1. What is your role at King County and when did you start? I started at King County on Sept. 18 as the Supported Employment Program Manager. The goal of the Supported Employment Program is to create employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities within King County Government. In doing so, we get closer to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve.

2. What is your background in supported employment? I was a special education teacher in Seattle Public Schools before joining PROVAIL, a multi-service agency supporting individuals with developmental disabilities to fulfill their life choices in school, work, and housing. In the first half of my eight-year career there, I worked as a Job Coach to support people with disabilities to find and maintain employment in their communities. I then moved on to managing job coaches before becoming the Director of Employment Services for my final two years with the organization. Supported Employment provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to contribute meaningfully to a team, leading to a greater sense of purpose and inclusion in the world around them.

3. What will you be responsible for in your new role? In collaboration with the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Community and Human Services’ Developmental Disabilities and Early Childhood Supports Division, I am responsible for the coordination and administration of King County’s Supported Employment Program, which offers a creative and cost-effective approach to meeting business needs and including people with developmental disabilities in the workforce. I provide additional support to managers, human resources, supported employees and employment agencies to increase satisfaction and address areas of concern. I also support departments in identifying new tasks for current supported employees in collaboration with the employment agencies as well as assist in the recruitment and hiring of individuals with developmental disabilities.

4. What is the biggest challenge in the role? The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of all workplaces, including King County. One of the challenges in this new role will be helping Supported Employees to navigate their “new normal,” re-envisioning jobs that have changed with the workforce being largely remote. This will involve the exciting task of helping Supported Employees learn new skills that will further open the door for them to participate in a hybrid work environment.

5. What do you most hope to achieve in the role? In this role, I hope to help reduce the 70% unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities in King County by expanding Supported Employment into all departments in the County government. I also hope to empower County staff with the tools to support coworkers with disabilities through regular training and mentorship.