Cascade Connections

03/23/2026

We are so excited to join Whatcom Center for Early Learning this summer at the first annual Inclusion Festival! This exciting event will feature fun activities for the whole family!!

🎉Announcing Whatcom County's First Annual Inclusion Festival!🎉
The Inclusion Festival is a free, community-wide celebration hosted by Whatcom Center for Early Learning (WCEL). It focuses on disability pride, neurodiversity, accessibility, inclusion, and belonging. Everyone is welcome!

Date: Sunday, July 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Location: Zuanich Point Park, Bellingham, WA

What to Expect
Music, art, food, and inclusive activities for all ages and abilities.
Accessible vendor booths + nonprofit partners hosting interactive activities. Sensory‑friendly spaces and accessibility supports throughout.

Please visit wcel.net/inclusionfestival to become an event partner, sponsor, or vendor. Vendor applications are open with early bird pricing through the end of April! Questions? Email Events@WCEL.net .

Our partners (so far!) , , , , and

We are also deeply grateful to our sponsors , , , and . Sponsorships help keep the event free and accessible; they align businesses with inclusion, equity, and community impact. Sponsorships start as low as $500!

03/17/2026

✨ We're excited to share that we've been nominated in two Cascades Best categories!! Thank you for thinking of us! If you love what we do at Cascade Connections, you can vote for us for Best Home Care and Best Nonprofit!! Voting started yesterday and you can cast your vote here: votecascades.com

For Best Home Care: select the "Beauty & Health" category and then select the "Home Care/Hospice" category

For us for Best Nonprofit: select the "Services" category and then select the "Nonprofit" category

You can vote up to once every day in each category until April 3!!✨

Thank you for your support!!

03/13/2026

36 years later, and we're still deeply inspired by the Capitol Crawl!

03/06/2026

We are so proud to celebrate Lindsey, who recently earned Gold in Individual Skills, representing the North Whatcom team, at the Regional Special Olympics basketball tournament. Lindsey is now preparing for the state tournament.

Can you guess what Lindsey enjoys most about basketball? Her team! Lindsey especially enjoys helping new players understand the skills so they feel confident and included.

Lindsey's success isn’t just about medals; it’s about leadership, encouragement, and sharing the love of the game with her team and her community. Way to go, Lindsey!

03/04/2026

Our Home Care Department is Hiring!
We are looking for compassionate individuals to join our amazing team!
•Flexible Scheduling
•Competitive Pay
•Supportive Team
•Paid Training

Come work with us to make a positive difference in the lives of others: https://bit.ly/cc-hc-hca
-full transcript in the comments below-

03/03/2026

Last week, individuals from our Supported Living program experienced a truly magical evening — all thanks to the incredible generosity of Patos Property Management.

The night began with a chartered bus that whisked Cascade Connections clients, staff, and family members away for a special pizza dinner filled with laughter and connection. From there, the group headed to Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett to cheer on the Everett Silvertips as they triumphed over the Kamloops Blazers 7–3. The arena was buzzing with energy, and the evening was packed with fun activities.

We are deeply grateful to Patos Property Management, not only for this unforgettable experience, but for their ongoing partnership which provides beautiful, secure housing for individuals in our Supported Living program. Their commitment to our community extends beyond housing, it creates opportunities for joy, belonging, and lasting memories.

Thank you, Patos Property Management, for investing in the lives of the people we serve.

02/27/2026

✨ It's the end of an era! ✨

Today marks our final day in our Ferndale office.

In the short term, we’ll be operating out of our Cordata office — but not for long! Very soon, we’ll be opening the doors to our forever home in downtown Ferndale.

Since 2012, our Training Center has welcomed thousands of caregivers and community members, equipping them with the skills needed to support some of our most vulnerable neighbors. Our Residential and Administrative teams have also called this space home for many years.

We’re incredibly grateful for the memories, growth, and community built here. Ferndale, this isn’t goodbye, it’s just “see you soon.”

02/20/2026

After 30 inspiring years, we’re celebrating Lan Totten as she steps into retirement!

From job coach to Program Manager, Lan has always been a powerful advocate for inclusive employment and disability services in Whatcom County. She built strong partnerships with DVR (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) and FCS (Foundational Community Supports), launched hands-on interview workshops, mentored countless Employment Specialists, and championed the value of meaningful work for all.

In 2023, her leadership and impact were recognized with a nomination for the Whatcom Women in Business Community Legacy Award — a testament to her professionalism, mentorship, and deep community commitment.

Lan, thank you for 30 years of heart, vision, and lasting impact. Her legacy will continue to inspire us all for many years to come.

02/13/2026

Super Bowl Sunday was full of fun and laughter at Sue Lee’s house! As a dedicated Seahawks fan, Sue Lee hosted her friends from East Lynden Supported Living for an afternoon of football, fun, and fantastic food. With pizza on the table, decorations all around, and blue-and-green cupcakes to match the team colors, it was a celebration to remember.

Nothing brings people together like good friends and football 🏈 Go Seahawks!

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.