Morningside

Morningside Morningside is a private not-for-profit 501-(c)(3) Community Rehabilitation Program providing employment services to individuals with disabilities.

We specialize in supported and competitive employment. Morningside advances the employment and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities. We formed in 1963 as an alternative to institutionalizing people with disabilities at a time when there were no other options for families. In the 1990s, Morningside led the efforts in Washington State to move away from sheltered workshops to integrated community employment. Today, we strive to have all of our clients in integrated employment, earning a living wage.

Employment for All Advocacy Day was held on January 28th, 2026 with a morning session at The United Churches of Olympia,...
02/18/2026

Employment for All Advocacy Day was held on January 28th, 2026 with a morning session at The United Churches of Olympia, followed by the Community Employment Alliance (CEA) Rally on the North steps of the Legislative building.

This year's focus was "Protect Our Right to Employment". This event brought people together to bring awareness to ensuring that individuals have the adequate supports and individualized services needed to work and build relationships in the community.

The Legislative advocacy priorities for 2026 are:
- No Cuts to Community DD Services
- Lowering the DDA Eligibility Age
- No Change to Waiver Eligibility

Check out CEA's website for more information. https://www.communityemploymentalliance.org/

Morningside is committed to promoting inclusion, expanding employment opportunities, and supporting meaningful community connections.

EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL!

Geoff Weiss was finally able to save up and buy captioning glasses with the assistance of his father Timothy Weiss and u...
02/05/2026

Geoff Weiss was finally able to save up and buy captioning glasses with the assistance of his father Timothy Weiss and using money from his part time job at Goodwill in Yelm. Career Consultant Tyler Kusterman and Geoff have been researching these "captioning glasses" for over a year and finally found a pair that met every bit of Geoff's needs as he is deaf. Geoff said since receiving the glasses, his quality of life has improved dramatically. Geoff has been able to interpret full spoken dialogue transmitted into the lenses and communicate back by typing responses into his phone. This is useful for communicating with those who do not know ASL (sign language). Geoff has used the glasses multiple times at his favorite store, Olympic Cards and Comics to interpret people he once was never able to speak with before. He hopes to work here one day. Geoff quotes "The (captioning) glasses are strong medicine for deaf people in the workplace to communicate". Geoff added that he "hopes more people like him can use this technology through funding". The Glasses are called XRAI AR 2 and the software is called XRAI glass.

Meet Dianna!We’re excited to celebrate her newest achievement—accepting a position as a Lobby Attendant at McDonald’s! D...
01/29/2026

Meet Dianna!
We’re excited to celebrate her newest achievement—accepting a position as a Lobby Attendant at McDonald’s! Dianna is looking forward to starting this new chapter and bringing her positive energy to the team.
In this role, Dianna will help create a welcoming and comfortable dining experience for guests by keeping the lobby clean, organized, and inviting. Her attention to detail and commitment to helping others will make a meaningful impact every day.
Join us in congratulating Dianna as she begins this exciting new adventure! 🎉

ProjectSEARCH and Morningside would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Meaghan Anderson at the Hands On Children's ...
01/02/2026

ProjectSEARCH and Morningside would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Meaghan Anderson at the Hands On Children's Museum for hosting an informative job tour for our ProjectSEARCH class!

Our students had the opportunity to ask questions, learn more about what it’s like to work at the museum, and experience an in-depth tour of the facility. The visit offered valuable insights into the museum’s operations and inspired great conversations about future career opportunities.

We are proud to have partnered with the Hands On Children’s Museum for the past three years and are deeply grateful for the continued support and commitment to our students’ success.

Thank you again for helping us prepare the next generation for meaningful employment!

The 2025–2026 ProjectSEARCH cohort recently had the opportunity to tour Hampton Inn & Suites Olympia/Lacey! During the v...
12/30/2025

The 2025–2026 ProjectSEARCH cohort recently had the opportunity to tour Hampton Inn & Suites Olympia/Lacey! During the visit, students engaged with staff and asked thoughtful questions about employment and what a typical day looks like in the hotel industry. Thanks to Janine Phillips, the group explored key areas including:
- The kitchen
- Laundry room
- Control room
- Pool
- A guest room
The students truly enjoyed seeing the dynamics of hotel operations firsthand and left with valuable insights. A heartfelt thank you to Janine Phillips and Hampton Inn & Suites in Lacey for your continued support and for providing these meaningful job tour opportunities each year. Your partnership helps prepare our students for future success!

We’re excited to share that Nadia Townsend recently joined the team at Btchin' Britches Boutique in Centralia, WA as a S...
12/24/2025

We’re excited to share that Nadia Townsend recently joined the team at Btchin' Britches Boutique in Centralia, WA as a Store Associate—and she’s thriving!

In her new role, Nadia takes care of sorting, tagging, and hanging merchandise, helping keep the boutique organized and welcoming for customers. With clear guidance and encouragement from the operations manager, Nadia has quickly grown confident in her responsibilities and continues to shine.

Nadia demonstrates strong listening skills when receiving instructions from her supervisor or manager, and she works well alongside her teammates. While she benefits from occasional verbal cues, she’s steadily building her independence and self-sufficiency with each shift.

Outside of work, Nadia enjoys playing games and spending time with her family and friends.

Congratulations on the new role, Nadia! We're excited to see what the future has in store for you.

Adrian Rone has been making a big impact as a Lumber Yard Associate at Lincoln Creek Lumber in Centralia for the last 6 ...
12/22/2025

Adrian Rone has been making a big impact as a Lumber Yard Associate at Lincoln Creek Lumber in Centralia for the last 6 months. His role is all about helping customers load their lumber purchases, but for him, it’s more than just a task—it’s an opportunity to connect. His favorite part of the job is interacting with customers and making sure they leave with a smile.

