrating a Year of Inclusive Work
By Lindsay MacCary Manager, School-To-Work Looking back on 2016, the School-to-Work team is proud to reflect upon a successful year! In 2016 our team of four employment consultants served 22 students from schools spanning King County, all the while diligently collaborating with students, teachers, families and other members of support networks on the journey to best understand students’ strengths, interests and support needs. |
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