Morningside

03/25/2026

03/17/2026

🌟 Join Us for an Inclusive Community Resource Event! 🌟
Discover services and supports across state agencies, employment, housing, transportation, recreation, financial services, advocacy, and family resources — designed with individuals with disabilities in mind, but helpful for all families.
✨ Morningside will be there —Please stop by to connect with us - we'd love to see you! ✨

Who Should Attend?

Individuals with disabilities & their families
Special education teachers & para-educators
Special education directors
Transition coordinators
Case managers
Community members looking for support resources

Need Help or an Interpreter?
If you need an interpreter or help completing your DDCS application, email hst.coord@co.thurston.wa.us by 2/28/25 and let them know what language you need.
📌 RSVP required for assistance.

📅 Event Details
Thursday, March 19th
4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 ESD 113 – 6005 Tyee Dr. SW, Tumwater, WA

🚓 Special Activities:
Meet the state patrol & local police, explore their vehicles, and tour a fire truck on site!

💬 Please share this post!
Helping us spread the word could connect someone with truly life-changing resources.

03/13/2026

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is celebrated every March and was established in 1987 with Proclamation 5613 by then President Ronald Reagan. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/proclamation-5613-national-developmental-disabilities-awareness-month-1987

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month invites us to celebrate our collective progress, face remaining challenges with courage, and renew our resolve to build communities where every person is empowered to belong, contribute, and thrive.

Here are some ways in which we can all take action:

1. Building Awareness: Informing the community about developmental disabilities and helping reduce misconceptions and stigma.

2. Fostering Inclusion: Encouraging schools, workplaces, organizations, and neighborhoods to embrace inclusive approaches.

3. Recognizing Successes: Showcasing the achievements of people with developmental disabilities in school, at work, and in their communities.

4. Advocacy and Empowerment: Promoting self-advocacy and ensuring individuals with disabilities have influence in shaping the policies and programs that impact their lives.

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!

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.

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! 🎉

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!

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!

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.

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).

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