Speaking to our Club on Friday, September 20th was Corrie West, Investment and Partnership Associate with Sherwood Community Services. Corrie talked about Sherwood the past, present and the future. Sherwood started in 1957 by eight families of children with disabilities who were excluded from a public education.
Sherwood exists to create an inclusive society where children and adults with disabilities can live a full and independent life as part of their community. Together, they created Sherwood to prove their children not only had the right but the ability to learn. Sherwood is proud to serve Snohomish, Island and Skagit Counties. In fiscal year, 2018-19, 908 individuals with disabilities were served and 743 were children with 13,118 sessions provided.
Early Intervention which is birth to three years old provides therapy and education services for infants and toddlers who have been diagnosed with disabilities or delay, providing support to help them reach developmental milestones with a parent coaching model in the child's natural environment. Therapies offered are speech, physical, occupational, feeding and oral/motor skills. Early Intervention helps everyone.
Vocational Services are for people with disabilities who are interested in finding employment. Sherwood works with employers to understand their needs. The goal is for each employee to independent in the workplace. During the 2018-19 period, 165 clients were served. Sherwood provides short and long term support to the employee and the employer.
Corrie was drawn to Sherwood on more of a personal reason. Corrie's brother has disabilities and she is passionate about serving others with similar backgrounds. Corrie earned her BA in Community Psychology from the University of Washington and her MBA with a minor in HR from Walden University. Her personal model is "life is to short to be grumpy".