School-to-Work Program changes lives
If you ask what students with developmental disabilities need in order to achieve employment before leaving high school, what you will hear most often is “high expectations” and “work experience.” Ask what it takes for a program to make this happen for students countywide, and what you will hear is “collaboration.” But if you ask students what it takes, it might be about supporting them to reach for their dreams. Working with Washington State’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Developmental Disabilities Administration, school districts, consultants, employment service providers, businesses, families, and over 1,500… Read More
Get ready to ShakeOut on Thursday, Oct. 18
Though our region hasn’t felt a major earthquake in more than 15 years, we all need to be prepared for the next time the ground moves. That’s why King County encourages everyone to take part in the Great Washington ShakeOut on Thursday, October 18. At 10:18 a.m., or another time convenient to you, practice what you would do in an earthquake: DROP to the floor Take COVER under a desk, table, or other sturdy furniture and protect your head HOLD ON until the shaking stops. FMD will announce the earthquake drill in many King County buildings, and we encourage you… Read More
Pet of the week: William
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC This is one cool cat – meet William, our Pet of the Week! This affectionate lovebug can be a little shy at first, but he just needs some time to warm up. Once he gets used to you, William would love to cuddle with you. Read more at Tails from RASKC
Employee Giving Drive events
This year’s Annual Giving Drive is in full swing and there a plenty of events around the county that you can take part in to support, or discover, your favorite nonprofit. Nonprofit Lunch and Learn, Oct. 16: Bring your lunch and get inspired! Join us Tuesday, October 16 at 12:30 p.m. in the Chinook Building, Room 121 to learn about two local nonprofits in our community doing great things to help children and families in need. NW Children’s Foundation and Pediatric Interim Care Center will be speaking about the work that they do… Read More
Disability Awareness Month two part Lunch and Learn, Oct. 18 and 24
The Department of Executive Services and Human Resources Division have cosponsored two interactive lunch and learn events that trace the rise of the Disability Rights Movement in the United States, Oct. 18 and 24. From the first stirrings after WWII, through the intersections of race, visibility of the disabled, and economics in activism, to the famous Capital Crawl, the classes will uncover the unexpected connections that led to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The event is first come first serve with seating available for up to 40 people. Please… Read More
King County Council recognizes Water Taxi crew who rescued man near West Seattle over the summer
Crossposted from The Captain’s Blog Fifteen minutes. That’s the amount of time that had elapsed from the moment the crew working King County Water Taxi’s West Seattle route on Aug. 30 spotted a man overboard in Elliott Bay to the time medics were giving him a clean bill of health. During those 15 minutes, the three-person crew – relying on its extensive marine safety and emergency training – positioned the MV Doc Maynard near the man, fastened together a rope-and-pulley system, pulled him safely aboard and delivered him to waiting medics. Read more… Read More
John Taylor takes helm as inaugural director of Department of Local Services
Crossposted from Inside Transportation One day after being named the first director of a new King County department designed to exclusively serve residents of the unincorporated areas, John Taylor participated at a retreat for division leaders and outlined his vision for delivering outstanding local public services. “There is currently no city hall for the residents of unincorporated King County, yet it’s in effect a city of 250,000 people,” he said. “Our goal is to give them that ‘city hall’ — a place they can get permits in a simple way, get their… Read More
Inclusive process results in more accountability and higher customer standards for Metro’s Access paratransit service
King County Metro’s American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) Paratransit Program provides shared rides on Access Transportation for people whose disability(ies) prevent them from using fixed route bus or light rail service. Access Transportation provided nearly 1 million trips last year, serving about 10,000 customers. With the help of customers and advocates, King County Metro is scheduled to have a new contract to improve Access service beginning in August 2019. Metro first asked for contractor proposals last year; however, Access riders and other stakeholders communicated their disappointment that they were not… Read More
Disability Awareness Month: Transit Disability Services helps to provide resources for over 5,000 employees
Sometimes it just takes a little creativity and a few good resources to make it easier for an employee to do their job. For the past two decades, a small group of Transit Disability Services staff has been coming up with ideas to help Transit workgroups accommodate employees who have a medical condition, from bus drivers to office workers. A study by the Job Accommodation Network in partnership with the West Virginia University School of Social Work, found that the majority of workplace accommodations employees need are either free or low cost. For Transit… Read More
Lourdes Garcia brings her family’s passion for helping others to DPD
Lourdes Garcia slipped out of Cuba with her family when she was 7 years old, carrying little more than the clothes she could cram into a suitcase. Her parents left behind good jobs, furnishings, a large extended family. It was hard rebuilding their lives once they landed in Seattle, said Lourdes, who today works for the county’s Department of Public Defense. But her family’s remarkable story also instilled in her the importance of helping others – in part, because of the role model of her father, a man who helped countless Cuban refugees… Read More
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