Cascade Connections

02/06/2026

We've got some really big news - we're moving! Later this year, we will open our new training center and administrative office on Main Street in Ferndale! We've been in our current location since 2012, but we are excited about the new opportunities that lie just around the corner.

Our new office will allow us to prioritize accessible, universal design and will position us for future expansion. Over the years our organization has grown to serve and employ more than 700 people! We can't wait to have a space that will accommodate the needs of everyone we support and employ.

In the meantime, Cascade Connections will be temporarily relocating our Training, Residential, and Administrative programs to our Bellingham Office at the end of February. We anticipate there will not be any interruptions to our current services.

To learn more about our relocation, please check out our Press Release, here: https://cascadeconnections.org/press-release-february-2-2026/

01/30/2026

It's been a busy couple of weeks for our Residential and Vocational teams who have made a few treks down to Olympia to advocate for continued funding to support essential programs that allow us to serve our clients and customers! Our Vocational team even hosted a watch party so folks could view the advocacy efforts from Bellingham!

Supported Living Services reduce state costs, support individual choice, and prioritize community inclusion.

Supported Employment customers earned $97 million in 2024, boosting the economy through taxes and reducing public assistance.

Both groups were able to pass out the position papers to the legislative aides for local politicians. A huge thank you to the Community Residential Services Association and Community Employment Alliance for your advocacy efforts!

01/21/2026

We would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to the team at SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics for their generous contribution to Cascade Connections. Your support plays a meaningful role in helping us continue our mission and expand the services we provide to those in our community.

When nonprofits and community partners come together with a shared commitment to service, the impact is truly powerful. Collaboration like this strengthens our ability to create positive change, foster connection, and support those who need it most. We are deeply grateful for SPIE’s partnership, generosity, and belief in the work we do—together, there is truly nothing we can’t accomplish.

01/19/2026

Leslie's supported living staff are getting creative with helping her make healthy choices. She can't afford a meal subscription like HelloFresh but she can still use the pictures and recipes to help make healthy meals!

She found that gathering ingredients was a little challenging because she wasn’t sure what some of the items were yet, often remarking “I don’t have that.” But after taking a second look, she would usually be able to locate the ingredient.

According to staff, Jonathan, "Leslie talked about how good the meal was for about a half hour."

Making meals and healthy choices have always been a challenge for Leslie, so we are happy to see so much success with this!

01/08/2026

We are hiring Overnight Direct Support Professionals in the Ferndale Area! We are seeking compassionate and dedicated individuals to support adults with disabilities in our Supported Living program. We offer paid training, flexible scheduling, and a $750 hiring bonus. (Please note, new hires receive $250 bonus on their first check, and an additional $500 bonus after completing a 6-month introductory phase.)

To learn more about this exciting opportunity or to apply: https://bit.ly/Awake-Overnight

01/02/2026

Did you know that Cascade Connections' Vocational Services has a Commercial Operations department that's been working hard behind the scenes?

In 2024 alone, our dedicated crew of 47 hardworking individuals provided janitorial services to local federal offices - clocking over 26,605 hours!

A huge shoutout to our incredible team and the four dedicated crew supervisors who make it all happen. Your hard work and commitment to excellence do not go unnoticed!

12/30/2025

Earlier this month, Jeff went to the Seahawks! He hasn't been to a game in a while, but he's familiar with the stadium because he used to work there!

Jeff had been looking forward to this game for a long time, and couldn't stop talking about after buying his ticket. He picked this match out because it was against the division rivals and because they were tied in the standings late in the season. The road to the game was long, but when they arrived and Jeff saw the stadium, he exclaimed "WE DID IT!" and gave his staff a fist bump.

He bought a jersey and a key chain at the team store and got to watch the Seahawks take first place in the NFC West after an exciting game that went into overtime! Shoutout to the Seattle Seahawks for making their games accessible to folks like Jeff, allowing us to help him make lifelong memories!

12/23/2025

More photos from our annual Christmas Party!

12/23/2025

As everyone gathers for the holiday season this week, we wanted to share some photos of folks from our community gathering for our recent Christmas party! Hundreds of friends, family, and community joined us in celebrating the joy of the holiday season in early December!

The highlights of the party were definitely the photos with Santa and the annual raffle! The event also featured an amazing seasonal playlist, curated by DJ WeForgot, delicious food from Kelly's Casual Catering, fun photos from Oh Snap! Photo Booth and an incredible venue thanks to the Ferndale Events Center!

From all of us at Cascade Connections - may the spirit of the season be with you today and throughout the new year!

12/15/2025

We hope you're all staying safe out there! Many folks in Whatcom County have been impacted by the recent flooding, including some of our customers and employees! If you are looking for ways to help those who have been affected, please check out this GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/flooded-twice-starting-over-again-sumas-family-needs-help

12/15/2025

Lisa recently celebrated her birthday! She kicked off the celebration by attending Special Olympics Bowling tournament and afterward enjoyed a birthday sundae with Kevin Applebee's Grill + Bar!

Happy Birthday Lisa!!

12/03/2025

Please join us in recognizing International Day of Persons with Disabilities. First celebrated in 1992, International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

We are grateful to everyone, worldwide, who shares our mission of empowering individuals with disabilities to enhance their quality of life.

An estimated 1.3 billion people live with a significant disability today.

No one understands the needs of persons with disabilities better than they do themselves. To achieve a more inclusive and accessible world, people with disabilities must have a seat at decision-making tables.

Wednesday is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-of-persons-with-disabilities