A friendly barista wearing a denim shirt and brown apron serves a happy customer at a local café. With a warm smile, she carries a tray with a fresh sandwich, salad, and coffee. The scene captures the joy of meaningful employment, highlighting the importance of inclusive workplaces that foster connection and opportunity within the community.

Employment in the Community​

Empowering Lives Through
Community Employment Services

Creating Pathways to Meaningful Careers for Individuals with Disabilities. At Tessera, our Community Employment Services (CES) team is driven by a steadfast commitment to Creating Opportunities for People with Disabilities. We offer person-centered support to empower individuals to achieve their employment and community engagement goals. Serving Kitsap, Spokane, Jefferson, and Clallam counties in Washington State, we connect skilled job seekers with local employers dedicated to building inclusive workplaces.

Our Beliefs

  • Everyone has a voice and the right to be heard
  • Everyone has the right to paid employment and is employable
  • Everyone has the right to make choices, and we respect those choices
  • Everyone has value, and we honor their unique contributions.

Our Services

Through our CES program, we empower individuals and strengthen communities, one meaningful career at a time.

Financial Employment Support

Benefit planning to learn how working affects your SSI/SSDI so you can make an informed choice about earning more money. Funding to cover employment-related expenses to start work.

Glidepath

Youth Career Services

We provide youth work-based learning opportunities like Pre-Employment Workshops, Tessera Summer Academy, Job Foundations & School to Work Services, and Project Search.

Youth Career Services

Job Developing & Retention Services

We offer personalized, person-centered support, empowering individuals to achieve their employment goals.

Contact Us

Employer Resources

Partner with us to access a skilled and diverse workforce. We provide hiring solutions, workplace accommodations, and training programs to help businesses foster inclusive, high-performing teams.

Employers

Tessera Summer Academy

Our summer youth program prepares youth with disabilities for meaningful careers through work-based learning training, skill development, and paid internships.

Summer Academy

Service Partners

DSHS Logo
Spokane County Logo
Ticket to Work Logo
Tessera relies on strong partnerships with agencies in our community to refer individuals with disabilities to our Community Employment Services (CES) employment programs. Together we are expanding our impact and creating meaningful job opportunities for people with disabilities. We accept referrals from the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)*, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), the Washington Healthcare Authority for the Foundational Community Supports (FCS) program, and the Ticket to Work (TTW) program through the Social Security Administration. Through these programs, we connect individuals to essential resources and provide customized support to help you find and keep employment. These partnerships reflect our mission of fostering inclusion and opportunity, ensuring every individual receives the support they need to succeed.
*Spokane County Only

Let’s Connect

Reach out to us for personalized employment support. Fill out the form below, or give us a call to discuss opportunities that match your skills and career goals. Our team is here to help you take the next step.

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  • Western Washington

Amanda Bird

(360) 475-0756 ext. 131

  • Eastern Washington

Michelle Johnson
(509) 326-6760