Client Stories
There was a DJ and an active dance floor. Clients enjoyed photo booths, a balloon artist, a caricaturist, photographers, and a fully catered dinner. Outside fire fighters and police officers opened up their fire engines and police cars for the clients to explore. There was a red carpet and limo rides around the neighborhood. The evening ended with all of the buddies putting a crown or tiara into their partner’s head as the room cheered for the Kings and Queens of the prom.


Amy spent a day shopping with her staff Sierra, and they found Amy a beautiful blue gown, some silver shoes, and some accessories to accent her gown. Sierra arrived to Amy’s home before the dance and styled her hair and did her make up. Amy put on her gown, and she was happy and full of confidence as she has not had many chances to dress up for a night out.
At the dance, Amy got to walk down a dazzling red carpet into the dance. The room was filled with her peers, decorations, and so much fun. She spent her night dancing with friends, listening to music, and enjoying herself. Amy is already expressing interest in attending this event next year.


10/29/2018
Thomas loves to know where his staff are originally from.
His mother told me about this interest. Then she hatched an idea: “maybe Thomas could track where his staff come from on a map of the world”.
I immediately wanted to get in on this. Like Thomas I share an interest in where our staff come from. So Thomas and I decided we’d turn this into a map seeking adventure that included a bus ride to downtown Seattle, lunch at a Mexican restaurant and a visit to the crown jewel of all map stores: Metsker Maps at Pike Place Market.
Thomas now has his map displayed at his home. Seven staff are from Gambia, six from Kenya, three each from Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and one each from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Haiti.
Dominic, Drew, and Rashid have hiked around Mt. Baker, Heather Lake, and The Iron Goat Trail this year alone.
Hiking club is welcome to all, and other homes often join in on the outings. The more the merrier!
Work Hard Play Hard!
Kerri saved up for her dream trip to Disneyland and had an amazing and unforgettable time.
She’s currently working hard and saving up for her next big adventure!
Community integration for people with developmental disabilities has been central to Alpha’s mission since its founding. Over the years, our clients have enjoyed community day programs provided by other agencies. When the recession hit, many of Alpha’s clients lost their adult day health programs and other vocational and recreational programs due to budget cuts. In response, Alpha created the Community Projects Specialist position in 2011 to develop accessible group activities in the community for our clients and others. Craig Eidsmoe, our Community Projects Specialist, has created opportunities for client community integration, such as class and group activities, six days a week. One of these community outings includes regular visits to Oxbow Farm in Carnation.

Three and a half years ago, Alpha staff wanted to give clients a creative and fun activity to do each week, called Art Club, but where to have it?
Laura Hoag, a Direct Support Professional at Alpha, found the perfect place! She found Blu Café, a coffee shop willing to donate space in the back of the New Hope Church, in Shoreline. Blu Café is a warm and comfortable indoor coffee shop serving espresso, Italian sodas and most other fun coffee drinks. Along with the wonderful church volunteer baristas and free Wi-Fi it is a great place to hang out. Most often we enjoy the drink styling of Steve. Craig Eidsmoe talked with New Hope ministries; they were very supportive, and agreed to let us use a good chunk of their tables, at no cost, for Art club.
Art Club now had the perfect place to meet! Venus Gibbs and Nephtali Stackhouse, Program Supervisors for Alpha, started the club, Tuesday afternoons from 3:30- 4:30ish. We started out with 3-4 houses attending Art Club and helping collect art supplies. Now, 3 years later, we have 9 houses from Alpha attending and have extended the invitation to another agency, which has some ladies who attend when they can.
