Building a Better Tomorrow
When NW Works was started in 1970, our founders wanted to create a space where people with disabilities were afforded the same employment opportunities that others receive. While our organization has grown, our vision for a more equitable future has remained the same.
Our Vision
We envision a society in which all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, where all people are afforded equal opportunities to meet their goals. We will strive to obtain this through informing, educating, and being a resource for those we serve and partner.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower adults with disabilities and individuals with barriers to employment to build skills and secure and sustain meaningful employment.
Our Values
We strive to build an environment that is client-centered, where all people are treated with dignity and respect, and they have goal-oriented and individualized opportunities for success.
Employment First
NW Works is proud to support the growing national movement Employment First, a framework for systems change that is centered on the premise that all citizens, including individuals with significant disabilities, are capable of full participation in integrated employment and community life. At NW Works, our model of Employment First prioritizes finding community integrated employment options for clients before assessing them for our social and life-skills programs, such as Community Engagement and Day Support. We will still continue our in-house programs, but our priority is to promote integrated opportunities wherever possible. Employment First is a critical priority for the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), is to invest in systems change efforts that result in increased community-based, integrated employment opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities. Learn more about the DOL’s efforts.