Celebrating ADA30: A Discussion on Youth Employment from the ADA Generation webinar, July 24 

The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) will host a webinar on “Celebrating ADA30: A Discussion on Youth Employment from the ADA Generation” on July 24 from 1 – 2 p.m. Eastern Time.   During this webinar, young people with disabilities who grew up after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), known as the “ADA Generation,” will discuss their experiences in the workplace and offer ideas to help employers attract young people with disabilities. They will address policies and programs of particular interest to younger workers with… Read More

King County IT GIS team receives SAG Award for ESJ work 

Crossposted from GIS & You  The King County Information Technology GIS For Equity & Social Justice Team received Esri’s Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award on July 13, 2020, at the annual Esri User Conference. Selected from over 300,000 eligible candidates, King County Information Technology received the award for its innovative application of mapping and analytics technology, as well as thought leadership in the field of GIS for Equity and Social Justice.  King County’s GIS for Equity and Social Justice program was developed to create methodologies, training and ultimately solutions that leverage or innovate GIS technology to Advance Equity… Read More

PBS NewsHour program “Let the Shameful Wall of Exclusion Come Down,” July 21 

On Tuesday July 21, the George and Barbara Bush Foundation will convene key activists, advocates and policymakers who helped make the Americans with Disabilities Act a reality for a bipartisan celebration of that landmark civil rights legislation – and, equally important, focus on the challenges that will shape the future of the disability movement. The 90-minute online program, titled “Let the Shameful Wall of Exclusion Come Down,” taken from President Bush’s remarks on July 26, 1990 as he signed the ADA, starts on July 21 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time and will be moderated by… Read More

Welcome people of all abilities to your remote meetings and events! 

Crossposted from Clean Water Stories  Are you hosting remote meetings? King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) would like to share some advice that will make your meetings more accessible.  Not too long ago, a pandemic might mean intense social isolation for some. Today, technology lets us stay connected in real time, if not in person.  Remote interactions are a lifeline in this challenging time. Telework, remote visits with family, virtual tours, and online community engagement connect us with others while protecting our health.  Read more.   

Celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act, July 26 and 27

The American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) is turning 30 on Sunday, July 26, 2020. The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government programs’ and services. In honor of this groundbreaking legislation, King County, the City of Seattle and the Northwest ADA Center have put together a three-hour block of television programming that highlights individual stories about disability, ways to support accessibility, and challenges that remain for individuals with a disability in our community. Please join us… Read More

Black mental health matters 

Crossposted from Zero Youth Detention  The direct effects of increased exposure to violence, police brutality, and systemic racism placed on the Black Community, and a pandemic that has disproportionately affected communities of color here in King County, continues to be a concern for Black Children and Families.  Depression, stress and anxiety impacts adults and children in the Black Community in many ways. Inherited and experienced racial trauma and systemic inequities in healthcare limits an individual’s quality of life and life expectancy.  It is particularly important for parents and caregivers to be mindful of… Read More

I have Pride! 

With social distancing, Pride may look and feel different this year. In our “I Have Pride” video, King County Metro riders, employees, and family members show we can still Ride with Pride! For more ways to engage with Metro and 2020 Pride, go to visit the King County Metro Matters blog. 

Celebrating Pride and the fight for equality

Dear fellow King County employee, Each June, we celebrate Pride and the fight for equality and equal rights for LGBTQ+ people, their accomplishments, and many contributions to our communities here in King County and around the world. While COVID-19 precautions prevent us from celebrating together in person, the fight for equality remains critical. This year’s Pride celebrations come at a time when millions of people are standing up to ongoing racism, violence, and killings of black people and other people of color, and the systemic racism that continues to impact the life… Read More

Juneteenth: Commemorating the end of slavery in the United States

Dear fellow King County employee, Tomorrow, June 19, we celebrate Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 that Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, with word that the Civil War had ended and that enslaved Africans were now free. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, and is an opportunity to reflect on and learn about our nation’s history, Black history, our shared history. It is a time to celebrate the vital contributions that Black and African Americans have made – and continue to make… Read More

Finding connection and centering People of Color during Pride 2020  

In June of every year, Pride Month – a celebration of visibility, equality, connection, and self-affirmation – is celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community across the country and around the world. This year, as the Black Lives Matter movement grows, it is important to remember that the first Pride was held in commemoration of the 1969 Stonewall riots. These riots, led by trans women of color fighting against police brutality and oppression, were the catalyst for the rights our LGBTQ+ community has today. As we continue to protect ourselves and our community from… Read More