About Us

Since its establishment in 1970 by founder, Jack Ireland, NW Works has been a support system, helping adults with disabilities and individuals encountering barriers to employment develop skills and find stable, rewarding jobs. 

Inspired by his daughter Kyle’s experiences with a seizure disorder, Ireland championed disability rights at a time when few opportunities and little funding was available to improve the lives of people with disabilities. With the support of close friends and local business leaders, Ireland helped to established Northwestern Workshop- now NW Works- to provide employment and community involvement for adults with disabilities. 

Ireland appointed Susan Dawkins as the first Executive Director of Northwestern Workshop, and with Dawkins’s and Ireland’s leadership, the organization flourished, securing their first contract with Rubbermaid and serving adults with disabilities in the Northern Shenandoah Valley region. 

In step with the changing times, NW Works transitioned from a sheltered workshop. Today, our focus is on community-based initiatives and actively promoting integration with the wider public. We are proud to uphold Jack’s legacy by embracing the Employment First Model, advocating that all individuals, regardless of ability, have access to meaningful, competitive employment. 

We dream of a society where every individual is treated with respect and given equal opportunities. Our commitment to this vision is clear in our ongoing efforts to inform, educate, and serve as a reliable resource for both those we serve and our partners. 

Curious to learn more? Explore the stories shared by our clients, staff, and other community members to truly understand the transformative impact we are having in the community. 

NW Works' former executive director Susan Dawkins Ireland recalls the early days of the organization.

A brief history of NW Works, featuring former Chairman of the Board of Directors, Skeeter Knee. September 24, 2019.

Please note: the language used in some of the newspaper clippings does not reflect the views of NW Works or employees.

Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the actions of the leadership, staff and clients at NW Works. Intentionally drawn from our Mission, Vision and Values statements, the phases clients transfer through at NW Works and the support they receive were critical to reflect in our logo. Click through the drop downs below to learn more.

A woman in a blue sweatshirt stands outside and is shown leaning over a tool that is partially out of sight. She is doing something with the tool in the NW Works Garden.

Assessment

  • NW Works services are tailored to each individual that walks through our doors. Team members, such as Tia (pictured) received a comprehensive service plan after we discussed how to best serve her needs. Individuals entering NW Works are reminded of the value of choice, and their goals are formed based on these choices. Assessment offers an opportunity for staff, loved ones, and the individual to take account of where they stand as a job-seeker, but more importantly as a person.

A middle aged woman helps a young man slice a loaf of bread. They are both concentrating on the knife and the bread in front of them.

Confidence Building

  • Once an individual begins receiving services from NW Works, they begin developing a foundation of confidence, which is critical for success. Confidence building can take place through mock interviews in the ProjectSEARCH program, in our Day Support Program, through community engagement site visits, or during Pre-ETS where individuals explore career options.

A middle aged man is shown with his hand out waiting for his change at a cash register. The man's wallet is beside him, and the grocery bag holding his purchases is near the cashier who is checking him out.

Skill Development

  • Helping individuals at NW Works hone and develop skills to better serve their livelihood and job interests is key. For team member Smitty, confidence building and skill development have overlapped with Smitty’s involvement in our Group Day program and community outings like the one pictured. As individuals develop skills their confidence improves and opportunities for further development may present themselves.  

A middle aged woman is shown checking the dates on a package of apple sauce in a grocery store aisle. The woman is wearing a red t-shirt and her Martin's name badge.

Journey toward Independence

  • As NW Works team members transition through phases of growth, the guiding goal is for the individuals we serve to increase in their independence. Robin (pictured) has gained independence through her job. For Robin, and all team members at NW Works, the journey toward independence does not mean an absence of support or guidance as needed by the individual, but rather the ability to perform tasks, make wise decisions, or interact with others differently than when the individual began receiving services from NW Works. In many cases, journeying toward independence looks like being successful in the workplace.  

Person-Centered Support

  • Our team works to build trust and confidence, all while tailoring their actions toward the individual by following their support plan.

Dignity & Respect

  • Showing dignity and respect toward all team members and staff demonstrates that inhabitants of the NW Works facility are valued. Treating individuals with dignity and respect is key in forming relationships, building trust, and working to achieve the individual’s goals.

Pre-ETS instructor, Jim Stevenson, and a pre-ETS participant pose side by side for a photo celebrating the student's completion of the Pre-ETS program. The student is holding up his certificate.

Goal Oriented

  • Approaching each individual’s needs with a goal-oriented mindset is a vital part of our team’s job responsibilities, but also helps to orient all tasks to a specific and attainable outcome, developed with the individual and their loved ones.