Stories
Below are a few stories of our children in our Infant Toddler Program and adults supported in our Adult Employment Services Program. We are thankful for our families and clients that are willing to share their stories. These stories help prospective families and the community learn more about the services Holly Ridge Center provides. If you would like to share your story with us, please contact edelma@hollyridge.org.
Holly Ridge’s Joel Oviedo Visits Armin Jahr Elementary
As the 2025-2026 school year kicked off, Joel Oviedo, a Holly Ridge Center Employment Consultant, was asked to participate in Career Day at Armin Jahr Elementary PTO School in Bremerton. Career Day was a part of the school’s College & Career Spirit Week, which...
Celebrating David, 10 Years at Ballast Books!
Congrats to David, an Adult Employment Services client at Holly Ridge Center! August 19th is his 10th Anniversary working at Ballast Book Company in Bremerton! David’s job coach, Christina*, wrote the following message in celebration: It’s a dark, gloomy Friday as the...
Keeping Up With Zoe: Infant Toddler Program Graduate
Zoe Turning 17, an update by Shannin Strom (Zoe's Mom) Zoe will be 17 in August. It’s hard to believe it has been almost 14 years since she graduated from Holly Ridge and transferred to her local elementary school for early intervention preschool (early supports...
Welcome Haskit! Holly Ridge Center’s New Infant Toddler Program Director
Please join us in welcoming Cynthia “Haskit” Hall, M.Ed. as our new Infant Toddler Program Director at Holly Ridge Center! Haskit (pronounced HOS-KIT), her given Makah tribal name, joined us in March and spent meaningful time with our outgoing director, Alicia Skelly,...
Impact Story: Emma at Animal Magnetizm
Meet Emma, a Holly Ridge Center Adult Employment Services Client employed by Animal Magnetizm, an inclusive employer on Bainbridge Island. “Emma is a pleasure to work with and surprises me with her will daily. Daniel and Demetria are some of the most supportive and...
Partnering Together to Better Serve our Community
In 2021, Holly Ridge staff distributed over $40,000 in diapers, baby equipment, and other necessary items to families in Kitsap and North Mason counties. This was accomplished in partnership with Eastside Baby Corner (EBC), a local nonprofit that provides children,...
Meet Tony!
Whether at work, with family and friends, dancing away at an ARC dance, or competing in soccer or tee-ball at the Special Olympics, Anthony (Tony) makes everything fun! With ever-changing brightly colored hair and nails to match, he truly exuberates joy. In November...
Olivia’s Early Support Services Journey
Written by her mother, Alyssa At Olivia’s fifteen-month doctor’s visit, we had concerns that Olivia was not verbally communicating. It felt as though she was expressing frustration when trying to help us understand her needs and wants. Olivia’s pediatrician...
2022 Kitsap County Developmental Disabilities Resource Fair
Holly Ridge Center, the Washington Initiative for Supported Employment (WISE), and Kitsap County Developmental Disabilities collaborated to bring you this year’s Resource Fair. It will be live from April 1st through June 30th. Check out the many partner agencies...
Hudson’s Early Intervention Story
Holly Ridge Center Speech Language Pathologists use sign language as a method of communication with children experiencing speech delays, and Hudson's use of sign language profoundly aided in his communication. “The signing was huge because I finally got to understand...