Charles is Thriving in Inclusive Workforce at Puget Sound Laundry Services

Charles (pictured right) is learning new skills at Puget Sound Laundry Services. © 2018 Northwest Center

Charles has spent this year showing his team at Puget Sound Laundry Services he has what it takes to get the job done, and then some! A longtime Northwest Center Employment Services participant, Charles has previously worked in document shredding at American Data Guard, on a supported work team at the Bank of America Building, and in Northwest Center’s Assembly & Packaging division.

After an additional period of pre-vocational training in 2015, Charles was placed into a job at our commercial laundry facility. “He has so much energy,” says Job Coach, Catherine Nelson, “he’s always looking for new ways to be helpful and productive, he’s a big asset here.”

The extent of Charles’ skills became apparent when his job coaching team began to phase themselves out of his daily routine this year. “As the job coaches phased out, it was clear Charles could do most of the work on his own.” says General Manager, Marty Kramer.

His job coaches discovered not only could he do the job on his own, he could observe and pick up new skills from his co-workers and apply them directly to his day-to-day routine. “He was thriving,” says Catherine.

“One day last week, Charles was unloading the dryer and was able to read the computer screen, identify the specific customer numbers, and then label and sort the bins correctly; all this on his own.” Supervisor, Evelyn Eleccion recalls. “He always has a smile on his face, he’s constantly being productive; and that makes a positive impact on the team.”

The high productivity and world-class quality at Puget Sound Laundry Services is a testament to the benefits of a diverse workforce. Charles has learned new skills, made friends, and increased his confidence – while Puget Sound Laundry Services has gained a dedicated and enthusiastic new employee.

We look forward to hearing about more of Charles’ successes as he continues to grow and learn new skills at work!

Northwest Center is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization. We envision a day when all people have the same opportunity to learn, work and enjoy a fulfilling life. From birth to retirement, we support people with disabilities.