Northwest Center
  • Home
  • About
    • At a Glance
    • News & Publications
    • Education For All
    • Our Blog
  • Services
    • Kids Services
    • Employment Services
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Social Enterprise
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Employee Portal
  • Donate
  • Accessibility Tools

One Month of Awareness, a Lifetime of Inclusion

2/26/2021

Comments

 
Colorful marker artwork from mixed media artist Eileen Schofield shows bright green, red, purplem and blue organic and geometric shapes bouncing around on a light blue background.
Artwork from mixed media artist Eileen Schofield at the Art Enables studio in Washington DC.
From the very start, Northwest Center has led the inclusion revolution. In the early 1960s, four Seattle moms started their own schools where children with disabilities could learn and grow. Their goal was to provide education to children who were barred from public schools. It didn’t take long for other parents to join in, and in 1965 Northwest Center officially opened its doors to students with disabilities from across Seattle.

Our founding mothers spent the rest of their careers as advocates working towards a future where people of all abilities can receive an education, find meaningful employment, and reach their full potential.

As we kick off National Developmental Disability Awareness Month, we’re proud to be an organization that helps build inclusive communities for people of all abilities, from Early Learning classrooms where kids with and without disabilities share learning and playtime, and in employment services where we find employment opportunities that are meaningful and beneficial to both our clients and their employers.

And because 33% of our own organization is made up of people with a documented disability, we understand that not only are inclusive workplaces great for business, bringing better efficiency, retention, and other benefits, but also that working with people of all abilities builds strong friendships, connections, and partnerships that last for life.

Stories like that of Preston, Laethan, Sandra, Jackson, Anna, and Sandy are just the tip of the iceberg. Their experiences show the strength our community gains when people of all abilities learn and work together.

Our founding mothers started an inclusion revolution. But we’re just getting started.

Comments

Letter from the CEO: Looking Forward

2/12/2021

Comments

 
Gene Boes sits in his ofice in a dark charcoal coloured suit with a blue and white button up under his blazer. He has one leg crossed over the other and is looking past the camera with a wide grin on his face. Gene Boes, President & CEO of Northwest Center
Once again, Northwest Center is heading toward a remarkable anniversary. May 25, 2021 is the 50th anniversary of the passage of House Bill 90, “Education for All,” the Washington state law our founders wrote to guarantee a public education for children with disabilities. HB 90 led directly to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which impacted every ZIP code in the U.S. We’re excited to celebrate this milestone. But we also recognize how much further we have to go.

At this writing, public-school systems in Washington are under federal scrutiny for reports that students with disabilities have not been receiving the educational services they are guaranteed by law. Similar issues are sadly--and unacceptably—widespread. COVID-19 forced schools to go remote, resulting in children with disabilities nationwide being denied equal education. It’s a failure that further clouds a painful, turbulent time.

It may be difficult to look forward to greater equity, recovery, and peace as we remain in the throes of a pandemic and still very much troubled by injustice. But just as our founding mothers did what some thought was impossible in 1971, Northwest Center is planning for the future with determination and a renewed sense of purpose.

The events of the past year reminded us just how essential our mission of inclusion is for all communities. As we embark on our strategic plan for the coming decade, central to our strategy is our North: a world where 100% of kids have equitable access to education, and the employment rate for people with disabilities is the same as that of the general population. And our mission of inclusion intersects abilities, races, ethnicities, genders, orientations, and identities. We are committed to embodying that intersection and working alongside community partners as we expand our services.

While we are rightly proud of Northwest Center’s history, we are even more proud to count so many incredible families, supporters, businesses, employers, and organizations as partners in delivering on our mission.

We’re committed to making inclusive early education a reality for thousands more children as our IMPACT team continues to train educators and childcare directors. We’re committed to helping more parents of young children find the early intervention services they need. We’re committed to finding meaningful employment opportunities for more clients as we expand into Idaho and partner with amazing organizations like Swedish Edmonds. And with your partnership, we’re looking forward to being able to come together again, to build the trust, joy, and opportunity that every person of every ability and from every background deserves.

Join us, and let’s commit to making that change together.

Onward and upward,

Gene


Comments

Northwest Center Employment Services Expands into Idaho

2/12/2021

Comments

 
Ryan Newell, a white guy with red beard and short red hair smiles for the camera.Ryan Newell, Regional Director of Northwest Center Employment Services
Northwest Center Employment Services is now operating in the state of Idaho, an expansion that will allow us to begin helping people with disabilities find employment opportunities in Kootenai, Shoshone, Benewah, Bonner, and Boundary counties.

Northwest Center Employment Services serves both youth and adult populations at every stage in their careers, and our consultants will work with businesses to find solutions as well—and consultation is free!

“Northwest Center is proud and excited to expand our Employment Services into the state of Idaho,” says Ryan Newell, Regional Director. “With Idaho’s ever-growing economy and abundance of opportunity, we are able to expand our mission and help bridge the unemployment gap for people with disabilities. We are eager to serve.”

Our Employment Services are backed by more than 60 years of experience providing people with disabilities and their employers with support such as:
  • Preparation for employment including discovery of talents, goals, and interests
  • Person-centered planning
  • Job assessments
  • Application assistance including building resumes and writing cover letters
  • Job development
  • On-the-job coaching and job retention support
Partner funding sources for these services will include the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Foundational Community Supports. We anticipate being able to support individuals in Idaho through additional partnerships with local health and welfare organizations that will be named at a later date.

To learn more about Northwest Center Employment Services in Kootenai, Shoshone, Benewah, Bonner, and Boundary counties in Idaho, and in Spokane, WA, please contact: Ryan Newell, RNewell@NWCenter.org or (509) 928-1588.

Northwest Center Employment Services are also available in:
  • Omak, WA: (509) 826-2417 or LRoot@NWCenter.org
  • Seattle, WA: (206) 378-6362 or LFisher@NWCenter.org
PictureGreen and blue illustration of the state of Idaho with the city of Boise highlighted.
Comments

    Our Blog

    Northwest Center is passionate about equal rights, anti-ableism, and full inclusion for people with disabilities. Thank you for reading.

    Categories

    All
    Announcement
    Articles
    Autism
    Back To Work
    Business
    Campaigns
    CEO Letter
    Early Intervention
    Early Supports
    Employment
    Employment Services
    Events
    History
    Kids
    Media
    News
    Stories

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2023
    August 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    Picture
LEARN MORE
About Us
Our Enterprises
Career
Blog

News
Contact Us
SERVICES
Early Supports
Early Learning
Transition Services
Supported Employment
Job Development
​
NWC Businesses
DONATE
Financial Gifts
Donate Clothing
Donate Vehicle
Events
Partnerships
INFORMATION
Sponsorship
Executive Team
Our Board

Annual Report
Publications
Privacy Policy
Financial Statements
The Big Blue Truck 
Big Blue Truck Icon and Donate Button

Picture of CARF Logo
CARF has accredited Northwest Center for its Employment Services
1119 SW 7th Street, Renton, WA 98057 | 206.285.9140
© 2021 Northwest Center
Northwest Center is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization. Tax ID 91-0786790
​
Certain employment services and programs and social enterprise activities are offered through Northwest Center Services, the sister organization of Northwest Center.
  • Home
  • About
    • At a Glance
    • News & Publications
    • Education For All
    • Our Blog
  • Services
    • Kids Services
    • Employment Services
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Social Enterprise
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Employee Portal
  • Donate
  • Accessibility Tools