Adrian also values the camaraderie he’s found with his coworkers, who have become natural supports and teammates he can count on. His supervisors and managers consistently praise his strong work ethic and reliability, recognizing the dedication he brings to every shift.

When Adrian isn’t at the lumberyard, you’ll find him enjoying quality time with family and friends.

Join us in celebrating Adrian’s contributions and the positive energy he brings to Lincoln Creek Lumber! Keep up the great work, Adrian!

Pictured: Jonathan Pleger (Morningside, President/CEO), Rep. Ed Orcutt (20th District), Jonah (Intern for Marie Glusencamp-Perez), and Andrian Rone (Lumber Yard Associate & Morningisde client).

Eric Whitney has been a dedicated Breakfast Bar Attendant at the Quality Inn in Sequim, WA for the past 7.5 years. Each ...
12/19/2025

Eric Whitney has been a dedicated Breakfast Bar Attendant at the Quality Inn in Sequim, WA for the past 7.5 years. Each morning, he helps create a welcoming start to the day by cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, preparing and filling food for the continental breakfast, stocking condiments and cutlery, gathering and removing trash, washing dishes, and greeting guests with a friendly smile.

Eric’s favorite part of his job is working alongside Crystal, his “partner in crime,” who has become a wonderful natural support and teammate. His coworkers describe him as “like sunshine” because he always brightens the workplace and makes others smile.

When he’s not at work, Eric enjoys watching football, catching up on TV, and spending quality time with his family.

Here’s to Eric, whose positivity and hard work make Quality Inn a brighter place for both guests and coworkers!

Pictured: Eric Whitney and his "partner in crime" Crystal

For the past 10 years, Ricky has been working as a Courtesy Clerk at Safeway on Highway 101 in Port Angeles, WA. His ded...
12/16/2025

For the past 10 years, Ricky has been working as a Courtesy Clerk at Safeway on Highway 101 in Port Angeles, WA. His dedication shines through in the care he takes to keep the store welcoming and safe—whether he’s cleaning and sanitizing deli cases, counters, refrigerators, or customer self-service areas near the deli.

Ricky’s favorite part of his day? Cleaning the tables by Starbucks, where he gets to make the space inviting for everyone who stops by.

Over the years, Ricky has built strong natural supports with his Safeway team. Dorinda, the Deli Manager, regularly shows her appreciation for Ricky’s hard work, while Kyler, the Assistant, says Ricky does a great job and looks forward to seeing him every day. Dimitri and Tess are also part of Ricky’s circle of natural supports, making Safeway feel like a second home.

When Ricky is off the clock, you’ll find him enjoying life—bowling, coloring in his coloring book, watching TV, or relaxing with his feet in the water at the pool.

Congratulations on 10 years at Safeway. We're excited to see what the future has in store for you. Keep up the great work!

Pictured: Ricky Ewing (gentleman in the red jacket) and the Safeway Deli Team.

🎅✨ Santa Claus is Coming to Town! ✨🎅Join us for a festive Santa Meet & Greet and make this holiday season unforgettable!...
12/03/2025

🎅✨ Santa Claus is Coming to Town! ✨🎅
Join us for a festive Santa Meet & Greet and make this holiday season unforgettable! Bring your holiday cheer, share your wishes with Santa himself, and capture the magic with fun, festive photos.
📅 Event Dates & Locations:

Dec 5: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Oyster House – Olympia Lighted Boat Event
Dec 6: 10:00 AM | Olympia Country Club – Brunch
Dec 7: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM | Budd Bay Restaurant
Dec 13: 10:00 AM | Olympia Country Club – Brunch
Dec 14: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Rivers Edge
Dec 18: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Rivers Edge (Seahawks Game!)
Dec 20: 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM & 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Fire Creek
Dec 21: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM | Budd Bay Restaurant

🎁 Support Morningside’s programs! Scan the QR code at the event to donate and help make a difference.
📸 Don’t miss this chance to create magical memories with Santa!
👉 Please share and spread the holiday cheer!

Meet Samira Zand, who was recently offered and accepted her very first job in Thurston County as a Caretaker at the O Be...
12/02/2025

Meet Samira Zand, who was recently offered and accepted her very first job in Thurston County as a Caretaker at the O Bee Credit Union Administration building!

Samira is the new friendly face behind keeping the breakroom spotless and making sure every boardroom and conference room is sanitized, stocked, and ready for upcoming meetings. She says the best part of her new role is working with a great team while keeping everything clean and safe.

Fun fact: Samira already knows where her first paycheck is going… straight toward another tattoo! When she’s not at work, you’ll find her enjoying time with her boyfriend and family.

Let’s give Samira a huge congratulations on this exciting new chapter! We look forward to seeing what else the future has in store for her.

The 2025–2026 Project SEARCH students had an incredible opportunity to tour J & I Power Equipment in Lacey, WA! They lea...
11/28/2025

The 2025–2026 Project SEARCH students had an incredible opportunity to tour J & I Power Equipment in Lacey, WA! They learned about the variety of roles within the company—including many entry-level positions that require no prior experience—and even got to witness an excavator demonstration in action!

A huge thank you to Ashly Logan and the team at J&I for the warm welcome, informative tour, and continued support of Project SEARCH and Morningside.

Partnerships like these help pave the way for brighter futures!

Address

809 Legion Way SE
Olympia, WA
98501

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(360) 943-0512

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